CBSE Class 12th result: Why students scored lower this year as pass percentage falls

CBSE declared the Class XII results on May 13, 2026, with an overall pass percentage of 85.20%, down from 88.39% last year. Over 15 lakh students cleared the examination out of 17.68 lakh who appeared. The decline of 3.19 percentage points coincided with the introduction of On-Screen Marking (OSM) for evaluation and reportedly tougher Physics and Mathematics papers. Experts cited multiple factors, including digital assessment and competency-based questions under NEP.