CBSE Answer Sheet Photocopy Fee: CIC Directs Board to Charge Rules-Compliant RTI Fees
CBSE Board Examination: The Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled that CBSE must provide evaluated answer script photocopies at standard RTI rates (₹10 application fee, ₹2 per page), invalidating CBSE's ₹500–₹700 per-subject fee. Citing Section 2(f) and Supreme Court precedents, the CIC affirmed that financial barriers cannot restrict students' statutory rights to access answer sheets.
CBSE Board Examination: The Central Information Commission has made a seminal order directing the Central Board of Secondary Education to provide photocopies of the evaluated answer scripts of the board examination strictly following the fee regime applicable under the Right to Information (RTI) statute. In effect, this order renders the fee schedule followed by the CBSE over the years, wherein students were asked to pay heavy fees ranging from ₹500 to ₹700 per answer book for getting the verification and copies of the same, null and void.
The commission observed that no educational board could impose any fee regime which contradicts the statutory provisions and held that evaluated answer scripts are information within the meaning of Section 2(f) of the RTI Act, 2005. It means that the evaluated answer scripts would henceforth have to be made available under the fee regime applicable under the RTI regime, i.e., an application fee of ₹10 and a charge of ₹2 per page for getting copies of the same. This order conforms to the principles established by the Supreme Court in its orders over time and reaffirms that financial considerations shall not stand in the way of students in verifying their evaluation process.
CIC Directive on CBSE Answer Sheet Copies: Key Highlights
Below mentioned are the key highlights of the CIC Directive on CBSE Answer Sheet Copies:
| Parameter | Details |
| Adjudicating Authority | Central Information Commission (CIC) |
| Target Organization | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Core Ruling | Answer sheet copies must be provided at prescribed RTI fee rates |
| RTI Fee Rate | ₹2 per page (instead of board's custom fee of ₹500–₹700) |
| Legal Basis | Right to Information Act, 2005 & Supreme Court precedents |
Key Takeaways & Implications for Students
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Eliminates steep financial burdens on students by limiting photocopied answer sheet costs to only nominal RTI fees instead of steep board fees, providing equal access for all economic classes of students.
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Emphasises that the national law on RTI prevails over any board law, and no administrative body is allowed to demand unauthorised commercial charges for photocopies of answer scripts.
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Facilitates script acquisition by allowing applicants to send online applications using rtionline.gov.in, with only a small fee of ten rupees being charged.
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Compels the board to keep full transparency regarding evaluation of answer scripts by permitting students to verify correctness of marking, check for calculation mistakes, and guarantee fairness of grading standards in all subjects.
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Maintains the established Supreme Court judgments that the answer scripts which have been evaluated qualify as publicly accessible information.
Siddhi Sharma is an education journalist at Jagran Josh. A Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from IP University, she brings sharp newsroom instincts developed during her previous stint at Zee News. At Jagran Josh, Siddhi specializes in decoding the educational updates. Her coverage is highly exam-centric, ranging from curated news blogs for competitive exams to crucial school board and university news. Combining her strong media foundations with a research-driven approach, she creates reliable, high-utility content that helps students and aspirants stay ahead of the curve. Her writing is factual, engaging, and tailored to meet the fast-paced needs of modern learners and exam aspirants.
