In a bid to wipe off the black spots of irregularities in board examinations, the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) seems to have come up with the strictest means to conduct the annual Matric and Inter examinations this year. So much so that the pass percentage of Matric has come down to 57.91 per cent, the lowest in the last 12 years. JAC officials credited the fall in overall pass percentage to strict ways for conducting the examination and also by adopting stringent measures while evaluating the answer scripts.

The JAC on Tuesday declared the results of matriculation and intermediate (Science and Commerce) stream conducted in March last. According to the figures available with the examination conducting body, in 2016 the overall pass percentage in Class X was 67.54 per cent as against 71.20 per cent in 2015, 75.30 per cent in 2014, and 73.15 per cent 2013.

"This year, all those examination centres were ed from where we were getting complaints of counterfeits. Both examination centres and the evaluation centres were under strict vigilance. In an attempt to maintain transparency, this year, we have maintained the academic calendar to ensure regularity," said JAC Chairperson, Arvind Prasad Singh.

As many as 2,68,308 students were declared successful in Matric examination this year. A total of 4, 63,311 had appeared for Matric examination from across the State. Boys outperformed girls in Matric examination, registering an overall pass percentage of 60.88 per cent whereas 55 per cent girls were declared successful this year.

Similarly, for Intermediate Science stream, the pass percentage is 52.36 per cent, while for Intermediate commerce stream the pass percentage this year is 60.09 per cent. The results of both the streams have dipped down in comparison to the past three years' record. In science stream, the overall pass percentage in 2016 was 58.36 per cent while in 2015 and 2014, the pass percentage in science stream was recorded 63.88 per cent and 63.65 per cent, respectively.

In commerce stream as well, the students this year could not perform well with the overall pass percentage going down to 60.09 this year. In 2016 in commerce, the overall pass percentage was 62.94 per cent. In the year, 2015 and 2014, the overall pass percentage was recorded 73.99 per cent and 75.83 per cent in commerce stream.

This year, around 47,589 students were declared successful in science stream. In commerce stream, 28, 618 students came out with flying colours after the declaration of Intermediate results. Approximately, 34,110 boys in science stream were declared successful while 13,479 girls in science stream rejoiced over their result. In commerce stream 15,012 boys tasted the success after the declaration of the board results whereas 19,499 girls were declared successful.

Among all the 24 districts, this year, East Singhbhum grabbed the top slot in Jharkhand in Matric exam where approximately 67. 95 per cent students were declared successful followed by Ranchi where 65.91 per cent students passed the examination. Chatra district was placed in third position where 64.45 per cent students in Matric examination performed fairly well. Hazaribagh district that topped the State in 2016, this year was dropped down to seventh position registering an overall pass percentage of 61.67 only.

The results were unveiled in the presence of School Education and literacy Secretary Aradhana Patnaik, Minister Neera Yadav and other dignitaries.

The results are available online at www.jac.nic.in and www.jac.jharkhand.gov.in