Jalna girl scores 99.6% in CBSE class X exams

Aurangabad: Jalna Podar school student Sakshi Manoj Chavan scored a mind-boggling 498 marks out of 500 in the all-India CBSE class 10 exams, achieving a perfect 10 point Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA).Her score has prompted hopes among the school management that she might be the all-India topper this year.Though there is no concept of toppers in the CBSE class X examinations, the principal of the school Sunilsing Rawat said that as per the online results declared by the CBSE, it is the first time a student from Marathwada has secured such a score. "Sakshi has shattered previous records. She has made the school proud by scoring 498 marks out of 500. We hope this is the beginning and we get more such brilliant students from the region every year," he said.Sakshi secured 100 marks each in mathematics, science, social studies and Hindi while she scored 98 in English. She scored a near-perfect 99.6%, which earned her a place in the top CGPA bracket of 10.Hailing from a medical background, Sakshi's mother Sarita is an Ayurveda practitioner and father Manoj a general surgeon. "Sakshi has always been a brilliant student. She has always topped in her class throughout her schooling despite some odds she has had to face," said Manoj."In class 7 she had prepared for the state government scholarship exam and achieved success, while in class 8 she got a state level merit scholarship and later she even bagged the Young Scientist Award with silver medal by appearing for Dr Homi Bhabha Young Scientist Award Examination. The list goes on, in class 10 again she qualified for National level of National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)," he said."Since we reside in Ambad, about 40 kms away from Jalna, Sakshi had to spend around three hours every dayjust travelling to Jalna. She has beendoing this since 11 years after she was admitted to senior kindergarden school in Jalna," he said adding that at the end her efforts paid off.The 15-year-old plans to follow her parents' footsteps. Dedicating her success to her parents and teachers she said, "Guidance from his parents, my teacher Govind Kabra, who spent quality time with me is the reason for me to come out with flying colours. I desire to pursue medicine and work for a noble cause in future," she added.