In a significant boost for public education outcomes, 305 students from government-run schools in Punjab have successfully cleared the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains 2026 in their very first attempt, the state’s Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced on 21 February 2026. This year’s figure represents a remarkable 63 % increase from the 187 students who qualified from government schools in the previous year, underscoring what the minister described as a “defining moment for the state’s school education system.”
JEE Main: Historic Growth in Government School Performance
The achievement highlights noticeable progress in science and competitive exam preparedness among students in government institutions:
- Total qualifiers: 305
- Previous year (2025): 187
- Increase: ~63 % over last year’s count
According to the minister, this improvement demonstrates strengthened teaching, structured learning support, and rising competitiveness among students from public schools.
Training Camp for JEE Advanced
To further support these achievers, the Punjab government has announced a special three-week residential training camp for students who have qualified for the next stage of the engineering entrance process JEE Advanced 2026. This initiative aims to provide focused guidance, mentoring, and preparation ahead of the tougher Advanced exam.
JEE Main: Standout Performances
Several individual candidates also drew attention for their exceptional results:
- A Class 12 non-medical student from Amritsar achieved a 98.182 percentile, despite financial challenges and a humble family background.
- A student from Bathinda scored 95.091 percentile through self-study.
- Another from Sangrur secured a 96.44th percentile while simultaneously preparing for the NEET medical entrance test.
These stories highlight both determination and effective educational support mechanisms in place for government school students.
JEE Main: Broader Educational Significance
Education leaders in Punjab say this achievement reflects systematic efforts under initiatives like Punjab Sikhya Kranti to improve teaching quality, access to learning resources, and competitive exam readiness among students in government schools. The government’s focus remains on expanding similar support pathways, especially for academically promising students from underserved backgrounds, as it prepares them for national-level competitive exams.