Girls outshone boys in Class X matriculation examination, the results of which were declared on Tuesday. The top three slots have been bagged by girls in this year’s matriculation examination conducted by Bihar School of Examination Board (BSEB).

Navya Yadav of Dhanushdhari Sarvodaya High School, Moriawan in Patna district, stood first securing 465 out of 500 marks with an aggregate of 93 per cent. Preeti Soni of NCS Girls High School, Ara, clinched the second position with 464 marks with an aggregate of 92.8 per cent, followed by Radha Kumari Verma of the same school with 92 per cent.

While declaring the results, education department minister P.K. Shahi said: “This year, nearly three lakh more students have appeared for the examination. Around 12.52 lakh students had taken the matriculation examination this year compared to 9.31 lakh students in 2011.”

Not only have the girls grabbed the top positions in the exams but their number has also increased this year compared to the previous two years. In 2010, the percentage of girl candidates was around 41.14 and in 2011, it was 42.87 per cent. This year, the percentage rose to 44.87 per cent of the total candidates who took the exams.

Around 71.03 per cent candidates were successful in clearing the examination. A total of 2,20,357 students (17.59 per cent) secured first division. Around 4,64,139 students (37.06 per cent) secured second division.

Of the total 18 students who grabbed the top 10 positions, 11 were girls. From Patna district around 69,665 students appeared for the examination, of which, 17,071 secured first division. In Patna district, the pass percentage of boys was 77.59 while that of girls was 75.15 per cent.

Shahi said girls’ performance in the examination has once again proved that because of the various schemes announced by the state government more and more girls are heading to schools.

Shahi said: “Like the previous year, toppers will be felicitated this time too.” Last year, the state government and the BSEB gifted laptops to students who had bagged the top 10 positions.

Shahi also welcomed the decision of the Union human resource development ministry to have a common entrance examination for 15 IITs and other centrally funded engineering colleges.

However, Shahi said the final decision in this connection would be taken after a meeting of education ministers of all states slated on June 5 and 6.