Punjab Budget 2026: Record Rs 9,279 crore for Education, says Harjot Bains; Watch Video
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 8, 20256: Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Sunday termed the Punjab Budget 2026–27 a transformative step for the state’s education sector, welcoming the record allocation of ₹19,279 crore, which marks a 7 per cent increase over the previous year.
Reacting to the budget presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Bains said the government has moved beyond incremental reforms and initiated a structural transformation of the education system.
“This budget is a blueprint for Punjab’s future, written in the language of opportunity and excellence. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, we are turning our promise of ‘Punjab Sikhiya Kranti’ into reality,” he said.
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The minister announced the launch of ‘Sikhiya Kranti 2.0’, a major initiative supported by an investment of ₹3,500 crore over six years in collaboration with the World Bank. The programme aims to strengthen foundational literacy, empower teachers, modernise education governance and build structured career pathways for students.
Highlighting the progress made in recent years, Bains said Punjab has secured first rank in the Government of India’s PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, surpassing several other states in classroom learning outcomes. He added that the success of reforms is also reflected in the results of competitive examinations, noting that 305 students from government schools qualified the JEE Mains in their first attempt.
The government is also investing ₹400 crore to install 38,649 desktop computers and 8,268 interactive flat panels in government schools so that every secondary and senior secondary school has a modern computer laboratory. The minister added that 99 per cent of government schools now have boundary walls, while over one lakh new desks have been provided to ensure that no student has to sit on the floor.
Bains further informed that a statewide career counselling framework will be introduced to guide around 7.35 lakh students, supported by a dedicated digital portal to help them make informed choices about higher education and employment opportunities.
Looking ahead, the minister said a **world-class university in the name of Guru Tegh Bahadur will be established at Sri Anandpur Sahib. In the technical education sector, the seating capacity in government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) has been expanded from 35,000 to 52,000 seats, while ITIs will also be operationalised in 11 jails to integrate skill development with rehabilitation. He added that 11 ITIs across the state will be upgraded as Centres of Excellence.
Emphasising the importance of education, Bains said Punjab’s true wealth lies in its classrooms and in the dreams of its children. He said the ₹19,279 crore allocation for education in the 2026–27 budget reflects the government’s commitment to building a stronger and more progressive future for the state.