The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) this afternoon declared the Class XII main examination results for the 2025-26 session, recording an overall pass percentage of 85.20 per cent. The outcome marks the first full-scale implementation of On Screen Marking (OSM) for evaluation, a shift the board says has eliminated longstanding issues like totalling and posting errors.

Officials confirmed that over 17.68 lakh students appeared for the exams this year, held between February 17 and April 9. The number is a slight increase from last year's 16.94 lakh. While the pass percentage has dipped from 2025's 88.39 per cent, the board stressed that the digital evaluation process has made results more accurate and transparent.

A digital-first evaluation

The board evaluated a staggering 98,66,622 answer books using OSM. According to CBSE, the system allows evaluators to mark digital copies of answer sheets from anywhere in the country, removing the need to physically transport lakhs of scripts to designated centres.

"We have trained nearly 70,000 evaluators for this shift," a senior official said. "The system flags incomplete checks and ensures every answer follows the marking scheme. Human intervention in manual addition is now zero."

Teachers across the country have largely welcomed the move. Many examiners told CBSE that OSM reduced their clerical workload, letting them focus on quality assessment rather than counting marks. The board claims daily evaluation capacity has also gone up, from 20-25 answer books in the old system to about 30 scripts per day now.

Regional performance and gender gap

Region-wise, Trivandrum topped the charts with a 95.62 per cent pass rate, followed by Chennai (93.84%) and Bengaluru (93.19%). Delhi as a whole recorded 91.97 per cent, with the east and west regions performing closely. Patna and Prayagraj were at the lower end with 74.45 per cent and 72.43 per cent respectively.

Girls continued to outperform boys. The pass percentage for girls stood at 88.86 per cent, compared to 82.13 per cent for boys. Transgender candidates recorded 100 per cent pass rate for the second year running. Students with special needs (CWSN) logged a 90.16 per cent pass rate, with over 5,700 such candidates appearing.

No merit list has been declared, continuing the board's policy to avoid unhealthy competition. However, merit certificates will be issued to the top 0.1 per cent of students who scored the highest marks in individual subjects. These will be delivered via DigiLocker.

Where to check results

Students can access their digital mark sheets through the CBSE website, results.nic.in, or directly via their DigiLocker accounts using Aadhaar or a PIN shared by schools. The Umang app is also an option. For students abroad, a separate support ticket system has been set up. Printed certificates will reach regular students through their schools in the coming weeks.

The Central Board of Secondary Education is expected to announce the CBSE Board Result 2026 soon for Class 10 and Class 12 students. With lakhs of candidates waiting for their scorecards, the board has once again arranged multiple digital platforms to ensure smooth and quick access to results across the country.

Every year, heavy traffic on official result websites creates technical pressure during result hours. To reduce server-related issues and provide uninterrupted access, CBSE has expanded its online result system through several official platforms including websites, mobile applications and digital document services. Students who appeared in the CBSE Board Exams 2026 will be able to check their marks using roll number, school number, admit card ID and date of birth details.

Official Website Access

CBSE students can check their results directly through the official result portals once the board activates the result link. The official CBSE websites remain the primary source for downloading marksheets and checking subject-wise scores. Students are advised to use only official platforms to avoid misinformation and fake result links circulating on social media.

Officials stated that students should keep their admit cards ready before checking the results online because important login credentials will be required during the process. Education experts said the official websites generally experience extremely high traffic immediately after result announcements due to lakhs of simultaneous searches.

DigiLocker Service Available

CBSE will also make digital marksheets available through DigiLocker, one of the most widely used government-backed digital document platforms in India. Students can access provisional marksheets, migration certificates and pass certificates through DigiLocker after logging in with registered credentials.

Officials said DigiLocker helps students safely store academic documents online and access them anytime without carrying physical copies. The platform has become increasingly popular among students because colleges and universities now accept digitally verified documents during admission procedures.

UMANG App Option

Apart from websites and DigiLocker, students will also be able to check their CBSE Result 2026 through the UMANG mobile application. The app provides integrated access to various government services, including education-related updates and board examination results.

Students can download the application on Android and iOS devices and log in using mobile credentials to access their marks once the results are declared. Officials believe mobile-based result access has significantly improved convenience for students living in remote or rural areas where desktop access may not always be available.

SMS Result Facility

CBSE is also expected to provide SMS-based result services for students facing internet connectivity problems during result hours. Through this facility, students can send required details in a prescribed format and receive their marks directly on mobile phones.

Experts said SMS services become especially useful during peak traffic hours when websites temporarily slow down because of heavy user activity. The board has been using SMS support for several years to improve accessibility for students across different regions.

Details Required To Check Result

Students must keep certain details ready before checking their CBSE Board Result 2026 online. These include roll number, school number, centre number, admit card ID and date of birth. Without these credentials, candidates may face difficulty accessing their scorecards.

Officials advised students not to share personal login information with unknown websites or unofficial portals claiming to provide results.Cyber experts also warned students and parents against fake links and phishing attempts during result season.

Digital Marksheet Valid

CBSE has clarified in previous years that provisional digital marksheets downloaded through official platforms remain temporarily valid for admissions and documentation purposes.Students can later collect original marksheets and certificates from their respective schools after official distribution begins.

Education institutions across India now widely accept digitally verified CBSE documents during counselling and admission procedures. The shift towards digital academic records has reduced paperwork and simplified the result distribution process for millions of students.

Heavy Student Traffic Expected

This year, more than 46 lakh students reportedly appeared for the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations across India and abroad. Because of the large number of candidates waiting for results, experts expect significant online traffic immediately after the official announcement. Students have been advised to remain patient if websites become temporarily slow or inaccessible during peak hours. Officials indicated that technical teams are monitoring digital systems to ensure smooth functioning of result platforms during the declaration process.

Result Anxiety Among Students

As the result announcement approaches, anxiety levels among students and parents continue to rise. Career counsellors said board examination results play a major role in college admissions, scholarship opportunities and competitive exam preparations. Many students have already started preparing admission applications while waiting for final board scores.

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