The Karnataka government has released its controversial draft proposal for a structural reform of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination system, introducing a grading system for third language subjects and vocational subjects and excluding them from the calculation of final results.
The changes were outlined in a draft notification issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy on April 10, as part of amendments to the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board’s first regulations, 1966. The revised framework is scheduled to come into effect from the SSLC examination cycle of 2025-26.
At the heart of the proposal is a shift away from digital scores for third languages and National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) subjects. While students will continue to study these subjects, their performance will be recorded as grades and will not count toward the total used to determine pass or fail status.
“The SSLC examination will be conducted for six subjects with a total of 625 marks. In this, the marks obtained in the National System/Third Language Qualification Framework (NSQF) subjects will be declared in the form of grades. These subjects will have to be entered as additional subjects in the mark card and will not be considered for the SSLC examination for the year 2025-26,” the draft said.
Under the proposed system, students would be graded across three bands: A grade for grades between 80% and 100%, B grade for grades between 50% and 79%, and C grade for grades up to 49%.
This change effectively reduces the grades considered for final assessment from 625 to 525, as only five core subjects will contribute to the total. To pass, students will need to achieve at least 33% overall – 173 out of 525 marks – along with a minimum of 30% in each individual subject.
She added: “Candidates must obtain a total of 33% marks in the internal assessment and external examination combined, and they will be declared successful if they obtain at least 173 marks out of a total of 525 marks, including marks of at least 30% in each subject out of the total marks for the subject in question.”
The government opened the proposal for public consultation, allowing seven days for objections and suggestions to be submitted before a final decision is made. Applications should be sent to the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy.
The draft received responses from stakeholders across the educational and political spectrum, reflecting sensitivities around language policy and assessment criteria.
This comes at a time when the state governor’s office sought to review the proposal after receiving a representation raising concerns, calling on the state administration to study the issue from academic and administrative perspectives and consult with the relevant authorities.
In its letter dated April 5, the governor’s office sought a detailed examination of the concerns raised. The letter called for a review of the policy from both academic and administrative perspectives and directed officials to consult the School Education Department and other authorities before taking further steps.
However, Government School Education and Literacy Minister S Madhu Bangarappa said the decision was based on performance trends. In 2024-25, 146,000 out of 164,000 students who failed the SSLC examination were unable to pass the third language paper. The revised system applies to several languages, including Hindi, Kannada, English, Arabic, Urdu, Sanskrit, Konkani, Tulu and Marathi. Data for the current academic year shows that 7,52,398 out of 8,07,962 students chose Hindi as their third language.
The issue has added to a broader debate over language policy in Karnataka, where Kannada groups have raised concerns about the role of Hindi in education. The Kannada Development Authority and the State Education Policy Committee have recommended a move towards a bilingual system, a proposal that has not yet been implemented.
Opposition leaders criticized the change, saying they would restore the previous regime if they returned to power. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje described the move as “anti-India”.
