Pune Division Achieves Second Rank in Maharashtra Board Exams
Pune division, which includes Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Solapur districts, has achieved an overall pass percentage of 91.3%, securing the second rank among all nine administrative divisions in Maharashtra. This marks a significant improvement from its sixth-place position in 2025, driven by strong performances in science and commerce streams. The Konkan division topped the list.
District-Wise Performance
Of the total 2.41 lakh students who appeared for the exam from Pune division, 2.20 lakh passed. Within the division, Pune district led with a pass rate of 93.3%, followed by Ahmednagar at 90.3% and Solapur at 87.2%.
Arts Stream Remains a Challenge
Arts continues to be a weak point for Pune division, with only 77.4% of students qualifying. Prakash Pawar, vice-principal of Fergusson College, attributed this to a lack of teacher recruitment and general indifference toward the arts field. "For the past few years, there has been no teacher recruitment. The education sector is going through a bad phase, and it is evident in the results. This general indifference to arts is also seen among parents and students. Many think there is no future in it, or take it too lightly, resulting in poor performance," Pawar said.
High Scorers and Performance Distribution
Pune division's share of high scorers (90% and above) was slightly lower than the state average. In Pune, 981 students scored above 90%, whereas statewide, 7,510 students achieved this feat. The majority of successful candidates in Pune division—1,09,634 students—scored in the 45% to 60% range, accounting for nearly half of all passes.
Impact of Screen Time on Writing Skills
Aftab Anwar Shaikh, principal of Choice College of Arts & Commerce, Warje, linked declining performance in arts to poor writing skills. "Arts or humanities has descriptive subjects. Students need to write more. But with increased screen time, writing has taken a hit, and that is showing up in the results. Cellphones have leveled the playing field, but that also means across social strata, screen time has increased and writing ability has decreased," Shaikh explained.
Need for Consistent Effort in Humanities
Mahendra Ganpule, spokesperson of the Maharashtra State Headmasters' Forum, noted that many arts students underestimate the subject. "Students think humanities is easy, but they don't realize it is tough and requires serious and consistent study to pass the exams," he said.
Mathematics Topper's Advice
Shubhan Sonar, who scored 100 in mathematics, emphasized the importance of understanding concepts and consistent practice. "Some questions are calculation-heavy while others are concept-based. Both require patience and practice to solve in real-time exams. It is necessary to devote majority of time to mathematics, as it is easy to score high with practice, which involves concept clarity and fast problem-solving ability," Sonar added.
Admission Process Underway
Senior colleges have started posting admission notices for undergraduate programs on their websites, with most adopting online application processes. Fergusson College will make applications for FYBA, BSc, and BVoc courses available online from Monday. Abasaheb Garware College has adopted a hybrid mode for FYBSc admissions starting May 5, with admissions offered on a first-come, first-serve basis until seats are filled.
