9 days after Class X topper’s question, Punjab scraps age-based board rankings

Mohali: A question raised by a Class X topper from Amritsar on May 31 has prompted the Punjab govt to abolish its decades-old practice of using date of birth as a tie-breaker in board examination rankings. The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has now approved a policy under which students securing identical marks will be awarded the same rank.The decision was announced by Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains after a meeting of the PSEB on Tuesday. The reform means the long-standing system of determining ranks based on age when two or more students secured the same marks will no longer be followed. Earlier, a student with lesser age was ranked as topper in case of same marks.The move follows its origins to the state-level felicitation programme, Sitare Zameen Te, held on May 31, where chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann honoured district toppers of Classes VIII, X and XII.During an interaction with students, Gagandeep Kaur, a Class X student of Amber Senior Secondary School, Nawan Tanel, in Amritsar district, questioned why the PSEB declared one student a topper over another based solely on age when both had obtained the same marks. Taking note of the student's concern, Mann directed PSEB to review the practice and implement a fairer system. Acting on the directive, the board approved the ‘Equal Marks, Equal Rank' policy, ensuring that all students with identical scores receive the same ranking.Announcing the decision, Bains described it as a student-centric reform aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency. "Students should be judged on merit and performance, not on factors such as age. This decision reinforces our commitment to creating a fair and equitable academic environment," he said.The education minister added Punjab govt was committed to aligning the state's education system with modern academic standards and ensuring students receive a transparent, fair and student-friendly evaluation process. "Our students are the future of Punjab. Every policy decision must strengthen their confidence and provide them with world-class opportunities. The Mann govt has placed students at the centre of educational reforms," he said.PSEB chairman Dr Amarpal Singh said the board would continue to give due consideration to constructive suggestions from students and stakeholders. He assured that detailed guidelines regarding the joint ranking system and the revised question paper pattern would be issued before the next board examination cycle.Moving away from memorisationThe board meeting also approved major reforms in the pattern of question papers to promote conceptual understanding and discourage rote learning. The changes come after students participating in the Sitare Zameen Te programme informed the CM that existing exam patterns often rewarded memorisation rather than genuine understanding.Bains said examinations would gradually shift towards competency-based assessment models designed by subject experts. "We are moving towards papers that assess understanding, analytical ability and reasoning skills. When examinations focus on thinking and problem-solving, the scope for cheating, copying and even the impact of paper leaks is reduced," he said.