Top performers to be rewarded handsomely & special awards, recognition will also be conferred upon schools, says Education Minister
Face2News/Chandigarh
In a resounding testament to the revival and universal embracement of the Punjabi language, the 3rd International Punjabi Language Olympiad, organised by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), has witnessed a huge surge in participation, with student registrations crossing the 2,25,916 mark, said S. Harjot Singh Bains, Education Minister, Punjab.
This year's figure represents a gigantic leap from the previous editions, which witnessed 24,698 and 6,689 registrations respectively, underscoring a near nine-fold growth and a massive wave of enthusiasm among the youth, he added.
Attributing this phenomenal response to Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government's concerted efforts, S. Harjot Singh Bains stated, “Seeing over 2.25 lakh students from across the globe connect with their linguistic roots is a dream coming true for our government. The overwhelming response from students, coupled with immense enthusiasm from parents, teachers and school management, is a direct result of our extensive and targeted outreach to champion the Punjabi language on the world stage.”
The Education Minister shared that students from Norway, Kenya, UAE and Maharashtra, Haryana, HP, UP, Utrakhand, Jharkhand & other Indian states join in for the Olympiad.
Reflecting the government's commitment to incentivising talent, the Education Minister said that in each category (Primary, Middle, Secondary), the top 10 performers will be handsomely rewarded with Rs 11,000 (First Prize), Rs 7,100 (2nd Prize) and Rs 5,100 (3rd Prize). Additionally, special awards and recognition will be conferred upon the schools that have produced the top achievers, fostering a spirit of healthy competition at the institutional level.
S. Bains said, “the 3rd International Punjabi Language Olympiad is more than a competition; it is a celebration of our identity, our mother tongue and our heritage. We are not just testing language skills; we are nurturing the future custodians of Punjabi language and culture. My best wishes to all the participants.”
The Chairman PSEB Dr. Amarpal Singh said that the registration process for the Olympiad concluded successfully on October 31. To ensure a level playing field and familiarise students with the online testing pattern, the PSEB provided comprehensive e-books and facilitated a special mock test window on November 10, 11 and 12. This initiative saw an exceptional uptake, with 1,35,784 students proactively taking the practice test. In a continued effort to support learning, another round of practice tests is scheduled for elementary-level students on November 15 & 16.
The Olympiad is structured to rigorously identify and reward linguistic prowess. The 3rd International Punjabi Language Olympiad unfolds with online tests on December 5 (Primary level), December 6 (Middle) and December 8 (Secondary). Round 2nd follows on December 15-16, leading to the final showdown on Dec 23, 2025. Ensuring the integrity of the competition, the online tests will be meticulously monitored using latest technology, he added.