CBSE clears the air on 'Roll Number Not Found' glitch as 3.8 lakh answer sheets undergo review

Following intense scrutiny of its digital evaluation system, the board has addressed accessibility concerns after processing a massive volume of student grievances.

For thousands of Class 12 students, the days following the announcement of results were marked by anxiety, confusion, and a recurring "roll number not found" error on the official CBSE portal. As the board faced mounting pressure—including intervention from the Delhi High Court—it has finally provided clarity on the technical hurdles that plagued its new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.

The board confirmed that its re-evaluation and verification portal, which operated from June 2 to June 7, 2026, successfully handled requests for over 3.8 lakh answer books. Despite the initial chaos, officials stated that 1.6 lakh students were able to register their concerns through the digital interface. To stabilize the platform, the board had to enlist technical expertise from IITs and various government agencies, working under the shadow of persistent cyber security threats.

Battling digital disruptions

The rollout of the OSM system was anything but smooth. In the first few days, the portal became a flashpoint for frustration, with students reporting discrepancies in scanned copies and an inability to access their data. Behind the scenes, the board was battling more than just technical bugs. Officials revealed that the platform faced deliberate attempts to disrupt operations, including denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and unauthorized access bids. Throughout the peak of the application window, dedicated cyber security teams remained on high alert to ensure that the massive influx of requests did not compromise the integrity of the evaluation process.

Why it matters

This episode serves as a high-stakes stress test for the digitalization of India’s largest examination board. When systemic reform—like the shift to On-Screen Marking—meets a massive user base, even minor technical glitches can balloon into a public crisis, drawing in the judiciary and raising questions about administrative preparedness. The incident highlights the growing tension between rapid technological adoption and the need for robust, fail-safe infrastructure. For a system that determines the academic trajectory of millions, the lesson is clear: digital efficiency is only as good as the cybersecurity and server capacity supporting it. The move to bring in IIT experts suggests the board is aware that it cannot afford a repeat of this, especially as the demand for transparency in grading continues to rise.

The resolution of these verification requests now marks the close of a volatile chapter for the board. With the portal’s functionality restored and the technical audits reportedly completed, the focus now shifts to whether the final re-evaluation outcomes will settle the lingering concerns of students and parents who felt the new digital transition lacked the necessary safeguards.