CBSE Punjabi Subject Row: AAP Minister Slams Centre
Punjabi Language Dispute: A New Twilight
The government of Punjab expressed concerns. They were worried about the non-inclusion of Punjabi from the list of subjects specified for CBSE’s proposed guidelines for the biannual board exams for Class x. Punjab’s Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains alleged that CBSE and the Government of India are, in fact, in conspiracy to elbow Punjabi into relative oblivion. However, CBSE has rejected these allegations. They said that Punjabi will remain an available subject.
The AAP ministers’ claim
“The state government has condemned the proposed standards. The classification of Science, Maths, Social Science, Hindi, and English would be the major subjects. While the regional/foreign languages are put in a separate stream. The omission of Punjabi from its list of primary subjects was part of a conspiracy against Punjab. Its also against language legacy,” Bains said.
The government of Punjab thus issued a notification stating that Punjabi will now be mandatory in all schools. In case any school does not abide with this order, the certificates issued by such a school would become invalid for all state boards operating in Punjab.
Clarification from the CBSE officials
Following the adjournment, in fairness, the conduct authorities of the CBSE released a formal statement negating all allegations. The subject presented on the preliminary list was only a suggestive one. Also, the languages which were taught up to now would also be available for the academic sessions in the ensuing years, taken till 2025-26. Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj asserted this.
Punjabi (004), along with Russian, Nepali, Malayalam, Odia, or Assamese, continues to feature in the regional languages list as stated by CBSE.
Revised Biannual Exam Structure by CBSE
Apart from the language debate, CBSE has proposed that students take turn examinations in class X. It is for the classes starting in 2026. Students will have the option of taking a second exam or just one. This would lessen the anxiety associated with a single all-important exam.
This trending news today definitely captures the fundamental aspect of the discussion concerning the future of language education and examination reforms in India. It may be possible to resolve the tension among the stakeholders by the ultimate policy choices to be made-once they provide their feedback by March 9.
