Uttar Pradesh Records Marginal Decline in CBSE Class 10 Pass Percentage
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) declared the Class 10 results on Wednesday, revealing that Uttar Pradesh experienced a slight decrease in its pass percentage. The state recorded a pass rate of 89.3% for the 2026 academic year, marking a marginal decline of 1% from last year's 90.3%. In 2024, Uttar Pradesh had achieved a higher pass percentage of 91.5%, indicating a fluctuating trend in student performance over recent years.
State Performance and Comparisons
Similar to previous years, Uttar Pradesh remained among the lower-performing states in India. With a pass percentage of 89.3%, it trailed behind states such as Rajasthan, which achieved an impressive 94.8%, and Madhya Pradesh with 92.5%. Uttar Pradesh stood at par with Bihar, which also recorded a pass percentage of 89.3%. In contrast, Tamil Nadu emerged as the top-performing state with a remarkable 99.9% of students clearing the exam, followed closely by Kerala and Telangana, both at 99.8%.
Gender Performance Disparity
Once again, girls outperformed boys in Uttar Pradesh's Class 10 examinations. In 2026, 91.5% of girls cleared the exam, compared to 87.8% of boys. This continues a trend from the previous year, where girls had a pass rate of 92.6% and boys 88.7%, highlighting a consistent gender gap in academic achievement within the state.
Reasons for Poor Performance
A CBSE official cited several factors contributing to Uttar Pradesh's subpar results. The poor pupil-teacher ratio and lack of emphasis on education were identified as primary reasons. The official emphasized that the state has significant potential for improvement but requires more quality teachers and timely resources, such as textbooks, to enhance learning outcomes. Additionally, language barriers pose a challenge for students in Uttar Pradesh, particularly those not proficient in English or Hindi, which can hinder exam performance.
CBSE Policy Changes and Merit Recognition
In line with its earlier decision to avoid unhealthy competition among students, the CBSE did not declare a merit list for the Class 10 exams. According to a press release issued by CBSE Controller of Examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj, the Board is also not awarding first, second, or third divisions to students. However, the Board will issue merit certificates to 0.1% of students who scored the highest marks in their subjects, providing recognition for top achievers without fostering excessive rivalry.
Examination Statistics
In Uttar Pradesh, a total of 4.64 lakh students registered for the Class 10 exams from 4,237 schools across the state. The registration included 2.73 lakh boys and 1.91 lakh girls. Of these, 4.61 lakh students appeared for the exams, with 2.71 lakh boys and 1.90 lakh girls participating. Ultimately, 4.12 lakh students qualified, reflecting the overall pass rate and highlighting the scale of the examination process in the state.
