CBSE has yet to respond to the growing opposition.

Punjab Harjot Bains Against CBSE Exclusion of Punjabi Language from Board Exams: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has come under fire for allegedly excluding Punjabi (code 004) as a second language from its new draft policy for Class 10 and 12 board exams. The draft, released yesterday, lists other languages but omits Punjabi, sparking strong reactions from stakeholders.

The policy is currently open for feedback from schools, teachers, parents, and students, with CBSE inviting suggestions before finalizing the framework. However, concerns are growing that Punjabi’s exclusion may be deliberate, prompting calls for immediate corrective action.

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains has strongly opposed the move, demanding that CBSE and the Union Minister for Education reverse the decision.

"We strongly object to CBSE’s new exam pattern scheme, which attempts to erase Punjabi! Punjabi must be designated as the main language in Punjab and also included as a regional language in CBSE across the nation, as it is spoken and read in multiple states. Any attack on Punjabi will not be tolerated," Bains asserted.

Educationists and political leaders have urged all stakeholders to voice their concerns and ensure that Punjabi remains part of CBSE’s curriculum. The issue has triggered a debate on the role of regional languages in national education policies, with many emphasizing the need to protect linguistic diversity.

CBSE has yet to respond to the growing opposition, but pressure is mounting to revise the draft policy to reinstate Punjabi as a second language.