From next year onwards, students could face difficulties while sending applications to the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) requesting 25 grace marks under the sports quota, as the board will make it mandatory for all certificates to be signed by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Pune and “other genuine sport bodies”.

According to board officials, interested students will have to get their certificates signed by their respective school principals, which would prevent other students from submitting bogus certificates merely to avail the 25 grace marks.u00a0The state education board last week announced that it would grant 25 grace marks to only those students who have excelled in sports, but have failed in their SSC exams. This will be the last year the state board will grant 25 marks (4.17%) to students under the sport quota.