Punjab beats Kerala in NITI Aayog rankings
Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains announced that Punjab has surpassed Kerala to rank first in the NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index 2026. The state government credits this achievement to infrastructure improvements, the introduction of AI in the curriculum, and the 'Mission Samarth' learning program.
Why it matters
This ranking highlights significant shifts in state-level educational performance and the impact of specific government policy interventions.
Claiming a historic turnaround, Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains on Thursday, August 06, 2026 said the state has overtaken Kerala to rank No. 1 in the NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index 2026. While 8,000 schools had no boundary walls and 4 lakh children sat on the floor in 2022, today Punjab has 882 NEET qualifiers from government schools and has become the first state in the country to introduce Artificial Intelligence as a core subject from Classes I to XII. This is the revolution AAP led government promised.
Participating in a discussion on an education-related resolution moved by MLA Prof. Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra, Mr. Bains recalled the dire state of affairs when he assumed office in July 2022.
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