New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education officially released the Class XII main examination results for the 2025-2026 academic cycle on Wednesday, revealing a national pass rate of 85.20 per cent. While a significant majority of the 1.7 million candidates successfully cleared the exams, the board noted a 3.19 per cent decrease in the overall passing percentage compared to the previous year. Out of the 1,768,968 students who appeared for the assessments, a total of 1,507,109 individuals managed to secure their certificates. This year’s data continues to highlight a substantial gender performance gap, with female students outperforming their male counterparts by a margin of 6.73 per cent.
The gender-based breakdown indicates that 88.86 per cent of girls passed the examination, while boys recorded a pass rate of 82.13 per cent. Both demographics, however, experienced a decline in performance from the 2024-2025 session, where girls and boys achieved passing rates of 91.64 per cent and 85.70 per cent, respectively. Geographically, the Trivandrum region maintained its reputation for academic excellence by topping the national chart with a 95.62 per cent pass rate. The southern educational hubs of Chennai and Bengaluru followed closely behind, while the Ludhiana and Panchkula regions reported respectable success rates of 87.92 per cent and 85.73 per cent.
For students looking to improve their grades or those who did not meet the initial passing criteria, the board has scheduled supplementary examinations for July 15. This upcoming session is open to candidates from the 2026 cohort who wish to enhance their performance in a single subject, as well as those placed in the Compartment Category. Additionally, students from the 2025 batch who are in the Compartment Category will be permitted to sit for these exams. Board officials reminded candidates that this represents the third and final opportunity for the 2025 compartment students to clear their requirements. The board remains committed to providing a transparent and supportive environment for all learners as they navigate their post-secondary pathways.
