Punjab School Education Board to start on-screen marking system

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Chandigarh, Feb 13 (IANS) The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) will roll out on-screen marking system for the March examinations, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said on Friday.

He said the state would become one of the first state boards to adopt end-to-end digital evaluation, marking a transformative shift in how answer sheets are assessed.

“This digital system will enable teachers to evaluate scanned answer sheets on computers, with marks calculated automatically by software, ensuring faster and more accurate results,” he added.

The Minister said the system has already demonstrated its effectiveness.

“The system has already proved its mettle by evaluating 23,000 answer sheets swiftly and accurately during the September 2025 supplementary examinations.”

Encouraged by the outcomes, the PSEB will implement on-screen marking in one subject of the matriculation examination this year, with phased expansion in subsequent cycles.

Explaining the technical safeguards, Minister Bains said, “Each page of the newly designed answer sheet features a unique QR code, enabling secure scanning and seamless digital processing. Under the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, answer sheets are scanned in a protected environment and uploaded to a centralised dashboard, where examiners evaluate them online with automated totalling, structured marking schemes and real-time progress monitoring.”

Describing the reform as far more than a technological upgrade, the Education Minister said, “It is not just an upgrade, it’s a complete overhaul of evaluating our children’s future. It will ensure every student gets fairness, speed and accuracy in examinations.”

PSEB Chairman Amarpal Singh said students will benefit from reduced result timelines, standardised marking and complete transparency in evaluation.

“Our teachers, too, will work with a clutter-free digital interface that ensures consistency and systematic record-keeping.”

He added that the board has completed all technical and administrative preparations for the March rollout.

“The On-Screen Marking (OSM) system carries the guarantee of Punjab’s commitment to its students,” Amarpal Singh added.

–IANS

vg/khz

Related Posts

PM Modi to visit UP, Uttarakhand on Sep 11; will host Mauritius PM in Varanasi

New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake an official visit to Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Thursday, a government statement said.

At around 11.30 a.m. in Varanasi, Prime Minister Modi will host his Mauritian counterpart, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, who is on a state visit to India from September 9-16.

The meeting in the ancient city of Varanasi will highlight the civilisational connect, spiritual linkages, and enduring people-to-people bonds that have long defined the special relationship between India and Mauritius.

During their bilateral discussions, the two leaders are expected to review the entire spectrum of cooperation, with particular emphasis on development partnership and capacity building.

They will also explore new avenues of collaboration in healthcare, education, science and technology, energy, and infrastructure, while giving special focus to renewable energy, digital public infrastructure, and the blue economy.

The upcoming talks build upon the positive momentum of Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to Mauritius in March this year, during which India and Mauritius elevated their ties to an “Enhanced Strategic Partnership”.

As a close maritime neighbour and valued partner in the Indian Ocean Region, Mauritius plays a pivotal role in advancing India’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Region) Vision and the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

The partnership is also seen as an important contribution to the collective aspirations of the Global South.

The Varanasi Summit is expected to serve as a landmark in India–Mauritius relations, reinforcing their shared commitment to mutual prosperity, sustainable development, and a secure and inclusive future.

Later in the day, the Prime Minister will travel to Dehradun. At around 4.15 p.m., he will conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Uttarakhand to assess the situation on the ground.

Subsequently, at 5 p.m., he will chair a high-level review meeting with state and central officials to take stock of relief and rehabilitation measures.

–IANS

skp/vd

Security forces apprehend 17 militants, recover 31 weapons in Manipur

Imphal, May 5 (IANS) In a series of joint operations, the Army, Assam Rifles and other security forces have recovered 31 weapons, huge quantities of ammunition and explosives and arrested 17 militants from different districts of Manipur, officials said on Monday.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Amit Shukla said the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, ITBP and Manipur Police in a joint operation during the past few days have recovered 31 Arms, including sophisticated weapons, 14 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several grenades, ammunition and war-like stores.

These arms and ammunition were recovered from four Manipur districts — Kakching, Tengnoupal, Bishnupur and Kangpokpi — comprising the valley region and mountainous areas.

The arms and ammunition recovered included, Self Loading Rifle (SLR), two single-barrel guns, one bolt action rifle, improvised launchers (pompi), a pistol, carbine, an INSAS rifle, Pt .22 rifle and improvised mortars (pompi).

Lt Col Shukla said that multiple joint operations by the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, other security forces and Manipur Police conducted in the hill and valley districts resulted in the apprehension of 17 militants from the valley and hill-based insurgent groups, along with the recovery of a pistol, mobile phones, two-wheelers, among others.

The apprehended cadres and the recovered items have been handed over to the Manipur Police.

These coordinated efforts by security forces highlight their unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security in Manipur, the defence spokesman said.

The Police, during the past 24 hours, have recovered three more stolen vehicles in a special drive conducted for the recovery of stolen/snatched vehicles from anti-social elements/ miscreants.

Amid the ethnic violence in Manipur, theft of cars and two-wheelers was reported, and 145 stolen cars and 25 two-wheelers have been recovered since April 16 from different places in the state.

Police launched a special drive on April 16 for the recovery of stolen/snatched vehicles. The combined security forces have continued search operations and area domination in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts.

–IANS

sc/dpb

Ashok Kumar appointed as new Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) The ECI appointed Ashok Kumar, a 2006 batch IAS officer, as the new Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi in place of R Alice Vaz, an official said on Monday.​

Principal Secretary, ECI, Rahul Sharma, informed Delhi Chief Secretary Rajeev Varma about Ashok Kumar’s appointment in an official letter on Monday.​

In January, the poll panel asked the Delhi government to furnish a panel of three IAS officers to select the CEO. Ashok Kumar was one of the three officers whose names were sent to the ECI by the Rekha Gupta government.​

The ECI’s latest letter to the Chief Secretary said that “Ashok Kumar shall cease to hold and hand over forthwith the charge of all or any charges of work under the Govt. of N.C.T. of Delhi, which he may be holding before such assumption of office.”

The ECI clarified that Ashok Kumar, while functioning as the Chief Electoral Officer, shall not hold any additional charge whatsoever under the Government of N.C.T. of Delhi, except that he should be designated Secretary to the Government in charge of the Election Department in the State Secretariat.​

A notification issued by the ECI secretariat confirming Ashok Kumar’s appointment said, “In exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (1) of section 13A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950), the Election Commission of India in consultation with the Government of NCТ of Delhi hereby designates Shri Ashok Kumar, IAS (AGMUT: 2006) as the Chief Electoral Officer for the N.C.T. of Delhi with effect from the date he takes over charge and until further orders in place of R Alice Vaz, IAS.”​

The ECI also asked the Chief Secretary to re-publish the notification in the Delhi Gazette.​

The Delhi government was also asked to ensure that Ashok Kumar assumes the charge of the office of the CEО, NCT of Delhi, immediately.​

–IANS

rch/dan

​