New Delhi: The CBSE Class X results, declared on Wednesday, showed that while the number of students taking the exam rose steadily, there was a marginal rise of 0.04 percentage points in the pass percentage this year over 2025.The overall pass percentage stood at 93.7%, up from 93.66% in 2025, indicating consistent performance despite a significantly larger cohort appearing for the exam.Girls again outdid boys, a pattern seen over several years. The pass percentage for girls was 94.99%, marginally dipping from 95% in 2025, but still significantly higher than that of boys, which was 92.69%, a slight improvement from 92.63% last year. Transgender candidates recorded a pass percentage of 87.5% in 2026, compared to 95% in 2025.A total of 24.8 lakh students registered for the exam, compared to nearly 23.9 lakh in 2025. Of them, 24.7 lakh appeared and 23.2 lakh passed this year. The steady increase in participation is mirrored in the growth of affiliated schools and exam infrastructure. The number of schools rose from 26,675 in 2025 to 27,339 in 2026, while exam centres increased from 7,837 to 8,075. Students had access to 84 subjects.Overall high scorers also formed a significant segment. A total of 2,21,574 students (8.96%) scored above 90%, while 55,368 students (2.24%) scored above 95%.Regionally, the top-performing zones were mostly southern areas. Thiruvananthapuram and Vijayawada jointly topped with a 99.79% pass rate, followed closely by Chennai (99.58%) and Bengaluru (98.91%). Delhi also featured prominently. Delhi West recorded 97.45% and Delhi East 97.33%, placing them among the top five regions nationally. Other high-performing regions included Pune (96.66%), Ahmedabad (96.61%), Ludhiana (95.7%), and Ajmer (94.78%).Institution-wise performance revealed stark differences across school categories. Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) led with a near-perfect 99.57%, followed by Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) at 99.42%. Schools under the STSS category recorded 97.42%, while independent schools stood at 93.77%. Govt schools and govt-aided institutions lagged behind a bit, with pass percentages of 91.43% and 91.01%, respectively.Among specific student groups, Children With Special Needs (CWSN) continued to show a strong performance. Out of 9,523 registered candidates, 9,443 appeared and 9,088 passed, resulting in a commendable 96.24% pass rate. Notably, among them, 452 students scored above 90%, and 91 crossed the 95% mark, reflecting high achievement levels within this group.The performance of candidates in foreign schools showed a notable improvement. A total of 30,745 students registered, of whom 30,665 appeared and 30,389 passed, resulting in a pass percentage of 99.1%. This marks a rise from 2025, when 29,847 students registered, 29,745 appeared, and 29,320 passed, with a pass percentage of 98.57%.With the increase in the number of candidates, the number of students placed in the compartment category also saw an increase from 1,41,353 in 2025 to 1,47,172 in 2026.Schools expressed pride and satisfaction about their students’ accomplishments. At Amity International School, Pushp Vihar, 166 candidates appeared for the examination and all passed, resulting in a 100% pass rate. “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,” said principal Ameeta Mohan.Shiv Nadar School, Noida, also recorded a perfect pass percentage, with the school topper securing 99%. The overall school average was 86.02%. “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,” said principal Anju Soni.
