Thu Feb 27 03:50:32 UTC 2025: ## Punjab Mandates Punjabi in Schools Amidst CBSE Clarification

**Chandigarh, India** – The Punjab government announced Wednesday that Punjabi will be a compulsory subject in all Class 10 schools across the state, regardless of the education board. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains cited the alleged removal of Punjabi from the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) list of regional language subjects for Class 10 as the reason for the mandate. He accused the BJP-led central government and the CBSE of a “well-planned conspiracy” against Punjab and the Punjabi language. The minister declared that any school failing to offer Punjabi as a main subject will have its certificates deemed invalid.

However, the CBSE swiftly refuted these claims. In an official notification, Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj clarified that the draft norms for the biannual board exam format, which allow students to take exams twice a year starting in 2026, only presented an *indicative* list of subjects. He confirmed that Punjabi, along with numerous other regional and foreign languages, will remain available as a subject option.

The new CBSE policy also allows students to choose between two exam sessions—one in February and another in May—and to retake individual subjects to improve their scores. The policy is currently open for public feedback until March 9th.

Bains’ announcement follows a broader national debate on language policy, particularly in light of recent similar moves by other states like Telangana, which mandated Telugu in its schools. The Punjab minister emphasized Punjabi’s cultural significance, asserting it is spoken across several Indian states and its exclusion from the CBSE list constitutes an attempt to erase it from the educational landscape.

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