Chandigarh, Nov 12: Punjabi language has been made a compulsory subject for all students from class I to X in Punjab.

Schools will be fined up to Rs 2 lakhs for violation. Punjabi is mandatory in offices. Also, Punjabi will be written on top of all the boards in the state, informed Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

The Punjab Assembly on Thursday passed several bills including ‘Punjabi and Other Languages ​​Education (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ and ‘Punjab State Language (Amendment) Bill 2021’.

Punjabi and Other Languages ​​Education (Amendment) Bill, 2021, makes Punjabi a compulsory subject for all students from Classes 1-10 in schools across the state. It also provides for levying of fine on educational institutions not complying with this mandate, of up to Rs 2 lakh.