State board announces individual subject toppers, gives out cash prizes

Payal Naik, 16, a student of Sandesh Vidyalaya, Vikhroli, jumped for joy when she heard that she had topped her board’s Marathi paper with 97% in the Class 10 board exams.

Payal Naik, 16, a student of Sandesh Vidyalaya, Vikhroli, jumped for joy when she heard that she had topped her board’s Marathi paper with 97% in the Class 10 board exams.

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The Mumbai division board declared subject toppers for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams on Friday. Results were declared on June 13.

Naik lives in a slum in Vikhroli and her father is an autorickshaw driver. “My parents supported me a great deal. For them, my studies were a priority,” said Naik, who is from a Marathi medium school. “Somehow, my parents will manage funding my education till Class 12, but I am hoping to get a scholarship to pursue higher education.”

The Mumbai division board also awards a cash prize ranging from Rs500 to Rs 1000 to subject toppers to acknowledge their efforts. This year, 78 students from the Mumbai division were awarded a cash prize.

Yashkirti Shukla, 15, a student of Mary Immaculate Girls High School in Borivli did not expect to score 95% in English. “I just put two hours of regular studies every day which helped me score well,” said Shukla who scored 96.5% overall.