From Extension To Transfer: Who Is CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh Shifted Amid OSM Row?

New Delhi: The Central government has transferred CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh in light of the controversy surrounding the board's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The decision was made in an official announcement issued by the Ministry of Education.

Rahul Singh is a 1996-batch Bihar cadre IAS officer who became Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in March 2024. Before joining CBSE, he worked as an Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training.

Engineer-Turned Bureaucrat With Experience In Governance

Singh is an engineer by training, with a BTech in Computer Science and a doctorate degree in Public Policy and Management. His mix of technological expertise and administrative experience distinguished him as one of the few senior officials having a background in both technology and government.

During his time at the Centre, he was also involved in projects linked to India's G20 and BRICS engagements. In March 2024, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet selected him as CBSE Chairperson. He succeeded Nidhi Chhibber, who later joined NITI Aayog as an adviser. His appointment was part of a larger bureaucratic reorganization conducted by the Centre.

Tenure Extended Before OSM Row Escalated

In 2025, the government extended Rahul Singh's tenure as CBSE Chairperson to November 2027. The extension was interpreted as a vote of confidence in his leadership of the board, which supervises over 29,000 affiliated schools in India and overseas and administers some of the country's largest school exams.

However, his tenure was brought into question following the adoption of the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The digital evaluation system was implemented to modernize answer-sheet assessment and make the results procedure more efficient.

Government Orders Probe Into OSM Procurement

Along with the transfer of top CBSE officials, the Centre has appointed a one-member commission to investigate the board's procurement of OSM services.

The committee will be led by S. Radha Chauhan, the Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission. She has been authorized to seek assistance from officers in other agencies if necessary. The committee has been instructed to present its conclusions to the Department of Personnel and Training within one month.

The government's intervention came shortly after 17-year-old student Sarthak Sidhant spoke before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports, raising concerns about the OSM system directly to lawmakers.

Students Raise Concerns, Re-Evaluation Window Opens

After hearing Sidhant's presentation, Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Digvijaya Singh stated that the panel would look into the students' complaints about the OSM system.

During the meeting, the CBSE also presented its report to committee members and outlined its position on the problems raised by students. The board informed MPs that issues on its platform had been resolved, and students were given time until June 6 to apply for re-evaluation.

Ahead to the meeting, Sidhant alleged that his analysis of multiple CBSE procurement documents uncovered errors that appeared to favour a specific vendor involved in the OSM process.