Mandeep K. Bhandari has been appointed the new Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment on Friday, September 25, 2026, and it was formally notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) the same day.
Bhandari becomes the third officer to head CBSE in less than four months, taking charge at a time when the board is dealing with scrutiny over its digital evaluation systems.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Mandeep K. Bhandari |
| New Position | Chairperson, CBSE |
| IAS Batch | 2001 |
| Cadre | AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, Union Territories) |
| Appointing Authority | Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) |
| Appointment Date | September 25, 2026 |
| Rank Assigned | Additional Secretary to the Government of India |
| Previous Role | Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Predecessor | Lokhande Prashant Sitaram (held additional charge) |
| Parent Ministry | Ministry of Education |
Who Is Mandeep K. Bhandari?
Mandeep K. Bhandari is a 2001-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service, belonging to the AGMUT cadre. Before stepping into this role, he served as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
He is originally from Punjab and brings an unusual academic background to the bureaucracy. Before joining the civil services, Bhandari trained and practised as a doctor. He holds an MBBS degree, having studied at Panjab University and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital.
Terms of the Appointment
Bhandari has been appointed CBSE Chairperson in the rank and pay of an Additional Secretary to the Government of India. To accommodate this, the government has temporarily upgraded the post for his tenure.
Why CBSE Needed a New Chairperson
This appointment comes against the backdrop of ongoing controversy at CBSE involving its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, used for evaluating Class 12 answer sheets in 2026. Students and parents had raised concerns about the evaluation process and how results were handled afterward.
In response, the government had earlier set up a one-member inquiry committee, headed by S Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission, to examine how the OSM evaluation services were procured.
A Quick Look at CBSE’s Recent Leadership Changes
CBSE has seen unusually frequent changes at the top over the past few months:
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| June 2, 2026 | Rahul Singh transferred out as CBSE Chairperson |
| June 2, 2026 | Lokhande Prashant Sitaram given additional charge as Chairperson |
| September 25, 2026 | Mandeep K. Bhandari appointed as the new, full-time Chairperson |
Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, who held additional charge during this interim period, was serving as Additional Secretary in the Union Home Ministry at the time. With Bhandari’s appointment, CBSE now has a dedicated, full-time chairperson after months of an interim arrangement.
What Awaits Bhandari as CBSE Chairperson
As Chairperson, Bhandari will be responsible for several key areas of CBSE’s functioning:
- Overseeing the board’s examination cycle
- Handling curriculum-related decisions
- Managing the school affiliation process
- Steering ongoing reforms in assessment systems, including the scrutiny around OSM evaluation
Given the recent controversies, restoring confidence in CBSE’s evaluation processes is likely to be an early priority.
Why This Appointment Matters
| Reason | Impact |
|---|---|
| Ends leadership uncertainty | Brings a full-time chairperson after months of additional-charge arrangements |
| Experienced administrator | Brings two decades of IAS experience, including a senior J&K posting |
| Unique background | A medical degree adds a different perspective to educational administration |
| Timing | Appointment comes at a sensitive moment amid the OSM evaluation controversy |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been appointed as the new CBSE Chairperson?
Mandeep K. Bhandari, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
When was the appointment made?
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment on September 25, 2026, and it was notified by the Department of Personnel and Training the same day.
What was Mandeep K. Bhandari’s role before this appointment?
He was serving as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir before being appointed CBSE Chairperson.
What is Mandeep K. Bhandari’s educational background?
He holds an MBBS degree and studied at Panjab University and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. He practised medicine before joining the Indian Administrative Service.
Why has CBSE seen frequent leadership changes recently?
CBSE has changed chairpersons three times in about four months amid controversy over its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system used for Class 12 answer-sheet evaluation.
Who did Mandeep K. Bhandari succeed as CBSE Chairperson?
He succeeds Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, who had been holding additional charge of the post since June 2, 2026.
What rank has Bhandari been appointed at?
He has been appointed CBSE Chairperson in the rank and pay of an Additional Secretary to the Government of India, with the post temporarily upgraded for this appointment.
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