Punjab School Education Board Moves to Digital Marking for March 2026

Under this new "On-Screen Marking" (OSM) system, physical answer booklets will be scanned in a secure environment and uploaded to a central dashboard. File Photo.

Following the footsteps of central education boards, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) is set to implement a fully digital evaluation system for the March 2026 board examinations. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced that Punjab will be among the pioneering state boards to adopt end-to-end digital assessment, marking a major technological leap for the state's schooling system.

Under this new "On-Screen Marking" (OSM) system, physical answer booklets will be scanned in a secure environment and uploaded to a central dashboard. Evaluators will then grade the digital copies on computers. Key features include the use of unique QR codes on every page for enhanced security and automated software that calculates totals to eliminate manual marking errors.

Minister Bains noted that the system has already proven its reliability, having successfully processed 23,000 answer sheets during the September 2025 supplementary exams with high speed and precision.

PSEB Chairman Dr. Amarpal Singh highlighted that the reform is rooted in a "student-first" approach. He further verified that the board has successfully completed all administrative and technical arrangements required for the official launch in March 2026.

Source: The Tribune