3 min readLucknowApr 24, 2026 03:14 AM ISTIt may be mentioned that three toppers – two of High School and one of Intermediate belong to the OBC Kurmi community.Pointing to the toppers of the Uttar Pradesh school board exams, the results of which were declared on Thursday, state Secondary Education Minister Gulab Devi said that, unlike in the past governments, when students of “desired” castes used to get good scores, hardworking students now get good marks.Claiming that exams are now conducted in a fair manner and equal opportunity is given to students in the present dispensation led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the minister said, “Vigat sarkaron mein jo parikshayen hoti thi… Wo pehle se hi suchi chali aati thi. Is prakar ki parishayen hoti thi jo mehanti vidyarthi they wo pass nahi ho pate they, ya achhe number nahi la pate they.. aur jinki ishta jati thi, wo ache prakar se pass hote they (In the previous governments, the way the examinations were held, the merit list was decided beforehand. The way the exams were conducted, students who used to work hard failed, or didn’t score good marks. However, those with desired castes used to pass with flying colours).”“Is varsh bhi balikaon ne apni yogyata ka, ek utkrasta gyan ka parichay diya hai. Humari do bachiyan, High School mein Kashish Verma aur Anshika Verma….toppers hain, wahin Intermediate mein Shikha Verma ne.. gaurvanvit kiya hai (This year again, our girl students have proved their mettle. Our two girls – Kashish Verma and Anshika Verma in High School (Class X) and Shikha Verma in Intermediate (Class XII) have made us proud,” Gulab Devi told mediapersons in Lucknow after the results were declared.“Since our government has come to power, the examinations are being conducted fairly under the leadership of Yogi ji. Everyone has given paper nicely. There was no cheating, and such good results have come,” she added.It may be mentioned that three toppers – two of High School and one of Intermediate belong to the OBC Kurmi community.Gulab Devi, 70, a five-term MLA from Chandausi in Sambhal district, is the seniormost woman minister in the Uttar Pradesh government. A former political science lecturer, she belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. She has served as a minister in the Kalyan Singh and Rajnath Singh governments as well as in both terms of Yogi Adityanath. In Adityanath’s first term as CM, Gulab Devi was Minister of State for Social Welfare. Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:lucknowAdvertisementLoading Recommendations...Live BlogIran, US, Israel War Ceasefire News Live Updates: Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by 3 weeks11 minutes agoMI vs CSK IPL 2026 highlights: Chennai beat Mumbai by 103 runs at Wankhede3 hours agoKarnataka SSLC 10th Result 2026 [OUT] LIVE Updates: Seven students secured 100-percentile score3 hours agoUP Board Result 2026, Upresults.upmsp.edu.in LIVE Updates Out: Scorecards available at upmsp.edu.in, 80.38% Class 12 students qualify4 hours agoUpmsp.edu.in, UP Board Result 2026 [OUT] LIVE: Meet this year’s Class 10th toppers4 hours ago