The Karnataka government has unveiled a draft proposal to overhaul the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination system, which includes a shift to a grading format for third-language and vocational subjects. This change, outlined in a notification from the Department of School Education and Literacy on April 10, will take effect from the 2025-26 examination cycle. Under the new system, performance in third-language and National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) subjects will be graded instead of marked numerically, and these subjects will not contribute to the overall pass/fail status. The total marks considered for evaluation will be reduced from 625 to 525, with students needing to score at least 33% overall (or 173 out of 525 marks) and 30% in each subject to pass. The proposal has sparked public consultation, allowing stakeholders to submit objections and suggestions within seven days. Political leaders have voiced concerns, with some opposing the changes and promising to restore the previous system if elected. The issue also ties into broader debates over language policy in Karnataka, particularly regarding the role of Hindi in education.