New Delhi, Nov. 3 -- The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) collected Rs.16.47 crore (unaudited) from students seeking scanned copies of evaluated Class 12 answer books, verification of marks and reevaluation after its 2026 board examinations, according to an October 14 reply to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by HT on August 22. The board said its finance division had not received any "sanction order" for payment to its on-screen marking (OSM) vendor, Coempt Edu Teck, for scanning Class 12 answer books, and that the finance section had no information on penalties imposed on the company. CBSE disclosed Rs.3.57 crore (unaudited) in refunds to candidates whose marks increased following reevaluation, equivalent to 21.68% of the combined collections. However, it did not disclose the number of beneficiaries, the total number of unique students who applied for the three services or subject-wise changes in marks. Several students told HT they received no refund despite an increase in their marks. CBSE did not respond to HT's queries seeking clarification on the figures, refunds, vendor payments and penalties. "OSM evaluation and re-evaluation was a big mess. I have never seen so much chaos in my decades of experience as a teacher and a school administrator," said a principal of a CBSE-affiliated school in Gurugram, requesting anonymity. One student who usually topped a subject saw his marks rise by 30 after reevaluation, the principal said, adding that delays cost several students opportunities to apply to foreign universities. CBSE conducted its Class 12 examinations from February 17 to April 10 and declared results on May 13, with the pass percentage falling to 85.20% from 88.39% in 2025. Amid concerns over OSM, the board on May 17 reduced fees for scanned answer books from Rs.700 to Rs.100 per subject, verification of marks from Rs.500 to Rs.100, and reevaluation from Rs.100 to Rs.25 per question. It also promised full refund if a candidate's marks increased following reevaluation. Students could apply for scanned copies from May 19 to 26, while the portal for verification and reevaluation remained open from June 1 to 7. In its October 14 reply, CBSE disclosed Rs.11.37 crore (unaudited) in collections from scanned-copy requests and Rs.5.10 crore (unaudited) under the combined category of verification and reevaluation....