In a significant reform aimed at making the examination system more equitable, the Punjab government has decided to discontinue the practice of using a student’s date of birth as a tie-breaker in board examination merit rankings. Students securing identical marks in Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) examinations will now be awarded the same rank.
The decision was approved during a meeting of the Punjab School Education Board and follows directions issued by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann after receiving feedback from students during the state-level “Sitare Zameen Te” felicitation programme held on May 31.
At the event, where district toppers of Classes 8, 10 and 12 were honoured, several students pointed out that candidates obtaining the same marks as the top-ranked student were being placed lower in the merit list solely because they were younger. Taking note of the concern, the Chief Minister asked the board to review the system and ensure that students with equal scores receive equal recognition.
Announcing the decision, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains described the move as a major step towards a more student-focused evaluation framework. He said academic merit should be determined by performance and not by age.
“A student who secures the same marks as the topper should not be denied the same position because of the date of birth. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, equal marks will now mean equal rank,” Bains said.
The board meeting also approved a series of examination reforms intended to improve assessment quality and reduce opportunities for unfair practices. According to the minister, future question papers will increasingly focus on competency-based evaluation rather than rote memorisation.
Bains said feedback received from students indicated that existing examination patterns often rewarded memorisation instead of conceptual understanding. To address this, subject experts will be involved in designing question papers that assess analytical thinking, reasoning ability and subject comprehension.
“We want examinations to measure understanding and problem-solving skills rather than a student’s ability to memorise information. When assessments are designed around critical thinking, the scope for copying and the value of leaked papers are significantly reduced,” he said.
The minister added that the state government is committed to bringing Punjab’s education system in line with modern academic standards while ensuring fairness and transparency in examinations. He said every policy decision in the education sector would continue to place students at its centre.
Emphasising the government’s broader vision, Bains said efforts were underway to gradually move away from rote-learning practices and create a more student-friendly examination environment. He added that suggestions received directly from students would continue to play an important role in shaping future reforms.
Punjab School Education Board Chairman Dr Amarpal Singh said detailed guidelines regarding the joint ranking system and revised examination pattern would be issued ahead of the next board examination cycle. He assured that the board would prioritise the implementation of constructive recommendations received from students and stakeholders.