The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has reported a 3.19% decline in the pass percentage for Class 12 examinations this year, with 85.20% of students clearing the exams compared to 88.39% last year. Out of 17,80,365 registered students, 17,68,968 appeared, and 15,07,109 passed.
Rise in Compartment Cases
The dip in pass percentage was accompanied by a sharp increase in the number of students placed in the compartment category. This year, 1,63,800 students (9.26%) were placed in compartment, up from 1,29,095 (7.63%) last year. The rise of 34,705 students in a single year highlights a broader decline in academic performance.
Gender-Wise Performance
The decline was observed across genders. Girls recorded a pass percentage of 88.86%, down from 91.64% last year, a fall of 2.78%. Boys recorded 82.13%, down from 85.70% last year, a steeper decline of 3.57%. Consequently, the gender gap widened from 5.94% last year to 6.73% this year.
State-Wise Variations
State-wise data revealed significant disparities. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, two of the most populous states and major contributors of CBSE students, recorded pass percentages of 74.45% and 77.22%, respectively. In contrast, Goa led all states with 96.38%, followed by Kerala (95.61%) and Tamil Nadu (95.25%). Maharashtra recorded 87.04%.
Institution Category Performance
The decline was most pronounced among independent schools, which account for the largest share of CBSE affiliates, with a pass percentage of 84.22%. Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas remained steady at 98.55% and 98.47%, respectively, continuing to outperform all other categories. Foreign schools also saw a dip, falling to 90.50% from 95.01% last year, a drop of 4.51 percentage points. Of the 24,009 students who appeared from 185 foreign schools across 27 countries, 21,728 passed.
Supplementary Exams
Supplementary examinations for compartment candidates are scheduled to be conducted on July 15.
