The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced the Class 10 board examination results for the 2025-26 academic session today, declaring an overall pass percentage of 93.70%.
More than 24.71 lakh students appeared for the examinations,
which were conducted from February 17 to March 11, 2026, across 8,074 centres
in India and abroad. Of these, 23,16,008 students successfully cleared the
examination. The pass percentage reflects a marginal improvement from last
year's 93.66%, indicating stable academic outcomes despite the introduction of
significant structural reforms.
Girls Continue to Outperform Boys; Southern Regions Lead National Charts
The gender performance gap, though narrowing marginally,
continues to favor female students. Girls recorded a pass percentage of 94.99%,
maintaining a lead of over two percentage points over boys, who achieved
92.69%. The transgender category saw a decline this year, with a pass
percentage of 87.50% compared to 95.00% in 2025.
Regionally, the southern states have once again demonstrated
academic excellence. Trivandrum and Vijayawada jointly topped the national
charts with an impressive 99.79% pass rate each. Chennai followed closely at
99.58%, while Bengaluru secured 98.91%. This continues a five-year trend of
southern dominance, with Trivandrum consistently maintaining pass percentages
above 99.7% during this period.
Delhi regions also performed commendably, with Delhi West recording 97.45% and Delhi East achieving 97.33%.
|
Rank
|
Region
|
Pass Percentage (2026)
|
|
1
|
Trivandrum
|
99.79%
|
|
1
|
Vijayawada
|
99.79%
|
|
2
|
Chennai
|
99.58%
|
|
3
|
Bengaluru
|
98.91%
|
|
4
|
Delhi West
|
97.45%
|
|
5
|
Delhi East
|
97.33%
|
Trivandrum has consistently remained the best‑performing
region over the last five years (≈99.7–99.9%). Guwahati recorded the lowest pass percentage at
85.32%.
CBSE 10th Result 2026: Top Performer & Institution
While regional pass percentages provide a broad overview, a
deeper analysis of individual institutions and the types of schools reveals a
more nuanced picture of the 2026 results. This year's data highlights the
sustained excellence of government-run chains and the resilience of private
schools in specific urban hubs.
KVS and JNV Set the Gold Standard
The most striking trend in 2026 remains the academic
stronghold of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Jawahar Navodaya
Vidyalayas (JNV).
- JNV recorded the highest pass percentage among all
institution categories at 99.57%.
- KVS followed incredibly close behind with 99.42%.
This near-perfect performance by central government schools
significantly outstrips both independent private schools and state government
schools. Analysts attribute this to the centralized teacher training programs,
consistent curriculum delivery across rural and urban campuses, and the
targeted academic support systems implemented in these institutions during the
post-pandemic recovery phase.
The Public vs. Private Debate
- Government Schools: Government schools saw a notable
improvement, clocking an overall pass percentage of 88.67%. While still
trailing the national average, this figure represents a steady climb from
86.42% in 2024-25. Education officers credit the digitization of resources and
the "remedial bridge courses" run by the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan for
this upward mobility.
- Independent Private Schools: The category of
"Independent Schools" registered a pass percentage of 94.01%.
However, this aggregate figure masks wide disparities. Top-tier urban private
schools consistently achieve near-100% results, while smaller private schools
in semi-urban belts pull the average down due to higher student-teacher ratios
and limited access to specialized exam preparation tools.
Top Performing Schools & Cities
While CBSE does not officially rank individual schools to
discourage unhealthy competition, preliminary data collation from regional
offices indicates specific clusters of excellence:
- Bengaluru South Region: Schools in the Koramangala and
Jayanagar belts reported a significant spike in students scoring above 95%,
with many institutions claiming 100% pass results for the fifth consecutive
year.
- Ajmer Region: Despite being a northern hub, the Ajmer
region (which covers parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat) saw a remarkable
improvement, with institutional results from schools in Jaipur and Ahmedabad
challenging the southern monopoly on top scores.
- Subject-Wise Excellence: The analysis of answer books reveals that Mathematics Standard (041) saw the highest number of perfect scores (100/100) in 2026, followed closely by Social Science (087). This marks a shift from previous years where languages traditionally held the record for perfect scores.
|
Institution Type
|
Pass Percentage (2026)
|
vs. 2025
|
|
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV)
|
99.57%
|
▲
+0.12%
|
|
Kendriya Vidyalaya (KVS)
|
99.42%
|
▲
+0.08%
|
|
Central Tibetan Schools (CTA)
|
98.31%
|
▼
-0.05%
|
|
Independent Private Schools
|
94.01%
|
▲
+0.21%
|
|
State Government Schools
|
88.67%
|
▲
+2.25%
|
READ: MP Board 10th & 12th Results 2026 Announced
How to Access Results
CBSE has enabled multiple platforms for students to access
their results, addressing concerns about website traffic congestion:
Official Websites: Students can visit cbse.gov.in,
results.cbse.nic.in, or cbseresults.nic.in. Login requires roll number, school
number, admit card ID, date of birth, and security pin.
DigiLocker: Students with APAAR IDs linked to CBSE records will receive digitally signed marksheets directly in the "Issued Documents" section. Others can register using their school code, roll number, and access code.
UMANG App: Available for both Android and iOS platforms,
students can access results after registering with their mobile number.
SMS Service: Students with limited internet access can send
their details in the prescribed format—including roll number, school code, and
centre number—to 7738299899 to receive results via SMS.
IVRS: Students can call 011-24300699 (or 24300699 within
Delhi) to hear their results through the automated Interactive Voice Response
System.
Re-evaluation and Verification Process
For students unsatisfied with their scores, CBSE has
introduced a revised, more transparent post-result process for 2026. Students
can now first obtain a photocopy of their evaluated answer book before deciding
whether to apply for verification or re-evaluation.
The three-step process includes:
1. Obtain photocopy: Review the evaluated answer sheet to
understand marking patterns and identify potential discrepancies.
2. Verification: Request checking for totalling errors,
missed entries, or unevaluated questions.
3. Re-evaluation: Apply for rechecking of specific answers
where marking concerns exist.
The verification process is expected to begin in the last
week of April 2026, with applications submitted online through cbse.gov.in.
The early declaration of results—made possible by the
evaluation of approximately 1.63 crore answer books in record time—demonstrates
CBSE's enhanced operational capacity. This efficiency gain, achieved through
large-scale digitisation and coordination among nearly 7 lakh evaluators, bodes
well for the smooth implementation of the dual-examination system going
forward.
As students across the country access their scores today, attention now shifts to the second phase examinations. The true measure of the NEP's two-exam reform will be revealed in the coming months, as students exercise their newly granted right to improve their performance and shape their academic trajectories with greater agency than ever before.
