Bengaluru, April 21, 2026

The Karnataka government has filed a review petition in the Karnataka High Court over SSLC evaluation norms, reigniting the ongoing debate on whether student performance should be assessed through grades or marks.

Government Challenges Court Order

The state government approached the High Court seeking reconsideration of its earlier directive to continue with the marks-based evaluation system for SSLC examinations. Officials argued that the proposed grading system is part of broader reforms aimed at reducing academic pressure and modernizing assessment practices.

Court Emphasizes Rule Consistency

The High Court declined to change its earlier stance and stressed that evaluation must follow the rules notified at the time of the exam announcement. It noted that altering the assessment system midway could create confusion and compromise fairness for students.

Push for Grading System

The proposed reform suggests replacing marks with grades for certain subjects, especially the third language paper. Under this system, students would receive grades such as A, B, C, or D instead of numerical scores. The government believes this would ease stress and prevent students from being disproportionately affected by performance in a single subject.

Mixed Reactions from Stakeholders

The proposal has triggered mixed responses from students and educators. Some believe grading reduces pressure and supports holistic learning, while others argue that marks provide clearer performance differentiation, especially for competitive academic pathways.

Future Policy Scope

While retaining the marks-based system for the current academic year, the court indicated that the government may introduce grading reforms in future sessions if implemented with proper notification at the start of the academic cycle.

Continuing Policy Debate

The development reflects a broader debate in education policy between grading and marks-based systems. As discussions continue, Karnataka’s SSLC evaluation framework remains under review, with further changes likely in the coming years.

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