Punjabi now compulsory in all Punjab schools amid CBSE draft norms row

Classroom

The Punjab government on Wednesday made Punjabi language a mandatory main subject in all schools of the state regardless of their educational board affiliation, notifying that education certificates will be considered null and void without Punjabi as a main subject.

The move, which will be applicable from the next academic year, comes in the backdrop of a row over allegations regarding the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) dropping Punjabi from the ‘regional and foreign languages group' of a draft scheme for the Class X in the 2025-26 academic session. While the CBSE later issued a clarification stating it had not done away with the language, the state government asserted that it was a "well-planned conspiracy" to undermine regional languages through a new exam pattern.

Addressing a press conference, Punjab minister Harjot Singh Bains said he would write a letter to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to assign responsibility to officials concerned.

"We can't tolerate this blatant attempt to impose a singular narrative on our nation. We demand CBSE respect the federal structure of India and ensure all languages, including Punjabi, are given the prominence they deserve."

Punjabi is spoken and read in many states, giving it significance beyond the borders of the state, the minister added. “Punjabi is not merely a language but an identity of our glorious heritage, spoken by millions of people in the country,” he said, adding that the current state of affairs is an attempt to eliminate Punjabi from the academic domain.

Clarification from CBSE

On Wednesday, CBSE issued a clarification that it skipped writing Punjabi in the languages group while forming its draft scheme for two examinations in Class X for the 2025-26 academic year issued on Tuesday.

"It is clarified that the list of other subjects and languages contained in the draft sheet is only indicative and that all the subjects and languages as offered presently shall continue to be offered for 2025-26 as well. Thus, in addition to languages mentioned under the list of languages in point 8 of the draft policy under 'Regional and Foreign Languages Group,' Punjabi (004), Russian (021), Nepali (024), Limboo (025), Lepcha (026), Sindhi (008), Malayalam (012), Odia (013), Assamese (014), Kannada (015), Kokborok (091), Telugu (007), Arabic (016), and Persian (023) shall continue to be offered,” Sanyam Bhardwaj, controller of examinations for CBSE, said.