In a decisive move to preserve the region’s linguistic heritage, the Punjab Government announced on Wednesday that Punjabi will now be a mandatory main subject in every school across the state, irrespective of their educational board affiliation.
The new directive, issued under the Punjab Learning of Punjabi and Other Languages Act, 2008, stipulates that education certificates will be rendered null and void if they do not include Punjabi as a main subject. Moreover, students will not be declared pass in Class X examinations unless Punjabi is recognized as one of their principal subjects.
This development comes in the wake of recent controversies surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The board had previously proposed draft norms for Class X exams that omitted Punjabi from its list of subjects—a suggestion that was met with widespread criticism. While CBSE later clarified that the norms were only indicative and assured that no subject would be dropped, the Punjab government has taken a firm stance on ensuring the language’s preservation.
State Education Minister Harjot Bains elaborated on the new policy, noting that schools have faced penalties in the past for failing to comply with the 2008 Act. “Earlier, private institutions in Mohali and two schools in Jalandhar were fined for not adhering to the mandate of teaching Punjabi. Now, all schools are unequivocally required to offer Punjabi as a main subject,” he stated. Bains also announced plans for Punjab to develop its own education policy and to establish a committee of experts to guide future initiatives.
The decision has ignited passionate responses from political figures and educational leaders alike. SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal underscored the cultural significance of Punjabi, asserting, “Punjabi is our mother tongue and is spoken in various states and countries. The attack on our mother tongue will not be tolerated.” Similarly, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan characterized the CBSE draft norms as an “anti-Punjab” move, even going as far as to label it a conspiracy against the state.
Educational advocates have also weighed in on the matter. Vikram Dev Singh, president of the Democratic Teachers’ Front, decried the proposed removal of the language as an attempt to sideline students from their cultural roots. He called for additional support measures, such as more holidays before regional language examinations, to better prepare students.
As the government moves forward with its policy changes, the mandate underscores a broader effort to safeguard Punjab’s rich cultural and linguistic traditions. The new policy not only reinforces the importance of Punjabi within the state’s educational framework but also sends a strong message about the intrinsic value of regional identity in an increasingly globalized world.
