Srinagar, May 1 -- Each year, when the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) releases Class 10 and 12 results, the Valley comes alive with celebration.

This spring, 79.94% of Class 10 students-116,453 in all-passed their exams. Girls topped boys, with an 81.24% pass rate compared to 78.74%. In Class 12, 74.83% of students succeeded, with girls again leading at 77.72% against 71.95% for boys.

Families poured into sweet shops, almonds vanished from shelves, and neighborhoods hummed with pride. For students who worked tirelessly, often through power cuts and political uncertainty, it was a moment to savor.

But as the festivities fade, a hard truth remains: in Kashmir, where grades are everything, high marks don't always mea...