The Centre has appointed Mandeep K Bhandari as the chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) under the Ministry of Education, replacing interim chief Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, who was holding additional charge of the post.
Concerns included alleged mismatches in scanned answer sheets, blurred or missing pages, technical problems on the portals, and difficulties during the verification and re-evaluation processes. The episode resulted in leadership changes at the board and an official inquiry into the digital evaluation system, with then-CBSE-chief being transferred to the agriculture ministry. He is a gold medalist MBBS graduate from Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana. His postings have included Deputy Commissioner of Leh, Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, and CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
The board’s first full-scale introduction of the OSM system for evaluating Class 12 answer sheets led to widespread complaints from students and parents. A 2001-batch officer of the AGMUT cadre, Bhandari brings more than two decades of administrative experience.
Bhandari Takes Charge Amid CBSE Reforms
Bhandari has officially taken office as the new head of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). His appointment comes as the board intensifies its efforts to enhance examination and evaluation systems, aiming to rebuild trust among students, parents, and educational institutions. With a background in administration and public service, Bhandari is expected to play a crucial role in tackling the challenges faced by one of India’s largest school examination systems.
