UP Board Class 10 Toppers 2026: Kashish & Anshika Tie at 97.83%

It’s a rare sight in Indian board exams: a dead heat for first place. On the evening of April 23, 2026, Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) declared the High School (Class 10) results, and the state was buzzing with excitement. Two students, Kashish Verma from Sitapur and Anshika Verma from Barabanki, jointly topped the state merit list with an impressive 97.83% marks. The result, released precisely at 4:00 PM, marked a significant moment for millions of families across the state.

The twist? While most news outlets celebrated the joint victory, some early reports created confusion about Anshika’s district, listing her as being from Sitapur instead of Barabanki. But once the official image file hit the UPMSP website, the record was clear: two girls, two different districts, one perfect score.

A Record-Breaking Pass Rate

Here’s the thing that really stands out this year: the pass percentage. According to multiple sources including LiveHindustan and major YouTube news channels, the overall pass rate for Class 10 reached 90.42%. That’s not just a number; it represents hundreds of thousands of students who cleared their high school hurdle. Some platforms like CollegeDekho cited a slightly lower figure of 90.11%, but the consensus among mainstream media points to the higher 90.42% mark.

To put that in perspective, the Class 12 intermediate exam saw a pass rate of 80.38% in the same cycle. The gap suggests that while senior secondary exams remain challenging, the foundational level is seeing stronger performance statewide. For context, over 27.4 lakh students appeared for the exam across 8,140 centers between February and March 2026. The maximum marks remained 600, keeping the scoring structure consistent with previous years.

Who Made the Cut? The Top Performers

Beyond the joint toppers, the rest of the merit list tells a story of intense competition. Right behind the leaders at 97.50% was Aditi from Barabanki, securing second rank individually. Then came a three-way tie for third place:

• Arpita (Sitapur) - 97.33%
• Pari Verma (Barabanki) - 97.33%
• Rishab Sahu (Jhansi) - 97.33%

Interestingly, girls dominated the top spots. Out of the top five positions, four were held by female students. This "strong dominance" of girls in the merit list has been noted by several educational analysts as a positive trend in Uttar Pradesh's schooling system.

District Champions: Noida, Ghaziabad, and Beyond

While the state-level list grabs headlines, local pride shines through in district-specific results. In Ghaziabad, Ayan Khan from Maharishi Dayanand Vidya Peeth Inter College took the top spot with 572/600 marks (95.33%). He was followed by Rashika (551/600) and Swati Kumari (549/600).

In Gautam Buddha Nagar (which includes Noida and Greater Noida), Devesh Kumar from Seth Tularam Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Jewar led the pack with 566/600 (94.33%). Rishika Kumari and Hari Om rounded out the top three for the district. These numbers show that academic excellence isn't confined to traditional educational hubs; suburban and semi-urban areas are producing high-caliber students too.

Government Rewards and Digital Verification

The Uttar Pradesh government didn’t just release the results—they celebrated them. Top performers received cash awards, laptops, and formal recognition ceremonies. It’s a move designed to incentivize hard work and reduce dropout rates.

But wait, there’s more tech involved this time. UPMSP introduced QR codes on result documents for verification. This digital layer helps parents and colleges instantly validate certificates without waiting for physical checks. It’s a small change, but it cuts down on fraud and administrative delays significantly.

Navigating the Result Chaos

Social media played a double role here. Before the official announcement, Instagram reels predicted the exact time (April 23, 4:00 PM), helping students prepare. However, confusion arose when old data from previous years circulated as "new" results. One user on YouTube pointed out that no official district-wise lists had appeared on the UPMSP portal initially, leading to skepticism.

The details were still unclear for a few hours after the launch, with many users reporting server crashes. But eventually, the official image files and online portals stabilized, allowing students to check their scores using roll numbers. Testbook and other ed-tech platforms provided step-by-step guides, which helped navigate the technical glitches.

What Does This Mean for Students?

For the 2026 cohort, these results open doors to higher secondary education and vocational training. The high pass rate means fewer students will need to repeat the year, easing pressure on schools and families. Experts suggest that the focus should now shift to skill development alongside academics, especially given the competitive job market ahead.

As for Kashish and Anshika, their joint victory serves as a powerful reminder: success doesn’t have to be solitary. In a state with millions of aspirants, sharing the top spot might just inspire more collaboration than competition in classrooms across Uttar Pradesh.