February 20, 2026 – The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) begins the Maharashtra Board SSC exams today. Over 15 lakh students are taking the exams, which conclude on March 19.
Students must reach exam centers 30 minutes before the start time. They need their admit card and school ID for verification.
The first shift runs from 11 am to 2 pm. The second shift is from 3 pm to 6 pm. Exams will be held in two shifts daily.
Passing Criteria
To pass the Maharashtra SSC exams, students need at least 35% marks. This applies to each main and optional subject. The passing threshold is 35% for Social Science and Language subjects. It is also 35% for Optional Technical Subjects.
For Mathematics and Science combined, students need at least 52 out of 150 marks. Each subject has 100 total marks. These include theory and practical components. The final score uses 20% internal assessment. The remaining 80% comes from the final exam.
| Subject Type | Minimum Passing Marks |
|---|---|
| Optional Technical Subjects | 35% |
| Social Science and Language Subjects | 35% |
| Mathematics and Science (Combined) | 52/150 |
Grace Marks Explained
Students falling short by 2-3 marks may receive grace marks. This applies if they did not request exemptions. This is called condonation of marks.
Students taking exams with exemptions get automatic condonation. They receive 13 marks to pass. Grace marks depend on failed subjects. No more than three grace marks are given per subject.
For first, second, and third languages, 2 marks are awarded. Social Science gets 2 marks. Mathematics and Science each get 3 marks. A combined total of 6 marks is possible for Mathematics and Science.
Deaf and Dumb students receive 2 marks in each of their two alternative subjects. This replaces the two language subjects.
| Number of Failed Subjects (with Exemptions) | Total Condonation Marks |
|---|---|
| 1 subject | 3 marks |
| 2 subjects | 5 marks |
| 3 subjects | 3 marks |
| 4 subjects | 10 marks |
| 5 subjects | 13 marks |
Grace marks are not given for technical or other optional subjects. The Maharashtra Board HSC exams concluded on March 11.