The Times of India: New Delhi: Tuesday, 8th
September 2026.
The Central Board of
Secondary Education (CBSE) has come under scrutiny after the Central
Information Commission (CIC) ruled that students seeking copies of their
evaluated answer scripts under the Right to Information (RTI) Act must be
charged strictly according to the RTI Rules, 2012. The commission has also
objected to a CBSE rule that prevents candidates from seeking verification or
revaluation after obtaining their answer sheets through the RTI route.
Student challenges the high cost of the regular process
The case reached the CIC after a Class 10 student filed an RTI application seeking photocopies of his answer sheets. The student had raised concerns about the cost of CBSE's regular post-result procedures and argued that accessing answer scripts through the RTI Act offered a more affordable route.
According to the application, the student was required to pay Rs 2,500 to obtain photocopies of answer sheets for five subjects. Another Rs 2,500 was required for re-verification, while re-evaluation carried a separate charge of Rs 100 per question. Taken together, the student argued that pursuing all available remedies could cost nearly Rs 10,000.
The candidate also raised concerns over the difficulty level of the Class 10 Mathematics Standard Set 3 question paper, the implementation of the moderation policy, and alleged deductions in marks.
Answer sheets supplied, but larger questions remained
CBSE's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in a response dated July 2, 2025, informed the candidate that the requested answer books had been sent by email after the prescribed fee was paid.
However, the student subsequently filed a first appeal, raising questions about blank pages in the answer books, the moderation policy and the evaluation process. The First Appellate Authority noted that several of these issues went beyond the original RTI queries and involved explanations and analytical responses.
During the hearing before the CIC, CBSE maintained that the answer scripts had been supplied after the student paid photocopying charges in accordance with the RTI Rules, 2012.
CIC questions CBSE's revaluation restriction
The bigger issue before the commission was CBSE's May 19, 2025 circular. While the circular permits students to obtain copies of answer books under the RTI Act, it states that candidates who follow this route cannot subsequently seek verification or revaluation under the board's examination framework.
The CIC took exception to this condition.
The commission observed that denying a candidate the opportunity to seek revaluation merely because they had first accessed their answer script through the RTI Act goes against the broader purpose of the transparency legislation.
In effect, the commission underlined that obtaining information under the RTI Act should not become a reason for taking away another remedy otherwise available to a student.
RTI Act cannot be overridden by other rules
The CIC further made it clear that CBSE cannot rely on separate rules or regulations to impose fees or conditions that conflict with the RTI Act.
Referring to Section 22 of the RTI Act, the commission pointed out that the transparency law has an overriding effect over provisions contained in other laws, rules or instruments where there is any inconsistency.
The commission also referred to the Supreme Court's April 11, 2019 judgment in ICSI vs Paras Jain, which held that remedies available under an institution's internal guidelines and those available under the RTI framework are not mutually exclusive.
The observation is particularly significant because it reinforces the principle that students should not be forced to choose between seeking information under the RTI Act and pursuing remedies available under an examination body's own rules.
CBSE asked to bring circular in line with RTI law
The CIC has now directed CBSE to provide copies of answer scripts sought under the RTI Act by charging photocopying fees strictly in accordance with the RTI Rules, 2012.
It has also cautioned the CPIO to exercise greater due diligence while dealing with such cases in the future.
More importantly, the commission has recommended that CBSE amend its May 19, 2025, circular under Section 25(5) to ensure that it conforms to the provisions and spirit of the RTI Act.
The order could have wider implications for students seeking greater transparency in the examination system. For years, access to evaluated answer sheets, verification, and revaluation have remained costly and complicated processes for candidates. The CIC's intervention sends a clear message: the right to access one's answer script cannot be diluted by conditions that undermine the purpose of the country's transparency law.
For students, the decision strengthens an important principle: seeking information about one's examination performance should not mean losing the right to challenge it.
Student challenges the high cost of the regular process
The case reached the CIC after a Class 10 student filed an RTI application seeking photocopies of his answer sheets. The student had raised concerns about the cost of CBSE's regular post-result procedures and argued that accessing answer scripts through the RTI Act offered a more affordable route.
According to the application, the student was required to pay Rs 2,500 to obtain photocopies of answer sheets for five subjects. Another Rs 2,500 was required for re-verification, while re-evaluation carried a separate charge of Rs 100 per question. Taken together, the student argued that pursuing all available remedies could cost nearly Rs 10,000.
The candidate also raised concerns over the difficulty level of the Class 10 Mathematics Standard Set 3 question paper, the implementation of the moderation policy, and alleged deductions in marks.
Answer sheets supplied, but larger questions remained
CBSE's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), in a response dated July 2, 2025, informed the candidate that the requested answer books had been sent by email after the prescribed fee was paid.
However, the student subsequently filed a first appeal, raising questions about blank pages in the answer books, the moderation policy and the evaluation process. The First Appellate Authority noted that several of these issues went beyond the original RTI queries and involved explanations and analytical responses.
During the hearing before the CIC, CBSE maintained that the answer scripts had been supplied after the student paid photocopying charges in accordance with the RTI Rules, 2012.
CIC questions CBSE's revaluation restriction
The bigger issue before the commission was CBSE's May 19, 2025 circular. While the circular permits students to obtain copies of answer books under the RTI Act, it states that candidates who follow this route cannot subsequently seek verification or revaluation under the board's examination framework.
The CIC took exception to this condition.
The commission observed that denying a candidate the opportunity to seek revaluation merely because they had first accessed their answer script through the RTI Act goes against the broader purpose of the transparency legislation.
In effect, the commission underlined that obtaining information under the RTI Act should not become a reason for taking away another remedy otherwise available to a student.
RTI Act cannot be overridden by other rules
The CIC further made it clear that CBSE cannot rely on separate rules or regulations to impose fees or conditions that conflict with the RTI Act.
Referring to Section 22 of the RTI Act, the commission pointed out that the transparency law has an overriding effect over provisions contained in other laws, rules or instruments where there is any inconsistency.
The commission also referred to the Supreme Court's April 11, 2019 judgment in ICSI vs Paras Jain, which held that remedies available under an institution's internal guidelines and those available under the RTI framework are not mutually exclusive.
The observation is particularly significant because it reinforces the principle that students should not be forced to choose between seeking information under the RTI Act and pursuing remedies available under an examination body's own rules.
CBSE asked to bring circular in line with RTI law
The CIC has now directed CBSE to provide copies of answer scripts sought under the RTI Act by charging photocopying fees strictly in accordance with the RTI Rules, 2012.
It has also cautioned the CPIO to exercise greater due diligence while dealing with such cases in the future.
More importantly, the commission has recommended that CBSE amend its May 19, 2025, circular under Section 25(5) to ensure that it conforms to the provisions and spirit of the RTI Act.
The order could have wider implications for students seeking greater transparency in the examination system. For years, access to evaluated answer sheets, verification, and revaluation have remained costly and complicated processes for candidates. The CIC's intervention sends a clear message: the right to access one's answer script cannot be diluted by conditions that undermine the purpose of the country's transparency law.
For students, the decision strengthens an important principle: seeking information about one's examination performance should not mean losing the right to challenge it.
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