Punjab education Archives - National Times

06 Jun

Punjab University to Launch AI, Robotics and Agriculture Courses from 2026-27 Session

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAI and Machine Learning, Harjot Singh Bains, Punjab education, Sardar Beant Singh State University

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Saturday announced the introduction of five new industry-oriented and skill-based academic programmes at Sardar Beant Singh State University, Gurdaspur, from the 2026-27 academic session.The new courses include B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, B.Tech in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, B.Pharmacy, B.Sc Agriculture, and five-year integrated programmes in MCA, MBA and M.Sc.Bains said the initiative is part of the Punjab Government’s broader strategy to transform higher education into a more employment-oriented and globally competitive system under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.Highlighting the changing demands of the job…

06 Jun

Punjab First State to Crack Down on Arbitrary Private School Fee Hikes, Says Arvind Kejriw

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP, Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, Fee Hike Cap, Private Schools, Punjab education, Punjab School Fees

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Welcoming Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s landmark decision to curb arbitrary fee hikes by private schools, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said Punjab has become the first state in the country to take decisive action against the unchecked profiteering of private educational institutions. He highlighted that the Bhagwant Mann Government has ordered private schools to refund any fee increase exceeding 5%, providing major relief to lakhs of parents burdened by rising education costs. The AAP Chief noted that the AAP Government had previously compelled private schools in Delhi to roll back unjustified fee…

02 Jun

Punjab Government School Students Record 34 Percent Surge in IIT Qualifiers Under Sikhya Kranti

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabHarjot Singh Bains, IIT qualifiers, JEE Advanced 2026, Punjab education, School of Eminence, Sikhya Kranti

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Mann Govt’s Sikhya Kranti shatters ‘IIT onlIn a resounding endorsement of “Punjab Sikhya Kranti” initiative, 59 students from Punjab government schools have qualified JEE Advanced 2026, India’s toughest engineering entrance exam, registering a sharp 34% surge from 44 qualifiers in 2025, informed Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains. Expressing delight over the achievement, Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains congratulated the 59 successful students, their parents and teachers, whose dedication made this feat possible. Sharing the district-wise break-up, the Education Minister said that Patiala district emerged as the top-performing district with 11 qualifiers, followed by Sangrur with…

20 May

Punjab Leads India in Performance Grading Index 2.0, Clinching Top Prachesta-1 Grade

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabHarjot Singh Bains, performance grading index, pgi 2.0, prachesta 1 grade, Punjab education, Sikhya Kranti

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a landmark feat for school education, Punjab has emerged as the top-performing State across the country under the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for Stated/UTs 2024-25, released by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education (GoI). Notably, the PGI top rank comes just two weeks after another national endorsement. NITI Aayog Education Quality Report 2026 rated Punjab among India’s best-performing states. Sharing the remarkable achievement here on Wednesday, Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains said that Punjab has attained the Prachesta‑1 Grade (scoring between 51% and 60%)- the distinction shared only with…

10 May

Punjab outshines Kerala to claim top spot in national education rankings

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAcademic success, Harjot Bains, NITI Aayog, Punjab education, School reform

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Marking a historic turnaround for government schools in the state, Punjab has been recognised as one of India’s best-performing states in school education, with the NITI Aayog Education Quality Report 2026 placing it ahead of Kerala, long considered India’s gold standard in school education, on key foundational learning metrics. Hailing the achievement as the beginning of ‘Punjab’s Era’ driven by systemic reforms and grassroots dedication, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated, “This honour belongs to every parent, student and teacher who refused to give up on government schools. This is not a one day miracle. When…

14 Apr

CM Bhagwant Mann: Congress and Akalis “backstabbed” Ambedkar by denying education to the poor

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAmbedkar Jayanti, Bhagwant Mann, Dalit welfare, Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana, Punjab education

Adampur (Gurpreet Singh): Marking the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday drew a direct line between decades of Congress-Akali rule and the systematic denial of education to the poor, stating that keeping underprivileged communities uneducated was a deliberate political choice that crushed generations of Dalit youth while scholarship funds meant for their upliftment were siphoned off. Contrasting this with his government’s approach, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is reversing this legacy of neglect by prioritising education and women’s financial empowerment to realise Babasaheb’s vision…

12 Apr

Daughters dominate Punjab’s Class 8 results; CM Mann announces direct admission to Schools of Eminence

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Class 8 toppers, PSEB results, Punjab education, Schools of Eminence

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday said Punjab’s ‘Sikhya Kranti’ is delivering transformative results on the ground, as daughters from ordinary families dominated the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB)’s Class 8 merit list by securing 19 of the top 20 positions. Honouring the toppers at his residence in Chandigarh, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that the top 20 students will be granted direct admission to Schools of Eminence without any entrance test, reaffirming the Punjab Government’s commitment to rewarding merit and expanding access to quality education. The Chief Minister also honoured the top three achievers…

19 Jan

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Lays Foundation Stone of ₹15 Crore Degree College in Ajnala, Calls for Collective Effort to Rebuild ‘Rangla Punjab’

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusinessAjnala degree college, Baba Ghamchuk Ji, Bhagwant Singh Mann, border area development, Punjab education, Rangla Punjab

AJNALA (AMRITSAR), 19th January 2026 :Laying the foundation stone of a ₹15 crore Government Degree College in Ajnala, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday said that the Congress, Akali Dal and BJP had collectively looted Punjab for decades, hollowing out its institutions and forcing generations of youth to look abroad for opportunities. The Chief Minister said that the new college, which will be named after the revered scholar Baba Ghamchuk Ji, represents the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s resolve to rebuild Rangla Punjab through education, opportunity and public participation. The Chief Minister said that while the state government…

05 Apr

Government Schools Are No Less Than Private Ones: MLA Randhawa

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabGovernment schools, MLA Kuljit Randhawa, Punjab education, Smriti Verma

Dera Bassi, April 5 – MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa emphasized that government schools now provide education on par with private institutions. He made this statement while honoring Smriti Verma, a student of Government High School, Karkaur, who secured the top position in Mohali district and ranked sixth in Punjab with 99.17% in the Class 8 exams conducted by the Punjab School Education Board.MLA Randhawa visited the school to personally award Smriti with ₹11,000 and a crown in recognition of her achievement. He announced that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann would also honor Smriti during his upcoming visit to Dera…