Punjab has been recognized as a leading state in school education, according to the NITI Aayog Education Quality Report 2026. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced that Punjab outperformed Kerala in several learning indicators, achieving 82% proficiency in language and 78% in mathematics for Class 3, compared to Kerala's 75% and 70%. In Class 9 mathematics, Punjab scored 52%, significantly higher than Kerala's 45%. The report highlighted that 99.9% of government schools in Punjab have electricity, and 99% have functional computers, with over 80% equipped with smart classrooms. Furthermore, the transition rate from Class 10 to Class 11 has improved, with over 90% of students making the shift, showcasing a decline in dropout rates. The student-teacher ratio has also been optimized to 22:1. Bains emphasized Punjab's efforts to bridge the urban-rural divide in education and praised the success of government school students in competitive exams, with 786 students clearing JEE Main and 1,284 qualifying for NEET.