The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) results for 2026 have revealed a significant milestone in Maharashtra: boys in the ICSE (Class X) examination have matched the performance of girls, both achieving an identical pass percentage of 99.93%. This marks a notable shift after years of girls outperforming boys in the state.
ISC Results Show Girls Still Ahead
In contrast, the ISC (Class XII) results continued to demonstrate a lead for female students, with a pass percentage of 99.95%, compared to 99.79% for boys. Across Maharashtra, 30,393 students from 279 schools appeared for the ICSE examination, while 4,061 candidates from 81 schools took the ISC exams.
National Performance Overview
Nationally, the ISC examination recorded an overall pass percentage of 99.13%, and the ICSE examination achieved 99.18%. In both categories, girls outperformed boys. Maharashtra marginally surpassed the national average, maintaining its reputation as one of the better-performing regions.
Top Score Distribution
The distribution of top scores indicates a broadening base of high achievers. The number of candidates scoring between 90% and 95% rose to 7,942 from 6,986 in the previous year. However, those scoring 95% and above saw a slight decline to 5,088 from 5,230 in 2025, suggesting a redistribution within the top bands rather than a decline in overall performance.
Principal and Educator Insights
Jayashree Mulay, principal of DSK School, commented that the ICSE results reflect outstanding academic performance nationwide, maintaining the tradition of excellence associated with CISCE. She noted that the overall pass percentage remained above 99%, indicating consistent student achievement. A notable feature of the 2026 results is the strong performance of students from the West region, which led zones in overall success, highlighting growing academic competitiveness.
The state's pass percentage increased slightly from 99.8% in 2025 to 99.88% in 2026 for ISC, and from 99.9% to 99.93% for ICSE. Only 21 ICSE students in Maharashtra remained unqualified, while five ISC students did not pass.
Amita Seth, principal of Wisdom World School in Hadapsar, observed that students found the physics paper difficult. In most other subjects, multiple-choice questions were tricky, causing many students to miss full marks. Computer science and English literature yielded the highest scores.
Caroline Ross, principal of St Mary's School, noted that her students excelled in English, history, and geography. Biology was another subject where many scored 100%. Overall, more students received slightly lower marks than expected in mathematics, though some scored 100. Physics was widely considered difficult.
Student Achievements and Perspectives
In Pune, numerous students scored above 90% in both ISC and ICSE exams. Principals emphasized that while question papers were more application-based, students performed well due to their practical skills, not just rote learning.
Ipsita Rodricks, director of Vidya Valley School, reported that 40 students scored 90% or above. She highlighted that all toppers also excel in sports and participated in student exchange programs, balancing academics with other pursuits.
Mustafa Ginwala (99.2%), Vivhaan Oswal (99%), and Ansh Mehta (99%) from The Bishop's School, Camp, scored above 99% in ISC. Mustafa, who enjoys horse riding, go-karting, and watching motorsports, aims to get into a decent government medical college.
Krutika Jerry Vaz from Bishop's Co-Ed School, Kalyaninagar, achieved 99.8% in ICSE. She stayed away from social media and in her spare time researches machines. Her mother is her role model, and she plans to prepare for JEE and pursue engineering.
Hibba Shaikh, topper from St Mary's School with 99.4% in ICSE, emphasized consistency and planning as keys to success. She will enroll in an IB Diploma Program.
