Harjot Singh Bains says Punjabi to be mandatory subject in schools; certificates to be null and void if not alligned

The Punjab Government on Wednesday said it has made Punjabi a mandatory subject in all schools across the State, regardless of their educational board affiliation, and asserted that education certificates will be considered null and void without Punjabi as a main subject. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said his department has issued a fresh notification stating that Punjabi will be a main subject in Class 10 in the State and if Punjabi is not a main subject in any school, then the certificate will be considered null and void. #WATCH | Chandigarh: Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains says, "CBSE published a draft policy for class 10 for the academic session 2025-26, that the examinations would be held twice - in February and May.CBSE says that there will be 5 main subjects - Science, Math,… pic.twitter.com/KFxtFXezb1 — ANI February 26, 2025 The minister said in the CBSE’s draft norms, science, maths, social science, Hindi and English are the main subjects of Class 10. The minister said the State Government issued a fresh notification with immediate effect whereby Punjabi will be the main subject for Class 10 under any education board in the State. In a statement released in Chandigarh, former education minister and senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said it was shocking to see that the CBSE working under the Union Government had “removed” Punjabi as a regional language option for the students.