Hurried digital shift

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) seems to have introduced its new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system in great haste, and imposed the same on examiners without adequate training. Students write examinations under pressure and within limited time, making careful human evaluation essential.

In the manual system, examiners take time to read, analyse, and award marks with judgment — something OSM cannot replace. Examination evaluation is not meant to showcase achievements under the Digital India programme, but to safeguard the future of lakhs of students.

Of late, the CBSE seems to be turning from the Central Board of Secondary Education into the ‘Central Board of Spoiling Education’.

N. Nagarajan,

Secunderabad

Maritime plans

Amidst the ongoing war in West Asia as well as the conflict in the South China Sea, it is best for India to have friends equipped with the most advanced capabilities in the maritime domain. However, such bold initiatives aimed at enhancing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the South China Sea need robust political will and diplomatic acumen to yield results.

Manas Agarwal,

Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh

Elite privilege

The government’s decision to acquire land under the Delhi Gymkhana Club has displeased the same elite bureaucracy that sermonises about austerity, subsidy burdens, and the “optimal allocation of resources”, but seldom explains how sprawling clubs with manicured greens, subsidised liquor, elite sporting facilities, and prime urban real estate continue to flourish at throwaway costs. The issue is not merely social; it is moral. India’s genuine sporting ecosystem gasps for oxygen. District stadia decay, school grounds vanish, and aspiring athletes crowd-fund their dreams. Yet, state patronage continues to flow effortlessly towards elite recreational islands masquerading as heritage institutions for those cushioned by power.

R. Narayanan,

Navi Mumbai