Chandigarh, May 28 -- A 9% decline in student enrolment in Punjab's government schools during the 2025-26 academic year has raised concerns in the Union ministry of education.

The ministry flagged the dip of nearly 1.76 lakh in enrolment at the pre-primary and elementary levels during a high-level meeting on May 16 with senior officials of Punjab's school education department regarding funding under the centrally-sponsored Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM Poshan) Scheme. Student enrolment declined to 17.34 lakh in 2025-26 from 19.10 lakh in the previous academic year. The sharpest fall was recorded in Bal Vatkas (pre-primary sections), where enrolment dropped from 1.62 lakh in 2024-25 to 1.11 lakh in 2025-26. At the primary (class...