Punjab abolishes date-of-birth based tie-breaker in board exams
Chandigarh, June 10
In a significant policy shift, the Punjab government has announced the removal of the date-of-birth-based tie-breaker system in board examinations, aiming to ensure parity for students with identical academic scores.
The decision follows direct feedback provided by students to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, reflecting a responsive approach to the concerns of the student community.
State Education Minister Harjot Bains confirmed the development, stating that, moving forward, all students who secure equal marks will be awarded the same rank. This move is intended to eliminate the perceived unfairness of the previous system, which prioritised chronological age over academic performance in cases of ties.
Beyond the structural changes to ranking, Bains emphasised a broader transformation in the examination framework. He noted that board question papers would undergo a paradigm shift, moving away from rote learning. Future assessments are designed to prioritise competency-based questions that test a student's conceptual understanding and analytical abilities rather than their ability to memorise information.
Addressing the critical issue of academic integrity, the Education Minister further declared that the government would implement stringent measures to curb malpractice. He reiterated the administration's commitment to eradicating cheating and preventing paper leaks, ensuring a transparent and secure environment for all candidates.
Punjab has recently emerged as one of the country's top-performing states in school education, with the NITI Aayog Education Quality Report 2026 placing the state ahead of Keralam on several key foundational learning indicators. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains termed the development as the beginning of "Punjab's Era" in education, crediting the transformation to systemic reforms, improved infrastructure and the dedication of teachers, students and parents.
He said the success was the result of consistent policy implementation and collective efforts to strengthen government schools across the state. According to the report, Punjab recorded 82 per cent proficiency in language and 78 per cent in mathematics among Class 3 students, surpassing Kerala's 75 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively. In Class 9 mathematics, Punjab secured 52 per cent compared to Kerala's 45 per cent.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone from the US working in India, I'm impressed by how quickly the Punjab government responded to student feedback. But I'm curious how they'll handle large-scale implementation of competency-based questions—that's a huge shift in pedagogy.
Great news! But I hope the government also invests in teacher training for competency-based assessment. Rote learning has been our education system's biggest flaw, and it won't change overnight just by changing question papers. Still, a step in the right direction! 👏
Punjab surpassing Kerala in education quality? That's a massive achievement! But let's not get carried away—one report doesn't mean the system is perfect. The focus should be on sustaining these improvements and ensuring even rural schools benefit. Balle balle! 🏆
Impressive reform story from Punjab. As a researcher, I'd love to see the data on how the competency-based questions will be standardized to avoid subjectivity. But the intent is commendable.
I'm cautiously optimistic. Removing age bias is good, but Punjab still has a long way to go in terms of bridging the urban-rural divide. The real test will be whether these reforms reach government schools in villages, not just top city schools. 🤞
M Michael C The We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.