The Punjab government has announced that students in the state must study Punjabi as a primary subject to pass Class 10. This directive applies to all schools affiliated with any board in Punjab. Schools that fail to comply will face action under the Punjab Learning of Punjabi and Other Languages Act, 2008.
Government Notification and Compliance
A recent official notification states that students will not be considered as having passed Class 10 unless they study Punjabi as a main subject. This rule applies to all schools, including those affiliated with CBSE, ICSE, and other boards operating in Punjab.
The Punjab Education Minister, Harjot Singh Bains, strongly opposed the recent CBSE draft proposal for conducting Class 10 board exams twice a year, alleging that Punjabi was missing from the subject list. He warned against any attempt to remove Punjabi from the curriculum, emphasizing that the state would not tolerate such actions.
Legislative Backing and Fines
The Punjab and Other Languages Education (Amendment) Bill, 2021, mandates Punjabi as a compulsory subject from Class 1 to Class 10. Additionally, Hindi is mandatory from Class 3 to Class 8. Schools that fail to implement this law may face fines imposed by the state government. The state has also made Punjabi compulsory in government offices.
CBSE’s Response
Following concerns over the CBSE draft policy, the CBSE Examination Controller, Sanyam Bhardwaj, clarified that the list of subjects in board exams remains unchanged. He stated that the draft list was only indicative, assuring that no existing subjects, including Punjabi, would be removed.
CBSE has invited public feedback on the draft until March 9, after which the final framework will be decided.
CBSE’s New Exam System from 2026
Besides the language policy debate, CBSE is set to introduce a bi-annual board exam system for Class 10 students starting in 2026. Students will have the option to:
- Appear for exams in either February or May, or
- Take both exams and retain their best scores.
The first phase will take place from February 17 to March 6, while the second phase will be from May 5 to May 20. The second phase will serve as a re-exam opportunity, eliminating the need for separate supplementary exams.
This policy aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to reduce the high-pressure nature of board exams by offering multiple chances for students to improve their scores.
With Punjabi now mandatory for Class 10 and CBSE’s new exam format, significant changes are expected in Punjab’s education landscape in the coming years.
