India, May 9 -- The performance of Arts students in the Class 12 examinations has seen a significant decline over the past five years even as the enrolment numbers for the stream have dipped too. According to Maharashtra State Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board data, in 2020, 90.66% of Arts students passed the board exams, which dipped sharply to 80.52 in 2025.

In 2021, when the pandemic was on, the pass percentage soared to 99.83%, largely due to alternative evaluation methods. However, as regular assessments resumed in 2022, the results dropped significantly to 90.51%, and the downward trend has continued since.

Alongside, the number of students choosing the Arts stream is also decreasing. In 2021, 3,76,412 students appear...