Mandeep Bhandari, a 2001-batch IAS officer from the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and notified on September 25, 2026. Bhandari takes charge at a significant time for the board, which has been dealing with questions surrounding the implementation of the onscreen marking system for Class 12 examinations.
Bhandari has held several administrative and leadership positions in Jammu & Kashmir as well as at the Central government level. His experience spans multiple areas of public administration.
An MBBS graduate, Bhandari has also worked in the health sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as Joint Secretary (Drugs) in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, where he was involved in the government’s pharmaceutical and medical-supply administration.
His appointment brings an officer with experience in both State-level administration and Central government policymaking to the leadership of the country’s school education board.
As CBSE chairperson, Bhandari will oversee the board’s academic, examination and administrative functions, including the implementation of policies affecting affiliated schools and students across India.
