Why did CBSE class 12 pass percentage drop in 2026?

CBSE Class 12 pass percentage dropped to 85.20% in 2026 from 88.39% in 2025. Experts linked the decline to first large-scale use of On-Screen Marking, tougher physics and mathematics papers and the shift to competency-based questions under NEP. They also pointed to possible COVID-era learning gaps and changes in digital evaluation, including automated totalling, affecting some borderline students.