Central Information Commission directs CBSE to follow RTI fee rules

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to adhere strictly to the photocopying fees prescribed under the RTI Rules, 2012, when providing answer scripts to students. The decision follows an appeal by a Class 10 student who sought copies of his examination papers via the Right to Information (RTI) Act, citing that the board’s standard re-evaluation process was prohibitively expensive.

The CIC also recommended that the CBSE amend a circular issued on May 19, 2025, which restricted candidates from seeking revaluation after obtaining their answer sheets through the RTI Act. The Commission found this restriction inconsistent with the transparency goals of the RTI law.

The dispute originated when the student raised concerns regarding marking accuracy, moderation policies, and blank pages in his answer books. While the board maintained it had followed existing protocols, the CIC emphasized that barring students from seeking further verification after accessing sheets via RTI undermines the principles of the Act.