NEW DELHI: The Punjab government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has launched the International Punjabi Language Olympiad (IPLO) to revive and promote the Punjabi language among youth worldwide.
Recognizing the growing distance of the younger generation, especially those settled abroad, from their linguistic roots, the initiative aims to instill pride in Punjabi culture, heritage, and identity.
The Olympiad is more than a competition; it is an emotional celebration of the mother tongue, connecting children to their culture through literature, history, and language. By participating, students experience a sense of pride and belonging, while families abroad are encouraged to keep the next generation connected to their native soil. The initiative acts as both a cultural and emotional bridge, uniting Punjabis across the globe.
The Mann government emphasizes the global significance of the Punjabi language and is actively working to spread its dialect worldwide. State School Education and Language Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains stated that the Olympiad is organized to promote Punjabi globally and reflect the government’s commitment to preserving culture.
The IPLO is conducted annually by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) in association with the Punjab government. Open to students from Class 3 to Class 12, the Olympiad is held online and attracts participants from India, the USA, Australia, Europe, and other countries. The competition features 50 objective-type questions to be solved in 40 minutes. Prize money is awarded to top performers, with the first prize at ₹11,000, the second at ₹7,100, and the third at ₹5,100. Previous Olympiads were held in December 2023 and December 2024, with the third edition scheduled for 2025.
Chief Minister Mann has reiterated the government’s dedication to preserving Punjabi, including measures like mandating Punjabi on signboards and making it a main school subject. The Olympiad is not only a competition but an emotional campaign, giving Punjabis worldwide a chance to connect with their roots and celebrate their mother tongue.
Through this initiative, the Mann government aims to ensure that the Punjabi language continues to thrive globally, fostering cultural pride and identity among the younger generation.
