New Delhi: In a major administrative reshuffle amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed senior IAS officer Prashant Sitaram Lokhande (IAS:2001:AGMUT) as the new Chairperson of CBSE.
The appointment comes at a crucial time for the country’s largest school education board, which has been facing scrutiny over the implementation of its digital evaluation system for Class 12 examinations. The Centre has simultaneously ordered an inquiry into the procurement of services for the OSM platform and transferred CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday, Lokhande, currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Home under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), will take over as CBSE Chairperson in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
Rahul Singh Shifted to Agriculture Ministry
In a parallel move, the ACC has appointed Rahul Singh (IAS:1996:Bihar) as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Rahul Singh had assumed charge as CBSE Chairperson in March 2024 and had succeeded Nidhi Chhibber. Notably, the ACC had extended his tenure in August 2025 until November 11, 2027. However, his transfer comes more than a year before the completion of his extended tenure.
An engineer by training, Rahul Singh holds a B.Tech degree in Computer Science and a postgraduate qualification in Public Policy and Management. During his career, he has served in several key administrative positions including District Magistrate, Collector, Transport Commissioner, Managing Director and Joint Secretary. Prior to joining CBSE, he was serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Leadership Change Amid OSM Controversy
The appointment of Lokhande assumes significance as CBSE continues to face criticism over the rollout of its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system introduced this year for Class 12 board examinations.
Students and parents raised concerns after reports emerged of blurred answer-book scans, missing pages and technical issues during the evaluation and re-evaluation process. The controversy intensified after applicants reportedly faced difficulties accessing answer sheets and making online payments through the re-evaluation portal.
In response, the government has constituted a one-member inquiry committee headed by S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission, to examine matters related to the procurement of services for the OSM platform.
The Centre also transferred CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta (IAS:2012:AGMUT) as part of the broader administrative overhaul aimed at restoring confidence in the board’s functioning.
Who Is Prashant Sitaram Lokhande?
Prashant Sitaram Lokhande is a senior IAS officer of the 2001 batch belonging to the AGMUT cadre. Widely regarded as an experienced and accomplished administrator, he brings more than 25 years of public service experience across multiple sectors and government departments.
Born on November 20, 1973, Lokhande hails from Maharashtra and possesses a strong academic and technical background.
Educational Qualifications
Lokhande holds:
- Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Mechanical Engineering from Pune University
- Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering from the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai
- Postgraduate qualifications in Public Policy and Management
He is fluent in English, Hindi and Marathi.
Extensive Administrative Experience
Prior to his appointment as CBSE Chairperson, Lokhande was serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, a position he assumed on April 1, 2026 following an in-situ promotion.
Earlier, he had served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Home from January 2023 and has held a wide range of administrative assignments during his career.
His key positions have included:
- Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
- Joint Secretary, Department of Home
- Secretary
- Deputy Commissioner
- Counsellor
- Private Secretary
- Director
- Deputy Secretary
Over the course of his career, he has completed multiple postings across different regions and governance domains, earning a reputation for administrative efficiency and policy implementation.
Recipient of State Gold Awards
Lokhande’s public service record has earned him significant recognition.
He has been awarded the prestigious State Award (Gold) for Meritorious Service on two occasions, reflecting his contributions to governance and public administration.
Major Challenges Ahead
As the new CBSE Chairperson, Lokhande takes charge at one of the most challenging periods in the board’s recent history.
Apart from addressing concerns related to the OSM evaluation system, he will be expected to oversee ongoing reforms in examination processes, strengthen transparency in answer-sheet evaluation, improve grievance redressal mechanisms and ensure smooth conduct of future examinations.
The board is also dealing with concerns over cyberattack attempts on its re-evaluation portal and growing demands from students and parents for greater accountability in digital assessment systems.
With millions of students depending on CBSE examinations every year, Lokhande’s tenure is expected to focus on restoring public confidence in the examination ecosystem while ensuring that technological reforms are implemented in a secure, transparent and student-friendly manner.
A Critical Assignment
The appointment of Prashant Sitaram Lokhande marks a significant leadership transition for CBSE at a time when the institution faces intense public scrutiny. His extensive administrative experience, policy background and leadership credentials are expected to play a key role in steering the board through the challenges arising from the OSM controversy and in shaping the future direction of school education governance in India.
