Lokhande Prashant Sitaram appointed as new CBSE Chairperson: Who is he?

New CBSE Chairperson Appointed: Prashant Sitaram Lokhande’s Background

Lokhande Prashant Sitaram appointed as new CBSE – The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), under the Ministry of Education, has announced the appointment of Prashant Sitaram Lokhande as its new Chairperson. This decision came in response to recent controversies surrounding the board’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, which was scrutinized for alleged irregularities in the evaluation of Class 12 exams. Lokhande will assume the role, replacing Rahul Singh, who was recently moved to a different position within the government. The shift marks a significant administrative realignment amid growing public and political concerns about the transparency of the OSM process.

About the New CBSE Chairperson

Prashant Sitaram Lokhande, a 2001 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has been assigned to the AGMUT cadre, which includes the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories. His career has spanned various high-level roles, including positions as Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs. In March 2026, he was elevated to the rank of Additional Secretary in the same department, a move formalized by a government order dated April 1, 2026.

Lokhande’s personal details include a birth year of November 1973. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Mechanical Engineering from Pune University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering from the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) in Mumbai. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Marathi, he has also received recognition for his service, being awarded the State Award (Gold) for Meritorious Service twice. His professional journey reflects a blend of technical expertise and administrative acumen, making him a strong candidate for leading the CBSE through its current challenges.

CBSE Controversy

The recent appointments follow a period of intense scrutiny for the CBSE, particularly after allegations surfaced regarding discrepancies in the OSM system used for grading Class 12 exams. Students claimed that scanned answer sheets did not match their handwritten work, raising fears of potential mismatches in the evaluation process. This controversy has led to calls for greater transparency and accountability within the board’s operations.

At the heart of the dispute is the tendering process for the OSM system, which was managed by COEMPT—a company previously known as Globarena. Sarthak Sidhant, a Class 12 student and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, highlighted concerns during a presentation on Tuesday. He alleged that changes to the Request for Proposal (RFP) clauses favored a specific service provider, with modifications to performance standards, blacklisting provisions, and qualification criteria appearing deliberately tailored.

“I would like to highlight three or four of them. Let me give you a background about Coempt. It was known as Globarena, and they have a very shady background. 23 students killed themselves because of Coempt… Now, I would like to tell you about the RFP,” Sidhant said.

Sidhant further emphasized the need for broader pilot testing before implementing the OSM system on a large scale, arguing that the current process lacked sufficient safeguards. His claims were supported by a video message in which he detailed at least 15 discrepancies in the tender process. This echoes a similar controversy in Telangana in 2019, where Globarena was implicated in a dispute over its handling of the board’s digital evaluation system.

Administrative Reorganization

Alongside Lokhande’s appointment, the government has restructured key roles within the CBSE. Former chairperson Rahul Singh, who had been overseeing the board, has been appointed as an additional secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Meanwhile, Himanshu Gupta, the previous secretary of the CBSE, has been transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs on administrative grounds. The order mentions that Gupta will undergo an “extended cooling off” period before his return to his parent cadre.

Varun Bhardwaj, a 2008 batch Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, has been named as the new secretary of the CBSE, taking over from Gupta. Bhardwaj is currently serving as the director of the Ministry of Education, bringing a fresh perspective to the board’s operations. The cabinet appointments committee (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved these changes, signaling a strategic effort to address the ongoing scrutiny and improve the board’s credibility.

Implications of the Controversy

The OSM system’s controversies have underscored the need for reforms in educational procurement processes. Sidhant’s allegations suggest that the tendering process may have been manipulated to benefit COEMPT, a company with a history of disputes. In 2019, Globarena faced criticism in Telangana for similar issues, casting doubt on its reliability. The repeated use of the same vendor has prompted demands for stricter oversight and a more transparent selection mechanism.

CBSE has been grappling with technical issues, including payment failures and delays in verification and re-evaluation processes. These challenges have intensified public scrutiny, with stakeholders calling for a thorough review of the board’s procedures. The formation of a one-member inquiry committee to investigate the procurement of services for the OSM system reflects the government’s commitment to resolving these concerns.

“What happens is the government issues a tender and asks the bidder to bid for it. CBSE issued this tender three times… I have compared the old RFP and the new RFP, and I found some discrepancies,” Sidhant explained.

The controversy has also highlighted the emotional impact on students, with Sidhant citing cases of student suicides linked to the OSM system. His testimony adds a human element to the administrative debates, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability. As the CBSE navigates these challenges, the appointment of Lokhande and Bhardwaj is seen as a pivotal step in restoring public confidence and ensuring equitable evaluation practices.

Looking Ahead

With Lokhande now at the helm, the CBSE faces the task of addressing the root causes of the OSM system’s issues. His experience in both technical and administrative roles positions him to oversee reforms in procurement and evaluation. Meanwhile, Bhardwaj’s appointment as secretary is expected to streamline operations and enhance coordination. The government’s swift action in reorganizing key positions underscores its priority to resolve the crisis and safeguard the integrity of secondary education assessments in India.

As the board works to implement changes, the focus will remain on transparency, efficiency, and student welfare. The upcoming months will be critical in determining whether these appointments can lead to a more robust and trustworthy evaluation system, ensuring that students’ efforts are fairly recognized without compromise.