Lokhande Sitaram named CBSE chief, Varun Bhardwaj Secretary after OSM row

Key Takeaways

• The Centre on Tuesday appointed senior IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram as the new Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), replacing Rahul Singh, while also naming Varun Bhardwaj as the board's new Secretary in place of Himanshu Gupta, hours after the government ordered a probe into the controversial on-screen marking (OSM) system that has triggered complaints from students and parents.
• Read Full Story The leadership overhaul comes amid growing scrutiny of the OSM system used in CBSE board examinations and follows the Centre's decision to constitute a one-member inquiry committee to examine the procurement of services related to the digital evaluation process.
• According to an order approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, a 2001-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Home under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been appointed Chairperson of CBSE in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.
• He replaces Rahul Singh, a 1996-batch Bihar cadre IAS officer, who has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• OSM ROW IN BACKDROP The leadership change comes against the backdrop of growing controversy surrounding the implementation of the OSM system in CBSE board examinations.