CBSE officially introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) for Class XII board exams from 2026. Answer books will be scanned and evaluated digitally. With over 46 lakh students affected and a mandate for zero totalling errors, here are the critical requirements and operational shifts for schools.
01 What is OSM?
Under On-Screen Marking, students write their board exams on paper as usual. After the exam, answer books are scanned into digital images and uploaded to a secure CBSE server. Teachers then log into the CBSE portal from their own school and evaluate scripts on screen, question by question. Marks are totalled automatically, eliminating calculation errors entirely. Class X evaluation continues in physical mode as before.
02 For Teachers
- Update OASIS data: Login credentials are sent to the registered email only.
- Authentication: First login from school requires a password change. Authenticate with OASIS ID + School Code + DOB.
- Practice: Portal opened on 16 Feb 2026. Teachers must practice multiple times. CBSE monitors all login & practice activity in real time.
- Workload: Each evaluator is assigned ~20 scripts to mark.
Portal: cbseosm.onmark.co.in - principals track teacher completion and resend credentials from the dashboard.
03 School Requirements
| Requirement | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| PC / Laptop | Windows 8+, 4 GB RAM, 1 GB free on C:/ | Mandatory |
| Static IP | Public Static IP per CBSE Bye-Laws | Mandatory |
| Internet | Min 2 Mbps, uninterrupted | Mandatory |
| Browser | Latest Chrome / Edge / Firefox | Mandatory |
| Adobe Reader | Free from get.adobe.com/reader | Mandatory |
| Power Backup | UPS recommended | Recommended |
Warning: Schools that fail requirements or teacher readiness risk results being withheld.
04 For Students
- Exam format & syllabus: Completely unchanged.
- Formatting: Write with a dark pen, neat & clear, as sheets are scanned. Number answers clearly and structure responses well.
- Verification: No post-result mark verification for Class XII. Results are final. Plan college applications without expecting a post-result marks revision.
- Class X: No change, physical evaluation continues.
05 Key Dates
- 09 Feb 2026: Official OSM circular issued
- 13 Feb 2026: National webinar for principals
- 14 Feb 2026: Mock evaluation circular issued
- 16 Feb 2026: Practice portal opened for teachers
- 26 Feb 2026: Mass mock evaluation (2.92L teachers)
- 2026 Exams: Live OSM evaluation begins
How SALCI Helps: Is Your School OSM-Ready?
SALCI is a full-stack school operating system built for CBSE schools that makes the transition to On-Screen Marking smooth and stress-free.
- Teacher Preparation: SALCI ensures teachers are digitally confident before OSM begins. Through regular online exam creation, on-screen evaluation, and AI-assisted grading workflows, teachers are already comfortable with the exact skills OSM demands, eliminating last-minute scrambling.
- Digital Evaluation Readiness: SALCI's platform familiarises teachers with evaluating scanned answer scripts on screen, entering marks question-by-question, and working within structured digital assessment workflows, making the CBSE OSM portal feel familiar from day one.
- Compliance & Monitoring: SALCI gives school leaders real-time visibility into teacher readiness, task completion, and evaluation progress so principals are never caught off-guard when CBSE checks compliance.
- Automated Accuracy: Just like OSM eliminates manual totalling errors, SALCI's automated result processing means your school is already operating in a zero-error, digital-first evaluation culture well before OSM goes live.