Minister objects to Punjabi's absence from list in CBSE draft; board says language list 'indicative'

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exam controller Sanyam Bharadwaj clarified that all courses offered in the current academic year for Class 10 and 12 will be continued in the next year as well. The clarification was issued after Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains objected to CBSE’s new exam pattern scheme, “which attempts to erase Punjabi!”

The CBSE published a draft scheme for the conduct of 2 board exams for Class 10 from 2026. Students were informed that the subjects will be divided into two categories - regional and foreign languages group and the remaining subjects group. The two groups do not include science, mathematics, social science, Hindi, or English.

The CBSE subject groups for the 2026 board exam, however, did not have Punjabi (Code 004); creating confusion among students and stakeholders on the removal of the subject. While some criticised the removal of Punjab from the list, others asked if it was done “by mistake”.

“Punjabi must be designated as the main language in Punjab and further be included as a regional language in CBSE for the rest of the nation, as it is spoken and read across multiple states. Any attack on Punjabi will not be tolerated!” the state education minister said in a video message.

In response to this, CBSE exam controller said: “There is no change in the subjects offered today. This list is indicative. All subjects which are offered today will continue in 2 board examination.”