 Early Times Report
CHANDIGARH, Feb 21: In a major boost to the Punjab Government's education reforms under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, as many as 305 students from Punjab Government Schools have qualified in the first attempt of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains 2026, registering a remarkable 63 percent increase over last year's 187 successful candidates. Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, the Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains described the achievement as a defining moment for the state's school education system.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains shared that five students from his constituency Sri Anandpur Sahib also cracked the prestigious examination. He announced that the government will organise a special three-week residential training camp to prepare the qualified students for JEE Advance, ensuring they receive focused guidance for the next stage.
"This feat marks a moment of immense pride for our entire school education department. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our dedicated teachers. The recent JEE Mains Phase 1 results showcased an outstanding performance by Punjab government schools, with 305 students cracking the competitive engineering exam. This feat represents a remarkable 63 percent increase from last year's 187 qualifiers. Achieving such a significant milestone in just one year is a testament to the transformative power of our Punjab Sikhya Kranti initiative. We are committed to further accelerating our progress," said Harjot Singh Bains.
Highlighting the human stories behind the numbers, the Education Minister shared that Bhavishya, a Grade 12 Non-Medical student from the School of Eminence, Town Hall, Amritsar, secured an impressive 98.182 percentile despite coming from a family with an annual income of ?1.5 lakh. His father runs a mobile repair shop and his mother works as a tailor. "Despite financial constraints, his determination to pursue engineering and uplift his family remained unshaken. With strong school support and disciplined preparation, he achieved outstanding success," he said.
He further informed that Dilkhush Jha, a government school student from Bathinda, scored 95.091 percentile in JEE Mains. With a labourer father and homemaker mother and an annual family income of ?1.2 lakh, he relied on self-study and PACE classes to excel. Similarly, Priyanka Sharma, a science student from the School of Eminence, Sangrur, secured 96.44 percentile in JEE Mains while simultaneously preparing for NEET. Coming from a family with an annual income of ?3.5 lakh, she benefitted from PACE classes, mock tests and structured guidance. |
