Chandigarh, 12 May (H.S.): Punjab’s education sector witnessed a major milestone as the Punjab School Education Board (Punjab School Education Board) Class 10 examination results recorded an impressive overall pass percentage of 94.52 percent, highlighting what the state government described as the success of its ongoing “Sikhya Kranti” reforms.

Out of a total of 2,69,505 students who appeared for the examinations, 2,54,744 students successfully passed, marking one of the strongest performances in recent years. Girls once again outperformed boys, registering a pass percentage of 95.96 percent, while boys recorded 93.23 percent.

The results also reflected the growing strength of government schools in Punjab. A total of 272 students secured positions in the merit list, including 220 girls and 52 boys. Notably, 88 students from government schools featured in the merit rankings, showcasing the impact of the state government’s efforts to strengthen public education infrastructure.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday felicitated the top three students and praised their dedication and hard work.

The top position was secured by Harleen Sharma, who scored 99.38 percent (646 out of 650 marks). Manimahesh Sharma and Riya Rani jointly secured the second and third positions with 99.23 percent (645 out of 650 marks each).

Congratulating the students, Bhagwant Mann said Punjab’s children have immense talent and are now receiving the right opportunities, infrastructure and academic support to compete at the national level. He added that these students would inspire others to excel in education.

As a reward for their outstanding achievement, the Chief Minister announced direct admission for all three toppers into the state’s Schools of Eminence in any stream of their choice. He also handed over cheques worth ₹50,000 each to the students.

Highlighting broader education reforms, Mann said Punjab has emerged as a leading state in school education due to continuous investments in smart classrooms, teacher training and modern teaching methods. He also claimed that recent figures released by NITI Aayog placed Punjab ahead of states like Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi in primary and middle-school education.

Another major highlight was that 3,718 schools recorded 100 percent results, including 1,688 government schools. Among districts, Amritsar district recorded the highest pass percentage at 98.41 percent, while Ludhiana district secured the highest number of merit positions.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH