Karnataka SSLC Examination 2025: Grace marks policy removed for Class 10, says minister

NEW DELHI: Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board, KSEAB will no longer offer grace marks to students, announced Minister for School Education and Literacy, Madhu Bangarappa. As per the Times Now report, the minister announced in a press conference that no grace marks will be given for the Class 10 exams 2024-25 academic year.

"Despite the 20% grace marks, our overall pass percentage dropped by 10 percentage points. The CM was very upset with our department and strongly instructed us not to continue with it [grace marks]," Bangarappa told the media at Vidhana Soudha.

Earlier, Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah had instructed the department to discontinue the practice of awarding grace marks, stating that it negatively impacts the quality of education and discourages a competitive mindset among students.

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As per various reports, the controversy arose after the KSEAB increased the grace marks from 10% to 20% across all subjects in 2023-2024 academic year. This decision came after the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exam results this year showed a low 54% pass rate, which was boosted to 74% with the addition of 20% grace marks.

The system of awarding 10% grace marks was initially introduced to address learning gaps caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but it has since lost its relevance.

Upset by this move, the chief minister ordered a detailed report on how the decision to award grace marks was made. He also directed the department to stop this practice, according to Bangarappa, who spoke to the media at Vidhana Soudha.