Ladakh's switch to CBSE board exams has resulted in lower pass percentages for Class 10 and 12 compared to previous years under the state board. Officials attribute the decline to harsh winter conditions during February exams and differences in exam patterns. Concerns persist as students prepare for the current year's tests.
In 2019, Ladakh became a Union Territory, and by 2022, the administration decided to shift schools from the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). This change took effect for board exams starting in 2024.
Under JKBOSE, Class 12 pass percentages in Leh and Kargil districts averaged 65% from 2017 to 2023, reaching 81% in 2023. In contrast, CBSE results showed 44% for Class 12 in 2024 and 48% in 2025. For Class 10, JKBOSE averaged 70% over the same period, ranging from 47% in 2017 to 86% in 2023, while CBSE recorded 53% in 2024 and 73% in 2025.
Officials point to the timing of exams as a key issue. JKBOSE held exams in November for the winter zone, including Ladakh, allowing a break during the coldest months. CBSE exams occur in February, coinciding with severe weather. On February 17, 2025, temperatures reached a maximum of 0.5 degrees Celsius in Drass and a minimum of -20.6 degrees Celsius in Padum.
"The fundamental challenge here is the weather. In February, when our students appear for the Board exams, the temperature can be as low as -22 or -24 degrees Celsius at some exam centres," said an administration official. Snowfall has also complicated transportation of exam materials in Kargil.
Additionally, CBSE's emphasis on competency-based questions differs from JKBOSE's memorization-focused approach. "In the J&K Board exam, students could memorise answers... CBSE includes competency-based questions, where understanding is important," noted another official.
Ladakh recorded the lowest Class 12 pass percentage among all states and UTs in 2025 and the second-lowest for Class 10 after Arunachal Pradesh. To address this, remedial classes are held during winter vacations, funded by Samagra Shiksha for heating.
Independent MP Mohmad Haneefa raised the issue in Parliament in December 2024, highlighting the abrupt switch and winter breaks. Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary responded that differences in exam patterns and Ladakh's short academic year due to harsh winters contributed to the decline. Haneefa met the CBSE chairman in January 2025 to request exams in October-November.
CBSE offered snowbound regions the option to take only the second set of Class 10 exams in May this year, but Ladakh opted for the first set to allow improvement opportunities. A senior CBSE official acknowledged the challenge affects multiple winter-bound areas and noted future considerations.
