Scrapping the Punjab School Education Board’s (PSEB) evaluation system, Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led state government has decided that students securing identical marks in board examinations will henceforth be awarded the same rank, abolishing the long-standing practice of using date of birth as a tie-breaker, announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, Education Minister, Punjab.
This path-breaking decision was taken at a board meeting of PSEB, on Tuesday. The decision stems from a state-level felicitation function “Sitare Zameen Te” held on May 31, 2026, where Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann honoured district toppers of Classes 8th, 10th and 12th. During an interaction with students at the event, some students pointed out that students with marks identical to the top ranker were placed lower on the merit list solely due to age, affecting their ranks.
Taking cognisance of the matter, CM Mann directed the Punjab School Education Board to end the practice and implement a joint rank system for all students securing equal marks. S. Bains said that this is a historic step towards student-centric education. A student with the same marks as the topper cannot be ranked lower because of age.
Under the CM Mann’s visionary leadership, equal marks will now mean equal rank. Beyond ranking reforms, the PSEB board has also cleared sweeping changes to question paper design, aiming to curb cheating and end rote learning.
The move comes after students told the CM during ‘Sitare Zameen Te’ that current papers rewarded memorisation over understanding. S. Harjot Singh Bains said, “We are shifting to competency-based question papers set by subject experts.
The focus is on testing a student’s understanding, analytical ability and reasoning, not how well they can memorise. Better question papers mean fewer chances to cheat. When questions test thinking, not recall, paper leaks and copying lose their value.”
The Education Minister emphasised, “Our students are the future. Every decision we take must give them fairness, confidence and world-class standards. CM Mann led government has put students at the centre of policy. PSEB will now phase out rote learning and make every exam transparent, fair and student-friendly.”
All constructive suggestions received from students will be prioritised. Further guidelines on the joint ranking system and new question paper patterns would be issued before the next board examination cycle, assured Dr. Amarpal Singh, Chairman PSEB.