Punjab to launch digital on-screen marking for board exams from March 2026

Punjab is moving to digitize the evaluation of its board examinations, with the Punjab School Education Board set to implement on-screen marking from the March 2026 exam cycle.

The reform will replace the conventional manual checking process with a centralized digital system under which answer sheets are scanned and assessed online.

Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the state will be among the first in the country to adopt a fully digital evaluation model for board exams.

Explaining how the system will function, Bains said, "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 pointed to a pilot run conducted during the September 2025 supplementary examinations as proof of readiness.

"The system has already proved its mettle by evaluating 23,000 answer sheets swiftly and accurately during the September 2025 Supplementary Examinations," he said.

The board will begin implementation with one subject in the matriculation examination in 2026, before extending the system to additional subjects in subsequent phases, according to officials.

Detailing the built-in safeguards, Bains said, "Each page of the newly designed answer sheet features a unique QR code, enabling secure scanning and seamless digital processing.”

“Under the OSM system, answer sheets are scanned in a protected environment and uploaded to a centralized dashboard, where examiners evaluate them online with automated totalling, structured marking schemes, and real-time progress monitoring,” he added.

He described the shift as a fundamental restructuring of the evaluation framework rather than a routine technology upgrade.

"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," he added.

PSEB Chairman Dr Amarpal Singh said the initiative is designed to improve timelines and standardization in assessment.

"This initiative reinforces the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government's commitment to integrity and efficiency. Students will benefit from reduced result timelines, standardized 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 said.

He added that technical infrastructure and administrative arrangements for the March 2026 rollout have been finalized. "The OSM system carries the guarantee of Punjab's commitment to its students," he said.