Big shift in Maha edu: Board set to pilot digital paper checking system

Nagpur: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education is preparing to test digital evaluation of board exam answer sheets during the upcoming supplementary exams.Under the proposed system, answer sheets will be scanned and uploaded to on-screen marking software, allowing evaluators to assess papers digitally. The move follows a similar model used by CBSE this year for Class 12 board exams.Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior state education official told TOI that supplementary exams offer the best landscape for such trials because the number of students appearing is less.The official said that the board has agreed in principle to eventually adopt digital evaluation, but wants to first test the full workflow on a limited scale. For the trial, only one subject is likely to be selected during the supplementary exams.Supplementary exams are expected to begin mid-June, though the timetable has not yet been announced. Sources said mathematics is being considered as the most suitable subject for the pilot because it is step-based and easier to assess through on-screen marking.As part of the plan, a private agency would scan answer sheets at the district level. The scanned copies would then be uploaded to evaluation software accessible at designated centres, likely including educational institutes with large computer labs and private online exam centres.Board officials believe the supplementary exams, which involve fewer students, provide the most practical setting to test the system and identify improvements before any wider rollout.