Karnataka Excludes Third Language Marks From SSLC Total Score, Students To Receive Only Grades

In a major policy shift, Karnataka has announced that third language marks will be excluded from the SSLC (Class 10) final score, effective from the current academic year. Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa made the announcement following demands from pro-Kannada organizations concerned about Hindi being a compulsory scoring subject.

Under the new system, students must still appear for the third language examination, but their performance will be reflected only as a grade on their marksheets, not as marks. The total SSLC score will now be calculated out of 525 marks instead of the previous 625 marks.

The government has framed this as a measure to reduce academic pressure on students while maintaining assessment standards. The grading system applies to any third language chosen by students, not exclusively Hindi. The decision has drawn mixed reactions, with some welcoming reduced pressure while others worry it may diminish the seriousness with which students approach third language learning. Pro-Kannada groups have strongly endorsed the move.