CBSE Re-evaluation Portal Hit by Cyberattacks, Board Says

CBSE Re-evaluation Portal Hit by Cyberattacks, Board Assures Students Services Are Restored

New Delhi, June 2: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday said its newly launched Class 12 re-evaluation and verification portal came under a major cyberattack shortly after becoming operational, triggering temporary disruptions for thousands of students attempting to access the service.

The board disclosed that the portal was subjected to what it described as a "barrage of cyberattacks" while students across the country rushed to submit applications for answer sheet verification and re-evaluation following the declaration of Class 12 board examination results.

According to CBSE, the portal received nearly 1.5 million hits within just two minutes of launch, while security systems detected more than one lakh unauthorized access attempts. Officials said these activities resembled denial-of-service attacks designed to overwhelm the platform and disrupt normal operations.

Portal Restored After Security Measures

Despite the disruption, CBSE said technical teams acted quickly to stabilize the platform.

The board stated that services have now been restored and students can continue submitting their applications. More than 16,000 students successfully completed their submissions after the portal resumed normal functioning.

In an official statement, CBSE said malicious actors attempted to interrupt services while genuine candidates were accessing the portal for post-result activities. The board maintained that its cybersecurity safeguards were activated to protect student data and ensure uninterrupted services.

The application window for verification and re-evaluation remains open until June 6, 2026.

Background: A Troubled Rollout

The cyberattack controversy comes after weeks of technical difficulties surrounding CBSE's post-result services.

The re-evaluation portal was originally expected to become operational earlier but faced repeated delays. Students across India had reported payment gateway issues, login failures, missing receipts and intermittent portal crashes. These complaints forced CBSE to postpone the launch while technical fixes were implemented.

The board eventually activated the portal on June 2 after assuring students that measures had been taken to create a smoother and more transparent process.

However, within hours of launch, fresh complaints emerged on social media regarding login difficulties, slow loading speeds and verification errors. Several students claimed they were unable to access the system despite repeated attempts.

Cybersecurity Concerns Around Educational Platforms

The latest incident has renewed concerns about cybersecurity preparedness across India's educational technology infrastructure.

In recent weeks, CBSE's digital evaluation ecosystem has already been under scrutiny following discussions surrounding the board's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Earlier reports suggested vulnerabilities in associated platforms, although CBSE clarified that its actual answer evaluation system had not been compromised.

Security experts say education portals have increasingly become targets because they store sensitive student information including examination records, personal identification details and payment information.

A cybersecurity analyst familiar with large-scale government platforms said denial-of-service attacks are often intended to disrupt access rather than steal data.

"When a portal receives millions of automated requests within minutes, it can become inaccessible to legitimate users. The objective is often disruption rather than data theft," the expert said.

While there is no official indication that student records were breached, the scale of the attack has highlighted the growing need for stronger digital protections across educational institutions.

Impact on Students Across India

For students awaiting re-evaluation, the disruption created additional anxiety during an already stressful period.

Class 12 students seeking verification of marks or re-evaluation must follow a time-bound process. Any delay in accessing the portal raises concerns about missing application deadlines, particularly for students applying to universities and professional courses.

The issue is being closely watched by students in states such as West Bengal, where many candidates depend on board results for admission into engineering, medical and general degree programmes.

Parents have also expressed concern about recurring technical issues.

Several users on student forums and social media platforms reported difficulties ranging from payment failures to frozen screens and automatic session timeouts. While these claims remain anecdotal, they indicate widespread frustration among applicants.

CBSE's Response

CBSE has urged students not to panic and to continue using the portal.

Officials said cybersecurity teams are actively monitoring the platform and additional safeguards have been implemented following Tuesday's incident. The board also advised students to avoid multiple login attempts and rely only on official communication channels for updates.

The board reiterated that all genuine applications submitted within the prescribed period will be processed according to established guidelines.

Students can apply for:

• Verification of marks

• Access to scanned answer sheets

• Re-evaluation of specific answers

The current application window will remain open until midnight on June 6.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus for CBSE will be maintaining portal stability and ensuring that students can complete their applications without further interruptions.

Education observers believe the incident could prompt a broader review of cybersecurity standards for examination-related digital services across India.

For now, the board insists that the portal is operational and secure, and that students should continue their re-evaluation applications through the official process before the deadline expires.

With university admissions and competitive examination schedules approaching, the smooth functioning of the re-evaluation system will remain critical for lakhs of Class 12 students across the country.