The number of students scoring 90 percent and above marks in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations has declined to 7,510 this year, compared to 8,352 last year. This is the lowest figure in the last three years, according to data released by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.
Division-Wise Breakdown
The Mumbai division recorded the highest number of such students at 3,466, followed by Amravati division with 1,003, and Pune division with 981. Other divisions reported significantly lower numbers.
Reasons for the Decline
Mahendra Ganpule, spokesperson of the Maharashtra School Principals' Federation, attributed the drop to the reduced importance given to HSC board examinations. He explained that the 90 percent club is primarily driven by science stream students who excel in subjects like mathematics and physics, where scoring full marks is possible. However, most students now focus on competitive entrance exams such as JEE and NEET, paying less attention to HSC preparation. Since admissions to engineering and medical colleges depend largely on entrance exam scores, with board exams serving only as a qualifying criterion, students often neglect HSC subjects.
Ganpule added that the state board syllabus is expected to align with competitive exams in the future, which could lead to an increase in the number of students scoring 90 percent and above.
Impact on College Admissions
Principals noted that lower marks in Class XII will not significantly affect cut-off percentages for senior college admissions, as the bar has been gradually declining over the years. Deepak Powdel, principal of Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC), said that five years ago, the first merit list for a coveted course closed at 94 percent, but now it closes at 91 percent. He attributed this trend to the distribution of merit across a wider range of students and the availability of more options.
Overall, while the number of high scorers has decreased, the shift in focus from board exams to entrance tests is reshaping academic priorities among students in Maharashtra.
