New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday appointed senior IAS officer Prashant Sitaram Lokhande as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), days after the government removed the board’s top officials amid a controversy over alleged irregularities in the Class 12 digital evaluation process.

Lokhande, a 2001-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, was serving as Additional Secretary in the Union Home Ministry before his appointment. He replaces Rahul Singh, who has been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture as Additional Secretary.

The government also appointed IAS officer Varun Bhardwaj as the new Secretary of CBSE. The leadership changes come as the board faces scrutiny over its on-screen marking (OSM) system and allegations surrounding the award of a contract to a private company linked to the digital evaluation process.

High-powered probe ordered

Alongside the appointments, the Centre has constituted a one-member inquiry committee to examine the procurement of services related to the OSM system used for evaluating CBSE Class 12 answer scripts.

According to a Cabinet Secretariat memorandum, the panel will be headed by S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission. The committee has been tasked with investigating the procurement process and submitting its findings to the Department of Personnel and Training within one month.

Chauhan has been authorised to seek assistance from officials of other departments as required, while the Capacity Building Commission will provide secretarial support to the inquiry.

The probe follows concerns raised by students and parents regarding the implementation of the digital evaluation system in CBSE board examinations.

Rahul Gandhi calls it a ‘Cover-Up’

Reacting to the transfer of the CBSE chairman and secretary, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of shielding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and described the move as an attempt to deflect accountability.

In a post on X, Gandhi said,  "CBSE Chairman - Transferred. CBSE Secretary - Transferred. A one-member ‘inquiry’ committee - Formed. And the real culprit, Dharmendra Pradhan - Safe.

“Officials removed. Minister spared. This isn’t accountability-it’s a cover-up,”

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha reiterated his demand for the minister’s removal and an independent judicial inquiry into the matter.

"Our demand remains the same today: Dismiss the Education Minister and conduct an independent judicial inquiry - these aren’t some one-month-old internal file of the Modi government to be brushed aside just like that.

“If the Prime Minister cared for about the 18.5 lakh CBSE students - Dharmendra Pradhan ji would have been removed long ago,” Gandhi said.

The government has not responded to Gandhi’s allegations. The inquiry committee is expected to submit its report within a month as questions continue to be raised over the functioning of the CBSE’s digital evaluation system.