--- title: "Punjab Overtakes Kerala in National School Education Rankings as Reforms Yield Results" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/punjab-ranks-first-niti-aayog-school-education-index-68hap publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: India published: 2026-08-07T05:45:11.000Z modified: 2026-08-07T09:01:13.398Z language: en-IN --- # Punjab Overtakes Kerala in National School Education Rankings as Reforms Yield Results Punjab has secured the top position in the 2026 NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index, signaling a major shift in the national academic hierarchy. Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains reported substantial improvements in infrastructure and exam outcomes compared to the state's 2022 baseline. ## Key takeaways - Punjab surpassed Kerala to take the top spot in the 2026 NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index. - Government school NEET-UG qualifiers increased from 80 in 2021 to 882 in 2026 due to the PACE initiative. - The state has successfully implemented AI as a core subject for all students from Class I to Class XII. - Infrastructure projects worth ₹2,638 crore have addressed critical shortages in toilets, boundary walls, and furniture. - Declining enrollment figures are attributed to national post-COVID trends and the introduction of unique APAAR student IDs. ## Strategic Overhaul of State Schooling Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains announced on August 6, 2026, that Punjab has ascended to the first rank in the NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index. This milestone marks a significant transition since July 2022, when an internal survey revealed that 8,000 schools lacked boundary walls and 3,200 schools were without operational toilets. During that period, approximately 400,000 students were forced to sit on the floor due to a lack of furniture. Addressing a resolution introduced by MLA Prof. Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra, Bains highlighted the logistical improvements in resource distribution. Previously, textbooks reached classrooms as late as November; currently, materials arrive at district hubs by mid-February and reach students by the end of March. The Minister noted that he has personally inspected over 2,000 institutions, including those in remote border zones, to monitor these changes. ## Foundational Learning and Advanced Curriculum The state has introduced 'Mission Samarth' to address learning gaps by grouping 1.2 million students based on their actual competency levels rather than age or grade. This initiative involves 70,000 teachers and focuses on fundamental literacy and arithmetic. Bains also noted that Punjab is the first Indian state to integrate Artificial Intelligence as a mandatory core subject for all grades from I through XII. Academic performance in competitive exams has seen a sharp increase. Under the 'Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence' (PACE) program, the number of government school students qualifying for NEET-UG rose from 80 in 2021 to 882 in 2026. The Minister cited specific successes in Majitha and Dinanagar, emphasizing the achievements of students like Harnoorpreet Kaur, who secured a high national rank despite coming from a humble background. ## Addressing National Enrollment Trends Responding to concerns regarding lower enrollment, Bains clarified that the decline is a national phenomenon following the pandemic. Data shows a nationwide reduction of 17.6 million government school students as numbers normalize from a temporary COVID-19 surge. He cited similar downward trends in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. Furthermore, the implementation of the federal APAAR ID system in 2023 has eliminated duplicate enrollments, providing a more accurate reflection of the student population. ## Infrastructure Investment and Funding The Punjab government has completed infrastructure projects totaling ₹2,638 crore across 19,125 institutions. An additional ₹1,000 crore in World Bank funding has been earmarked for further upgrades. Bains specifically mentioned the transformation of the Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar School of Eminence in Ludhiana, where an ₹18 crore investment coincided with 17 students passing the NEET exam. The Minister concluded by stating that the current administration has provided sufficient funds to end the practice of teachers seeking private donations for school maintenance. ## Key Facts - Punjab now ranks first in the NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index 2026. - NEET-UG qualifiers from government schools increased by over 1,000% since 2021. - Infrastructure spending has reached ₹2,638 crore across nearly 20,000 schools. - Punjab is the first state to make Artificial Intelligence a core subject for all grades. - The APAAR ID system has helped correct inflated enrollment data across India. Source: The Hindu — National --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/punjab-ranks-first-niti-aayog-school-education-index-68hap Reported from: The Hindu — National