Chandigarh, March 18: The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has officially launched “Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0,” a transformative education mission backed by a ₹3,500 crore investment over the next six years. This ambitious second phase includes a strategic partnership with the World Bank, which will provide ₹2,500 crore in loan assistance, while the state government contributes ₹1,000 crore. The initiative seeks to institutionalize the gains of previous reforms and align the state’s public education ecosystem with international benchmarks.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann affirmed that the success of the first phase of the education revolution has already rewritten the state’s narrative, noting that Punjab ranked first in classroom learning outcomes in the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024. The Chief Minister maintained that this top national ranking, surpassing states like Kerala, proves that government schools can lead the country. He asserted that the collaboration with the World Bank reflects the global credibility and transparency of the state’s measurable education reforms.
The new mission will prioritize strengthening foundational learning and expanding access to science and commerce streams across nearly 20,000 government schools. The government declared that a comprehensive Career Guidance Portal will be introduced to provide personalized counseling and aptitude assessments for students. Furthermore, the plan includes modernizing teacher training institutions and implementing a robust school leadership framework to empower educators.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated that while the first phase placed Punjab at the top of national rankings, the second phase will accelerate the journey toward global excellence. He maintained that every child in the state deserves opportunities that match international standards. The Minister affirmed that the mission will create future-ready infrastructure, ensuring safe and digitally enabled learning environments that are resilient and sustainable for years to come.
