New Delhi, May 29 -- The Central Board of Secondary Education circulated a scripted social media toolkit to school principals this week, directing them to publicly defend its controversial on-screen marking system, with hundreds of institutions including government-run Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas subsequently posting videos echoing the board's talking points, according to a Hindustan Times investigation.

The document, titled "Material for Principals" and seen by HT, contained ready-made scripts for principals to read out on camera, including instructions to describe CBSE as "highly proactive, empathetic, and communicative regarding these teething issues."

The toolkit was allegedly distributed through the board's ...