Chandigarh, May 10 -- Punjab has emerged as one of the country's top-performing states in school education, with the NITI Aayog Education Quality Report 2026 placing the state ahead of Keralam on several key foundational learning indicators.

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains termed the development as the beginning of "Punjab's Era" in education, crediting the transformation to systemic reforms, improved infrastructure and the dedication of teachers, students and parents. He said the success was the result of consistent policy implementation and collective efforts to strengthen government schools across the state.

According to the report, Punjab recorded 82 per cent proficiency in language and 78 per cent in mathematics among ...