BENGALURU
Amid ongoing policy discussions in Karnataka over the role of Hindi in school education and a proposed shift to a grading system instead of marks for the subject in SSLC (Class 10) exams, the 2026 results have shown a sharp and unexpected rise in performance.
According to data released by School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa, the pass percentage in Hindi has jumped significantly to 98.6% in 2026, compared to 87.5% in 2025. The improvement of over 11 percentage points has drawn attention from both policymakers and education experts.
Out of more than 7 lakh students who appeared for Hindi, around 6.9 lakh cleared the subject this year. In contrast, nearly 75,000 students had failed in 2025, but this number has now dropped sharply to about 9,000.
Officials from the Department of School Education said the improvement is visible across both urban and rural regions, with notable gains even in government schools in remote areas. They attributed the rise to improved teaching methods, structured revision programmes, and exam-focused learning support introduced over the past year.
However, the results have also reignited debate over Karnataka’s language policy. The state government has been considering a two-language formula and a grading system for Hindi, aimed at reducing academic pressure and addressing concerns about linguistic imbalance.
While some educationists see the results as evidence of better learning outcomes, pro-Kannada groups argue that the numbers do not resolve the broader policy concerns. They maintain that the debate over “linguistic imposition” continues despite improved pass rates.
The 2026 SSLC outcome has therefore added a new dimension to Karnataka’s ongoing discussion on language in education, with policymakers expected to revisit the framework in the coming months.