NEW DELHI: In a significant leadership reshuffle at the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Centre on Tuesday appointed senior Indian Information Service (IIS or IInfOS) officer Varun Bhardwaj as the new Secretary of the Board amid mounting scrutiny over the implementation of the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 examinations.
The appointment comes alongside the selection of Prashant Sitaram Lokhande, a 2001-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, as the new CBSE Chairperson. The two appointments were announced on the same day the government ordered a formal inquiry into the procurement of services related to the OSM platform.
Mr Bhardwaj replaces Himanshu Gupta, a 2012-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, who has been repatriated prematurely to his parent cadre on administrative grounds.
Major Leadership Change at CBSE
The simultaneous appointment of a new Chairperson and Secretary marks one of the most significant administrative overhauls at CBSE in recent years.
Read Also: Who Is Prashant Sitaram Lokhande? IAS Officer Appointed New CBSE Chairman Amid OSM Controversy
According to the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Varun Bhardwaj has been appointed as Secretary, CBSE, on deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme. He will serve in the position until September 19, 2027, as part of his combined five-year central deputation tenure.
The reshuffle comes at a time when CBSE is facing widespread criticism over the implementation of its digital evaluation system, particularly the On-Screen Marking framework introduced for Class 12 board examinations this year.
Who Is Varun Bhardwaj?
Mr Bhardwaj belongs to the Indian Information Service (IIS) and is a 2008-batch officer.
Quick Profile
- Name: Varun Bhardwaj
- Service: Indian Information Service (IIS)
- Batch: 2008
- Current Position: Secretary, CBSE
- Previous Position: Director, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
- Tenure as CBSE Secretary: Till September 19, 2027
His appointment places him at the administrative helm of India’s largest school education board, which oversees examinations, affiliations, curriculum implementation and academic governance for thousands of schools across the country.
Career Journey and Key Postings
Over the years, Varun Bhardwaj has served in several important positions within the Central Government, gaining experience in education administration, communications management and institutional governance.
Registrar, FTII Pune
Earlier in his career, Bhardwaj served as the Registrar of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, one of India’s premier film and media training institutions.
During his tenure, he was involved in academic administration and institutional management, contributing to the functioning of one of the country’s most prestigious film schools.
Director, Department of Higher Education
In August 2022, Bhardwaj was appointed Director in the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education.
Over nearly four years, he handled critical higher education portfolios and was involved in policy implementation, institutional coordination and academic governance initiatives at the national level.
His experience within the Ministry of Education is expected to be valuable as CBSE navigates one of the most challenging phases in its recent history.
Appointment as CBSE Secretary
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Mr Bhardwaj’s appointment as Secretary of CBSE as part of a broader restructuring exercise triggered by concerns surrounding the OSM system.
He succeeds Himanshu Gupta and will work closely with newly appointed CBSE Chairperson Prashant Sitaram Lokhande in steering the board through ongoing reforms and scrutiny.
OSM Controversy Behind the Reshuffle
The leadership changes come against the backdrop of growing controversy surrounding the On-Screen Marking system introduced by CBSE for Class 12 answer-sheet evaluation.
The digital evaluation mechanism faced criticism after students and parents reported multiple issues, including:
- Allegedly blurred answer-book scans
- Missing pages in uploaded answer scripts
- Payment-related difficulties during verification applications
- Delays in re-evaluation and verification processes
- Allegations of answer-sheet mismatches
Several students claimed that scanned copies made available by CBSE did not match their handwriting, raising concerns about possible discrepancies in the evaluation process.
The controversy quickly gained national attention, prompting demands for greater transparency and accountability.
Centre Orders Probe Into OSM Procurement
Responding to the concerns, the Centre constituted a one-member inquiry committee headed by S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission.
The committee has been tasked with examining matters related to the procurement of services for the OSM platform and has been directed to submit its report within one month.
The government has not officially linked the transfer of CBSE’s top officials to the OSM controversy. However, the reshuffle and inquiry announcement occurred on the same day, leading to widespread speculation regarding the circumstances behind the changes.
Himanshu Gupta Repatriated
As part of the administrative changes, outgoing CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta has been repatriated to his parent cadre.
According to the Personnel Ministry order, Gupta’s return to the Ministry of Home Affairs has been approved on administrative grounds.
The order also imposed an extended cooling-off period, making him ineligible for another central deputation assignment until December 12, 2030.
Strategic Challenges Before Varun Bhardwaj
As the new Secretary, Bhardwaj assumes office at a critical juncture for the Board.
Among his key responsibilities are expected to be:
- Strengthening CBSE’s digital evaluation ecosystem
- Streamlining post-result services and verification processes
- Enhancing transparency in answer-sheet access mechanisms
- Improving grievance redressal systems
- Coordinating implementation of future examination reforms
- Supporting the inquiry and any corrective measures arising from its findings
His tenure is also expected to focus on restoring confidence among students, parents and educational institutions following the controversy.
Political Reactions Intensify
The reshuffle has sparked sharp political reactions.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi questioned why CBSE’s top officials had been transferred while Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remained in office.
In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi described the transfers and inquiry as insufficient and demanded an independent judicial probe into the matter.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised the government’s response, arguing that the transfer of officials alone did not amount to accountability and renewing demands for action against the Education Minister.
The Opposition’s criticism has further amplified attention on the OSM controversy, making it one of the most closely watched education-sector issues in recent years.
A Crucial Assignment Ahead
With a government inquiry underway, mounting public scrutiny and demands for transparency, Varun Bhardwaj’s appointment comes at a decisive moment for CBSE.
As Secretary of the country’s largest school examination board, he will play a central role in managing ongoing reforms, addressing stakeholder concerns and helping restore trust in CBSE’s examination and evaluation systems.
Education stakeholders, students and parents are expected to closely watch the Board’s next steps as the inquiry committee prepares to submit its findings over the coming weeks.
