CBSE chairman Lokhande Prashant Sitaram: Who is the IAS officer appointed by Union government amid OSM controversy

The Union government has appointed Lokhande Prashant Sitaram as the new chief of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), replacing Rahul Singh. The appointment comes amid controversy surrounding the CBSE Class 12 results, with several students and parents raising concerns about the evaluation process.

Many students and parents have criticised the on-screen assessment system used for checking answer sheets. Several users on social media have alleged that answer copies were exchanged with those of other students during the evaluation process.

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Lokhande Prashant Sitaram is a 2001-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the AGMUT cadre. He is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, a position he has held since April 1, 2026.

Over the course of his career, he has served in various capacities, including Joint Secretary, Director, Deputy Secretary, Private Secretary, Counsellor, Deputy Commissioner and Secretary.

Educational background

Born on November 20, 1973, Lokhande holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pune University. He also possesses a Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering from the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai.

Awards and achievements

The officer has been honoured with the State Award (Gold) for Meritorious Service on two occasions. He is proficient in English, Hindi and Marathi.

Appointment amid result-related concerns

The leadership change comes at a time when the board is facing criticism over the Class 12 evaluation process. Students and parents have expressed concerns regarding the on-screen marking system, with some alleging through social media posts that answer sheets may have been mixed up during assessment.