The Government of Karnataka has announced a significant amendment to the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) First Regulations, 1966, through the First Regulations (Amendment) 2025. The revised rules, particularly the changes made to Annexure III, are aimed at refining the pass criteria for students appearing in the Class 10 board examinations conducted by the KSEAB.
KEY AMENDMENT TO RULE 16 IN ANNEXURE III
As per the amendment notified in 2025, Rule 16 of Annexure III has been substituted in full. The new rule lays out the updated criteria for declaring a student as having passed the SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) examination. The revised regulation states:
“Candidates shall secure an average of 33% marks in internal assessment and external examination combined and shall be declared pass if they secure at least 206 marks out of a total of 625 marks, including at least 30% marks in each subject out of the total marks of the respective subject.”
BREAKDOWN OF THE NEW PASSING CRITERIA
The new amendment simplifies and clearly defines the conditions for passing the SSLC examination:
- Overall Pass Marks: A student must secure a minimum of 206 out of 625 marks across all subjects.
- Subject-Wise Minimum: Students must obtain at least 30% marks in each individual subject, ensuring balanced performance.
- Internal + External Evaluation: The 33% average is to be calculated based on the combined total of internal assessment and external board examination marks, promoting continuous evaluation throughout the academic year.
IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS
This amendment brings greater transparency and structure to the board examination evaluation system. By setting a fixed minimum total score and maintaining subject-wise minimum requirements, the revised rules aim to ensure students do not neglect any subject while also reducing ambiguity in pass criteria.
Educators and school administrators have welcomed the amendment, noting that it aligns with a more holistic and competency-based assessment system. The inclusion of internal assessments in the final evaluation encourages students to stay consistently engaged throughout the academic year rather than focusing solely on final exams.
The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board’s move reflects its commitment to promoting academic consistency, reducing stress, and ensuring fair assessment standards for Class 10 students across the state starting from the academic year 2025–26, for more details CLICK HERE
