Amid CBSE draft row, Punjab government makes Punjabi subject compulsory in all schools

NEW DELHI : Amid row over absence of Punjabi subject in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)’s list in draft policy for conduct of board exams twice a year, the Punjab government has made Punjabi language as a compulsory subject in all schools.

Sharing the update, Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains said on X, “The Punjab government has made it mandatory to teach Punjabi as a core and compulsory subject in all schools in the state, irrespective of which board they are affiliated to. A notification in this regard has been issued today.”

The school education department has issued the following instructions to the officers:

• No student shall be declared passed in the Class 10 without having studied Punjabi.
• Punjabi shall be taught as the main language in all schools affiliated with any board in the state.
• Strict action will be taken against schools that violate these instructions.

The decision has been taken in line with the provisions of the Punjab Act, 2008 for the Education of Punjabi and Other Languages.

Earlier today, the education minister objected to dropping Punjabi language in the list of subjects mentioned in the CBSE draft scheme for biannual board exams. The central board, however, clarified that the list is indicative and no subject would be dropped.

Meanwhile, Telangana government also issued an order mandating Telugu language as a compulsory subject for students of Class 1 to 10 in all schools starting from the 2025-26 academic session.