Who Is The New CBSE Chairman? 5 Interesting Facts About IAS Officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram

The Central government has named IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram as the new CBSE chairperson, while appointing Varun Bhardwaj as Secretary. The changes come as CBSE faces questions on its digital evaluation and On-Screen Marking system. A formal inquiry into the technology and related contracts is already underway.

Concerns from students helped trigger closer scrutiny of CBSE’s digital assessment. Several Class 12 students complained that scanned copies of answer sheets on the portal did not resemble their handwriting. These claims created fear of potential mismatches in scripts and marks, placing the OSM platform under intense public and official attention.

CBSE new chairperson and OSM probe details

The leadership reshuffle followed the sudden transfers of former CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta. Their movement out of CBSE matched the announcement of a one-member inquiry committee. The committee will examine how services for the On-Screen Marking system were sourced and managed by the board.

According to the official order, S Radha Chauhan will head the inquiry into CBSE’s OSM contracts. Chauhan currently serves as Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission. The committee can seek help from officials in other ministries and departments. This power aims to support a detailed review of procedures and agreements.

CBSE new chairperson profile and key postings

Lokhande Prashant Sitaram belongs to the 2001 IAS batch from the AGMUT cadre. Sitaram moves to CBSE from the Ministry of Home Affairs, where Sitaram served as Additional Secretary. Varun Bhardwaj joins as Secretary, forming a new leadership pairing expected to guide the board through the controversy.

The government has also reassigned senior officers linked with CBSE. Rahul Singh, a 1996-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre, has been posted as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The broader set of postings signals a reset in how CBSE manages digital evaluation and administrative oversight.

The appointments of Lokhande Prashant Sitaram and Varun Bhardwaj place fresh leadership over CBSE’s digital marking issues. With an inquiry led by S Radha Chauhan, authorities are set to review procurement and processes around the OSM system, while student concerns about answer sheet mismatches remain central to the review.