Central Board of Secondary Education Denies OSM Hacking Claims, Says Viral URL Was Test Portal

Central Board of Secondary Education has rejected allegations of a security breach in its On-Screen Marking (OSM) evaluation system, clarifying.

That a URL circulating on social media was only a test environment and not part of the official assessment infrastructure. The controversy began after online posts—linked to claims made by a 19-year-old Class 12 student—suggested that a CBSE digital evaluation portal had been compromised earlier this year. The claims focused on a website resembling a marking system and sparked wider debate over the integrity of the board’s recently introduced OSM-based evaluation process.

In its response, CBSE clarified that the link cited in the posts, cbse.onmarks.co.in, was never used for evaluating answer sheets. The board stated that the operational system for marking answer scripts operates on a separate, secure platform that has not been exposed to any known breach or vulnerability.

According to CBSE, the disputed URL was an internal testing interface created for system checks and demonstrations. It contained only sample data and did not store real student records, marks, or examination-related information.

The board further emphasized that there has been no compromise of actual evaluation data and no evidence of unauthorized access to its live marking system. It said the core assessment infrastructure remains secure and continues to function under strict safeguards.

The clarification comes amid growing scrutiny of CBSE’s digital evaluation reforms, with some students raising concerns about answer sheet access, re-evaluation processes, and transparency under the OSM system. CBSE, however, maintains that the platform was introduced to improve efficiency and accountability in assessment and includes built-in grievance redressal mechanisms for students.

Reiterating its position, the board said robust security protocols are in place across its operational systems and that no vulnerabilities affecting real examination data have been reported.