Punjab has claimed the top position in school education across India, with the Aam Aadmi Party government saying the state has moved ahead of Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi in the latest Education Quality Report 2026.
The state government said on Monday that Punjab’s rise marks a sharp turnaround from previous years. It said the state ranked 22nd in school education in 2016-17 during the Shiromani Akali Dal government, fell to 26th in 2018-19, and dropped further to 27th in 2020 under the Congress government.
The AAP government, which came to power in 2022, said Punjab now stands at No. 1 nationally.
Punjab Reports Higher Learning Scores Than Kerala
According to figures cited by the state government from the NITI Aayog report, Punjab recorded 82 per cent proficiency in Grade 3 language learning, compared with Kerala’s 75 per cent.
In Grade 3 mathematics, Punjab scored 78 per cent, ahead of Kerala’s 70 per cent. The state also reported stronger Grade 9 mathematics performance, with Punjab at 52 per cent and Kerala at 45 per cent.
The government presented the results as evidence of a major shift in learning outcomes across public schools. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said education has remained a central priority for his administration.
Smart Classrooms, Internet Access And School Infrastructure
The state government also pointed to gains in school infrastructure. It said 99.9 per cent of government schools in Punjab now have electricity, while 99 per cent have functional computers.
More than 80 per cent of schools now have smart classrooms. Nearly 89 per cent have internet connectivity, compared with Haryana’s 78.9 per cent, according to the government.
The government said Punjab has surpassed several states, including Haryana, where the Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power for 12 years.
“Punjab’s smart classroom availability stands at 80.1 percent, compared to Haryana’s 50.3 per cent,” the government said. “Perhaps the most striking fact is that even government schools in Gurugram, Haryana’s most prosperous and technologically advanced city, perform significantly behind Punjab’s lowest-ranked districts,” it added.
Teacher Training, Recruitment And Exam Results
The Mann government said it has sent teachers to countries such as Finland and Singapore for training. It also said more than 13,000 teachers and staff members have been recruited.
The state highlighted student performance in competitive exams, saying 786 students from government schools cleared JEE Main, while 1,284 students qualified NEET.
Punjab also cited the launch of 118 Schools of Eminence and the English Edge programme, which benefits more than three lakh students.
The government said students in public schools now have access to smart classrooms, digital learning tools, internet facilities, modern laboratories and upgraded infrastructure.
“A state that once ranked 27th in the country now stands proudly at No 1. This is not merely the story of educational reform, it is the story of a new Punjab,” the government said.
