Central Board of Secondary Education Sets Strict Protocol for Reporting Question Paper Issues During 2026 Board Exams
New Delhi, 17th February 2026: As the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations commenced on Monday, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a detailed advisory directing affiliated schools to follow a standardized mechanism for reporting question paper-related concerns.
The guidelines, applicable to both secondary and senior secondary examinations, are intended to ensure timely review of discrepancies and prevent procedural lapses during the ongoing board exams.
In its official communication, CBSE noted recurring non-compliance by schools in submitting observations regarding question papers. While institutions are required to report discrepancies annually through the Online Examination Centre Management System (OECMS), the Board observed that several schools have failed to adhere to this protocol.
According to the advisory, some institutions have been forwarding complaints to unrelated or unofficial email addresses instead of uploading them on the designated portal. In other cases, submissions were reportedly made days after the examination, hampering prompt verification and necessary corrective action.
The Board also expressed concern over vague representations. Complaints merely stating that a question was “incorrect,” without providing specific details, subject references, or supporting explanations, make it challenging for subject experts to conduct an effective review.
Clear Instructions for Schools
To streamline the process and maintain transparency, CBSE has reiterated the following directions:
-All question paper-related observations must be uploaded exclusively on the OECMS portal.
-If further clarification is required, schools may send detailed inputs to the official email ID: [email protected]
-Observations must be submitted strictly on the same day the examination is conducted.
The Board underscored that precise and timely reporting is essential to enable swift evaluation and decision-making.
Issuing a firm warning, CBSE stated that complaints that are unclear, incomplete, delayed, or submitted through unauthorized channels will not be entertained. Such representations will not be considered for review.
The Board has urged all affiliated schools to strictly comply with the prescribed reporting framework during the 2026 board examinations to avoid confusion and ensure that legitimate concerns are addressed without delay.
