The Kerala government’s General Education Department has announced a major revision to its grace marks policy, aimed at recognizing students’ achievements beyond the classroom. Under the new guidelines, students participating in extracurricular activities—such as sports, arts festivals, NSS, Scouts and Guides, and the Student Police Cadets (SPC)—will be eligible for grace marks based on their level of achievement.
To ensure fairness and prevent score inflation, the total grace marks a student can receive will be capped at 30. For Higher Secondary students, any subject receiving grace marks will be limited to a maximum of 90%, maintaining academic credibility. If a student excels in multiple activities, only the highest-performing activity will be considered for grace marks.
Importantly, students granted grace marks will not be eligible for additional bonus marks during further admissions, ensuring a level playing field for all applicants.
This move is designed to strike a balance between promoting holistic development and upholding the integrity of the academic evaluation system.
