CHANDIGARH: In a pioneering move to integrate emerging technologies into school education, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) organised an AI Hackathon, marking the grand finale of a first-of-its-kind pilot project. The initiative, conducted in collaboration with the First Academy of Artificial Intelligence (FAAI) and Skilleareum, covered over 1,000 students and 22 teachers across 22 schools in Punjab.
Ministerial Endorsement and Vision
Punjab Minister of School Education, Harjot Singh Bains, congratulated the PSEB and hackathon winners, stating:
“This initiative promotes innovation, technical skills, creativity, and leadership qualities among young learners while encouraging them to become future entrepreneurs. AI is no longer a subject of tomorrow. It is the language of today.”
He emphasised that students underwent 12 weeks of live, interactive online AI classes conducted by experts, and highlighted plans to expand the AI skill development programme to more schools in the coming academic session.
“This is not just a competition; it is about preparing our children for the future. Through this pilot project and hackathon, we are ensuring that students in Punjab’s government schools are not left behind in the technological revolution.”
Hackathon Participation and Technical Focus
According to Dr. Amarpal Singh, PSEB Chairman, the AI Hackathon featured 20 schools, with 60 students (three from each school) competing.
Teams were given one hour to present their innovative projects, which were evaluated by a panel of AI experts. Participating students showcased expertise in:
- Technical innovation
- Video creation
- Business planning
- Web development
- AI-driven applications
Dr. Singh noted that the event fostered a culture of innovation and demonstrated that with proper exposure and mentorship, students can compete at the highest level.
Prizes and Recognition
The top three teams were awarded cash prizes and certificates:
- 1st Prize (₹11,000): Punjab School Education Board Adarsh Senior Secondary School, Khatkar Kalan (S.B.S. Nagar)
- 2nd Prize (₹5,100): Ravinder Khullar Memorial G.M. Model Senior Secondary School, Model Town (Jalandhar)
- 3rd Prize (₹3,100): Shaheed Udham Singh Wala Govt. Senior Secondary School (Boys), Sunam Udham Singh Wala (Sangrur)
Consolation Prizes (₹3,100 each) were awarded to:
- G.T.B. Khalsa Senior Secondary Public School, Dasuya (Hoshiarpur)
- Govt. Girls Sr. Sec. Mandi Gobindgarh (Fatehgarh Sahib) (all-girls category)
Expanding AI Education Across Punjab
The hackathon is part of the Punjab government’s commitment under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann to tech-driven education. Minister Harjot Singh Bains confirmed that the programme would soon expand to every corner of the state, enabling students from government schools to acquire future-ready AI skills, become innovators, and build entrepreneurial capabilities.
“This is not just a competition but a movement to build future entrepreneurs. Punjab Govt students are now ready to compete at the highest level,” he said.
