CLASSROOM TO BOARDROOM: PSEB SET TO LAUNCH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CURRICULUM FOR CLASS 12TH
• Over 5.60 lakh students to get Entrepreneurship edge in Punjab’s schools, says Harjot Singh Bains
Chandigarh, November 27:In a significant initiative aimed at inspiring young minds towards innovation and self-employment, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has finalised the Entrepreneurship curriculum for Class 12th, completing a two-year educational pathway designed to foster innovation, self-reliance and job creation among students, announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of Education, Punjab.
Building on the success of the Business Blaster program launched for Class 11 in 2022-23, S. Harjot Singh Bains lauded the PSEB’s efforts. He stated that the PSEB has demonstrated exceptional commitment by introducing Entrepreneurship as a compulsory subject across 3,692 senior secondary schools and equipping 10,382 teachers and 231 master trainers through 104 training programs.
With the Class 12th curriculum and textbooks ready ahead of schedule, around 5.60 lakh students will pursue Entrepreneurship without interruption in the 2026-27 academic year, S. Bains said while adding that the comprehensive curriculum would equip the students to transform ideas into viable ventures, covering startup challenges, legal procedures, finance, budgeting and more, preparing Punjab's youth to be job providers and economic drivers of tomorrow.
This initiative fulfils a key promise of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government to equip students in government and recognised schools with the mindset and practical skills for self-employment, startups and entrepreneurship.
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Punjab Government Releases ₹22.66 Crore Under Ashirwad Scheme — Dr. Baljit Kaur
*Financial Assistance Provided to 4,443 Beneficiaries Across 15 Districts*
*₹51,000 Per Beneficiary Transferred Directly Through DBT*
Chandigarh, November 27:Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur announced that under the Ashirwad Scheme the Punjab Government has released ₹22.66 crore in the current financial year 2025–26 to provide financial assistance to 4,443 beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes across the State.
Sharing further details, the Minister said that eligible applications were received via the Ashirwad Portal from 15 districts — Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Pathankot, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Sangrur and Malerkotla. To cover these approved applications, an amount of ₹22.66 crore has been sanctioned and released.
Dr. Baljit Kaur added that assistance has been extended to 1,297 beneficiaries in Amritsar, 18 in Barnala, 138 in Bathinda, 748 in Ferozepur, 394 in Gurdaspur, 105 in Hoshiarpur, 470 in Jalandhar, 309 in Mansa, 239 in Sri Muktsar Sahib, 52 in Patiala, 347 in Pathankot, 38 in Rupnagar, 17 in SAS Nagar, 122 in Sangrur and 149 in Malerkotla (total 4,443).
The Minister further stated that under the Ashirwad Scheme the Punjab Government provides ₹51,000 for the marriage of girls from low-income families. To be eligible, applicants must be permanent residents of Punjab, meet the Below Poverty Line (BPL) criteria and belong to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes or Economically Weaker Sections. A maximum of two eligible daughters per family may receive the benefit under this scheme.
Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that the assistance amount is transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to ensure transparency and timely disbursement.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, she said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S.Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is continuously working to uplift weaker and marginalised sections of society and ensure dignity, equality and economic empowerment for all.