The North News
Chandigarh, February 27
The Punjab government has issued a notification making Punjabi a mandatory subject in all schools, irrespective of board affiliation. The directive states that education certificates will be rendered invalid if Punjabi is not included as a main subject. The CBSE swiftly issued a clarification after Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains accused the board of marginalising the language through its new exam pattern.
At a press conference in Punjab Bhawan, Bains stressed that Punjabi extends beyond Punjab’s borders and is spoken across multiple states. “Punjabi is not just a language; it is a symbol of our rich cultural heritage,” he said, calling the CBSE’s move an attempt to erase the language from education. Bains announced he would write to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, demanding accountability for those responsible for excluding Punjabi in a draft education policy. “This is not a choice but a matter of national importance. It violates the federal structure and undermines India’s linguistic diversity,” he said.
Reinforcing the state’s commitment, Bains cited penalties imposed on schools failing to comply with the Punjab Learning of Punjabi and Other Languages Act, 2008. A Mohali-based private school, Amity International School, was fined ₹50,000, while two Jalandhar schools also faced action. Punjab will introduce its own education policy, with a committee of experts set to be formed soon, Bains added.
