The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will expand its AI-driven evaluation and digital checking system for the 2026 Board exams . This move aims to improve accuracy and reduce errors in the evaluation process. Teacher training for on-screen evaluation is set to begin early next year.
Digital Evaluation System Expands
CBSE has successfully piloted AI-supported tools and on-screen marking during past examination sessions. A senior official confirmed these tests yielded promising results, leading to plans for a broader rollout across more regional centers in the next exam cycle.
For the upcoming examinations, the Board will significantly increase the use of digital answer-sheet evaluation. This system requires teachers to mark scanned copies of answer sheets rather than handling physical paper bundles. This digital setup facilitates easier cross-checking for consistency and accelerates the moderation process.
Pilot Program Insights
CBSE first implemented AI-based evaluation during the 2024–25 session. The initial goal was to study variations between theory and practical marks. This analysis uncovered unusual differences in scores across hundreds of schools.
These findings prompted CBSE to issue advisories to affiliated schools. The advisories instructed schools to maintain internal assessment practices consistent with Board norms. This data-driven exercise helped identify cases where internal marks did not align with student performance in written exams. It marked CBSE’s first large-scale use of technology for moderation.
Infrastructure and Training
A dedicated digital evaluation and AI center has already been established in Dwarka, Delhi. This facility served as the site for the early pilot programs. Teacher training for the expanded on-screen evaluation system is scheduled to commence early in 2025, ahead of the full implementation for the 2026 examinations.
Human Oversight Remains Key
CBSE officials clarified the new system will not replace human evaluators. Teachers will continue to check all answer sheets. AI tools will serve primarily for data analysis, error detection, and providing support for moderation.
The Board anticipates this combination of human expertise and machine assistance will result in a faster and more transparent evaluation process for students and schools.