CM Bhagwant Singh Mann meets Class 8 toppers in Chandigarh, awards ₹50,000 cash prize to top-3 achievers

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday said Punjab’s ‘Sikhya Kranti’ is delivering transformative results on the ground, as daughters from ordinary families dominated the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB)’s Class 8 merit list by securing 19 of the top 20 positions. Honouring the toppers at his residence in Chandigarh, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that the top 20 students will be granted direct admission to Schools of Eminence without any entrance test, reaffirming the Punjab Government’s commitment to rewarding merit and expanding access to quality education. 

What did Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann do?

The Chief Minister also honoured the top three achievers with a cash prize of ₹50,000 each and urged students to remain grounded, work hard, and choose the right role models, asserting that Punjab’s transformed government schools are now emerging as a national benchmark in education. He said the confidence, discipline, and determination displayed by these students reflect the impact of sustained investment in education, adding that the Punjab Government is committed to giving wings to every child’s aspirations through modern schools, quality learning, and an enabling environment.

Sharing a few snippets from the interaction, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated on X: “Today, in Chandigarh, meritorious students who topped the results of the Punjab School Education Board's Class 8th across the entire state were honored. On this special occasion, heartfelt congratulations were also extended to their parents and teachers.”

The Chief Minister noted, “In this year's results, the first position has been secured by the talented daughter of a munim working at a brick kiln, while the second and third positions have been achieved with outstanding success by the daughters of a tiles shop owner and a teacher at a government primary school, respectively. These results clearly demonstrate that children from ordinary and humble families are now setting new benchmarks in the field of education. Seeing the self-confidence, hard work, and dedication of these children filled us with immense joy and pride.”

“Our government is fully committed to giving wings to the dreams of children and helping them reach the heights of success in life. We are continuously striving to provide quality education, modern schools, and an inspiring environment,” the post concluded.

Interacting with the toppers, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted that for the first time, girls dominated the merit list by securing 19 out of the top 20 positions, calling it a powerful testament to their excellence and determination. “These students will be granted admission to Class 9 in Schools of Eminence without any entrance examination. For the first time, girls have secured 19 out of the top 20 positions, with only one boy at the 20th rank. By achieving all the first 19 positions, girls have once again proven that they are second to none in any field,” he said, underscoring the remarkable achievement.

Emphasising the merit and capability of the students, the Chief Minister noted that a total of 2.62 lakh students appeared for the Class 8 examinations conducted by the Punjab School Education Board this year. “These top 20 students have already demonstrated their merit. Students securing top positions have proven their capability and will therefore be given admission under a special quota in Schools of Eminence based on merit, without any entrance test,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann added.

While congratulating students, teachers, and parents, he said, “This is a moment of immense pride and satisfaction for everyone. Along with the hard work of the students, the contribution of parents and teachers who guided them is equally commendable. It is a historic day as top-performing students from across the state have gathered together.”

Calling it a privilege to honour young achievers, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Honouring such young achievers is a privilege for the state government and an important step toward building confidence among students, as they are the leaders of tomorrow. You must carefully choose your role models in your chosen fields to achieve success in life.”

Motivating the students further, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann urged them to remain humble and continue believing in hard work as the key to success. “The Punjab government is working tirelessly to provide quality education at the school level and has initiated an education revolution in Punjab, helping bridge socio-economic gaps and transform students’ lives,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said.

What is the top priority of the Punjab government?

Reaffirming that education remains the top priority of the Punjab Government, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that major improvements are being made in infrastructure across government schools. “Punjab has emerged as a role model across the country, especially in the sector of education. Punjabis have always been leaders and have remained at the forefront in every sphere,” he said.

The Chief Minister also honoured the top three students at his residence with a cash prize of ₹50,000 each. Tamanna from Saraswati Senior Secondary School, Jaito (Faridkot) secured the first position with a perfect score of 600 out of 600, Japneet Kaur from Government Middle School, Arkawas (Sangrur) secured the second position with 598 marks, and Jashandeep Kaur from Sant Mohan Das Memorial Senior Secondary School, Kot Sukhia (Faridkot) secured the third position with 598 marks. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann noted with pride that all three students are also athletes competing at state and national levels.

During their interaction with CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, the students shared their aspirations and expressed happiness at being personally honoured. They said they come from humble backgrounds and are determined to achieve their dreams through hard work, dedication, and the support of the government.

On the occasion, Punjab School Education Board Chairman (PSEB) Dr. Amarpal Singh, Secretary School Education Sonali Giri, and other officials were also present.