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For UAE families still processing the 2026 CBSE Class 12 results, the next decision is often the same one: is it worth challenging the marks? On Sunday, May 17, India's Central Board of Secondary Education announced a set of measures that materially change the answer. Re-evaluation now costs just Rs 25 per question, scanned answer book copies have been cut to Rs 100, and the board has committed to refunding the re-evaluation fee in full if a student's marks increase following the review.

The announcement was made at a press briefing led by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy at India's Ministry of Education, who addressed the board's newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system alongside the post-result support measures put in place for the Class 12 cohort.

What has changed on fees

The revised fee structure is significantly lower across all three post-result options. Students who want to obtain scanned copies of their evaluated answer books can apply between May 19 and May 22 for Rs 100, down from Rs 700 previously. Those who want to raise a formal complaint about specific issues in their marking can do so between May 26 and May 29, also at Rs 100 per subject, compared to the earlier Rs 500 verification fee.

The headline change is on re-evaluation itself. The cost has dropped from Rs 100 per question to Rs 25 per question, making the process far more accessible for families who feel a paper deserves a second look. Both application windows close at midnight on their respective closing dates, so timing matters.

The refund policy is the part most worth flagging. The board has committed to refunding the re-evaluation fee in any case where a student's marks increase after the review. In effect, students who genuinely believe their paper has been under-marked face very little downside in asking for a fresh look: if the review confirms the original score, the cost stays low; if the review brings the marks up, the cost comes back. The board has described the redesign as making the post-result process more accessible and affordable for students and parents across the country.

The On-Screen Marking system, explained

The fee reductions come alongside a broader push by CBSE to explain and defend its new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. OSM replaced the traditional physical checking of answer sheets this year, with scanned answer books now evaluated digitally by trained examiners. The change has drawn questions from students on social media, with many attributing lower-than-expected marks to the new system.

The board's position is that OSM is designed to improve accuracy, transparency and efficiency in the assessment of answer scripts. By moving the marking online, CBSE says, the system reduces human error in totalling and tabulation and ensures stricter consistency with the official marking scheme. The board has also stated that the system accommodates alternative answering methods, so students using different but valid approaches are not disadvantaged.

In its Sunday briefing, the board reiterated that student welfare, transparency and fairness remain at the core of every evaluation reform, and said it remains committed to accurate, transparent and student-centric evaluation practices.

Why this matters for UAE families

The scale of the UAE-based cohort makes these changes immediately relevant. Dr Ram Shankar, Professor and Director of the CBSE Regional Office and Centre of Excellence in Dubai, had earlier confirmed to Gulf News that 10,198 students were registered for the Grade 12 examination in the UAE alone. That is a large number of families now weighing what to do next.

The 2026 cohort has had an unusually difficult year. Regional tensions linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict forced the cancellation of several exams scheduled for mid-March and early April, prompting the board to introduce an alternative assessment scheme that determined final grades through completed papers, practical exams, project work and internal assessments. Despite the disruption, most CBSE schools in the UAE celebrated 100 per cent pass rates and several students bagged near perfect scores. But the disruption inevitably also leaves some students feeling their final grade does not reflect what they would have achieved under a normal exam cycle, which is precisely the situation the new fee structure is designed to address.

Help and support channels

For students experiencing anxiety or uncertainty about results, CBSE has pointed to the support channels it has set up. Tele-counselling is available on 1800-11-8004, and email support can be reached at resultcbse2026@gmail.com. The board has urged students and parents to rely on official channels for clarifications, saying every concern deserves attention and no student is alone in the process.

For families considering whether to apply, school counsellors and class teachers remain the first port of call. As education leaders in the UAE have noted throughout this results cycle, re-evaluation is most useful when it is informed by a structured review of which subjects genuinely warrant a second look, rather than as a blanket response to disappointment. With the new lower fees and the refund-on-improvement commitment, however, the cost-benefit calculation has shifted clearly in students' favour for any paper where there is a credible case for review.

Key dates and figures at a glance

Scanned answer book applications: May 19 to May 22, 2026, at Rs 100. Verification of marks: May 26 to May 29, 2026, at Rs 100 per subject. Re-evaluation: Rs 25 per question, with full refund if marks increase after review.

Sources:

Khaleej Times, "CBSE announces 'full refund' for Grade 12 students if marks increase after re-evaluation" by Poojaraj Maniyeri (May 17, 2026). https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/asia/cbse-full-refund-grade-12-students-mark-increase-re-evaluation 

Gulf News, "India's CBSE slashes re-evaluation fees, offers refund for improved marks" by Sajila Saseendran (May 17, 2026). https://gulfnews.com/uae/education/indias-cbse-slashes-re-evaluation-fees-offers-refund-for-improved-marks-1.500543792