CBSE Class X 2026 Results Declared with Marginal Improvement in Pass Percentage
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced the Class X results on Wednesday, revealing a slight increase in the overall pass percentage for the 2026 academic session. The pass rate climbed marginally to 93.7%, up by 0.04 percentage points from 93.66% recorded in 2025. This consistent performance comes against the backdrop of a significantly larger number of students appearing for the examination this year.
Gender-Wise Performance and Registration Trends
Girls continued their longstanding trend of outperforming boys in the CBSE Class X examinations. The pass percentage for female candidates stood at 94.99%, showing a minor dip from 95% in 2025. In contrast, boys achieved a pass rate of 92.69%, marking a slight improvement from 92.63% last year. Transgender candidates recorded a pass percentage of 87.5% in 2026, compared to 95% in the previous year.
A total of 24.8 lakh students registered for the Class X exams in 2026, representing an increase from nearly 23.9 lakh registrations in 2025. Out of these registrations, 24.7 lakh candidates appeared for the examination, with 23.2 lakh successfully passing. This steady growth in participation reflects the expanding educational infrastructure, with affiliated schools increasing from 26,675 in 2025 to 27,339 in 2026, and examination centers rising from 7,837 to 8,075 during the same period.
High Achievers and Regional Performance Highlights
The 2026 results showcased a substantial number of high-scoring students. A remarkable 2,21,574 candidates, constituting 8.96% of the total, scored above 90%. Furthermore, 55,368 students, representing 2.24% of the examinees, achieved scores exceeding 95%.
Regionally, southern zones dominated the performance rankings. Thiruvananthapuram and Vijayawada jointly secured the top position with an exceptional pass rate of 99.79%. They were closely followed by Chennai at 99.58% and Bengaluru at 98.91%. Delhi also demonstrated strong performance, with Delhi West recording 97.45% and Delhi East achieving 97.33%, placing both regions among the top five nationally. Other high-performing regions included Pune (96.66%), Ahmedabad (96.61%), Ludhiana (95.7%), and Ajmer (94.78%).
Institutional Performance Across School Categories
Analysis of institution-wise results revealed significant variations across different school categories. Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) led with a near-perfect pass percentage of 99.57%, followed closely by Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) at 99.42%. Schools under the STSS category achieved a commendable 97.42% pass rate, while independent schools recorded 93.77%. Government schools and government-aided institutions showed slightly lower performance, with pass percentages of 91.43% and 91.01%, respectively.
Special Student Groups and Foreign School Performance
Children With Special Needs (CWSN) continued to demonstrate strong academic performance. Out of 9,523 registered CWSN candidates, 9,443 appeared for the examination and 9,088 passed, resulting in an impressive pass rate of 96.24%. Notably, within this group, 452 students scored above 90%, and 91 candidates crossed the 95% mark, reflecting exceptional achievement levels.
Candidates in foreign schools showed notable improvement in their performance. A total of 30,745 students registered from foreign schools, with 30,665 appearing and 30,389 passing, resulting in a pass percentage of 99.1%. This marks an increase from 2025, when 29,847 students registered, 29,745 appeared, and 29,320 passed, achieving a pass rate of 98.57%.
Compartment Category and School-Specific Achievements
With the increase in the number of candidates, the compartment category also saw growth. The number of students placed in the compartment category rose from 1,41,353 in 2025 to 1,47,172 in 2026.
Several schools expressed pride in their students' accomplishments. At Amity International School, Pushp Vihar, all 166 candidates who appeared for the examination passed, achieving a perfect 100% pass rate. Principal Ameeta Mohan stated, "All students secured first division. The school recorded an average score of 85.28%, with 157 students achieving distinctions. In terms of score distribution, 19 students scored above 95%, 38 students fell in the 90-95% range, 68 students scored between 80-90%, and 32 students were in the 70–80% bracket."
Shiv Nadar School, Noida, also recorded a perfect pass percentage, with the school topper securing 99%. The overall school average was 86.02%. Principal Anju Soni remarked, "The students' focus, resilience and hard work have brought laurels to the school, and we are immensely proud of each one of them. This success reflects not only academic excellence but also future-readiness and holistic development. Alongside scholastic achievements, we celebrate your growth in values, creativity, and life skills nurtured through diverse learning experiences."
The CBSE Class X 2026 results demonstrate the board's consistent performance standards despite increasing participation, with particular highlights in regional achievements, institutional excellence, and the strong performance of special student groups.
