Chandigarh, June 2: The Punjab government launched its premier “Bright Minds Punjab 2026” initiative on Monday, choosing the iconic Virasat-e-Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib as the stage to reward academic excellence. During the inaugural state-level event, Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains announced a major technological update for the public school system, revealing that Artificial Intelligence will become a formal subject for all government school students starting from Class 6 this academic session.
To boost transparency and accountability within the state’s evaluation network, the government will also move Punjab School Education Board examination answer sheets online. Officials noted that the digital portal will allow students open access to their evaluated copies, establishing an added layer of fairness. The debut event in Rupnagar celebrated more than 600 meritorious students from the local district who scored higher than 85% in their Class 12 board examinations, presenting each with achievement certificates.
“To make our students contemporary and competitive, we must connect them with new technologies,” Bains said when outlining the upcoming tech curriculum. “AI will create new job opportunities while transforming traditional roles. Punjab’s children must lead this change.”
The Education Minister stated that the state secured the top position in school education according to NITI Aayog’s latest ranking index, indicating that technology-focused upgrades are designed to sustain this progress. The “Bright Minds” dialogue will now expand into every district across the state, creating a regular forum where young learners can directly offer suggestions and views on future educational structural reforms to state policymakers.
Aam Aadmi Party Punjab Affairs Incharge Manish Sisodia also held direct interactive feedback sessions with the assembled teachers and students at the venue. He noted that national statistics still point to a widespread deficit in basic learning quality across the country, placing the burden of resolving these gaps on public leadership and educators.
“Success can only be achieved through hard work, discipline and fresh thinking,” Sisodia declared during his interaction. “Our students are already showing that Punjab is ready to lead.”
The high-profile event drew several top dignitaries, including Administrative Secretary of School Education Ms. Sonali Giri and Director of School Education (Secondary) SS Bal, alongside senior departmental teams.
