Punjab: Be active participants in tech revolution, Bains tells students

Chandigarh – On Tuesday, Punjab’s education minister Harjot Bains, accompanied by state affairs in‑charge Manish Sisodia, honored 1,050 Class 12 students who achieved the highest marks in the recent board examinations. The felicitation ceremony, organized by the school education department, took place in a city‑based venue and celebrated the academic achievements of the youth while signaling a broader push to embed digital skills into the state’s education system. The gathering was attended by school principals, district officials and a number of education officials, underscoring the significance of the event for the broader education community.

Harjot Bains, who heads the state’s school education portfolio, used the occasion to urge the honored students to become active participants in Punjab’s evolving technology sector. He emphasized that digital fluency is essential for contributing to the state’s industrial growth, innovation ecosystems and the expanding gig economy, and that the government is committed to supporting skill development initiatives that prepare youth for emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, software development and cybersecurity. The minister also noted that the push aligns with national efforts such as Digital India and the broader goal of creating a skilled workforce that can drive Punjab’s economic diversification.

The ceremony comes amid a state‑wide effort to modernize curricula and integrate technology into classroom teaching. Punjab has been promoting the development of IT parks, startup incubators and e‑governance platforms, and the administration believes that a digitally literate student base will be crucial for sustaining these initiatives. In recent years, the government has launched programmes to provide schools with broadband connectivity, digital labs and teacher training, aiming to ensure that every student gains exposure to emerging technologies. By recognizing top performers, the government hopes to inspire peers to pursue careers in technology and to create a pipeline of skilled talent that can support the growing digital economy.

Manish Sisodia, overseeing the administration’s portfolio, joined Bains on stage to present the awards, reinforcing the collaborative role of the education and administrative wings in driving the tech agenda. His presence highlighted the coordination between the two departments, a factor that officials say will streamline the implementation of skill‑development programmes and ensure that the benefits of the technology push reach schools across Punjab. Together, the ministers emphasized that the partnership will facilitate the rollout of certification courses, industry‑linked training and mentorship opportunities that connect students with the private sector.

The event signals a decisive turn toward a technology‑centric education strategy in Punjab, where the administration hopes to harness the energy of its youth to fuel innovation, create jobs and position the state as a hub for digital enterprises. As the selected students move forward, their role as active participants in the tech revolution will be closely watched, reflecting both the promise and the challenges of Punjab’s emerging digital future. Officials say the success of this initiative will be monitored through academic outcomes, employment rates and the ability of graduates to contribute to the state’s growing technology ecosystem.

Source: Hindustan Times