Odisha Matric Exam: 9,930 Students Absent, Government Faces Questions

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha matriculation examination this year witnessed a significant absentee count, with 9,930 students failing to appear.

Out of 5,46,876 registered candidates, 5,36,946 sat for the exam, leaving an absentee rate of 1.81%.

The issue was raised in the Assembly by BJP legislator Upasana Mohapatra, who questioned the reasons behind the dropout rate and sought accountability from the government.

Responding, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond admitted that absenteeism remains a persistent challenge despite ongoing initiatives.

The government has rolled out awareness campaigns and support schemes to encourage participation, but socio‑economic hurdles continue to prevent many students from attending.

The minister emphasised that efforts will be intensified to address these barriers and ensure higher participation in future examinations.