The declaration of the Punjab State Talent Search Examination (PSTSE-2025) results by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Punjab, has come as a major disappointment for the Hoshiarpur education fraternity. The examination for Class VIII students was conducted across the state at the tehsil level on January 4, 2026, and the final merit list of 500 students eligible for state scholarships was released on June 1, 2026.
Low Representation Raises Concerns
Hoshiarpur district managed to secure only 13 places in the state-level merit list, raising concerns over the performance of students from government schools in one of Punjab’s most literate districts. The outcome has triggered serious discussions among educators, parents, and academic observers, who view the district’s low representation as a reflection of the need for stronger preparation and mentoring for competitive examinations. With only 13 students from Hoshiarpur finding a place among the top 500 candidates in the state, questions are being raised about the effectiveness of academic support systems in government schools.
Administrative Errors in Merit List
Adding to the controversy, the final merit list issued by SCERT has itself come under scrutiny due to apparent administrative errors. Several entries reportedly contain incorrect gender details, with male students being marked as “Girl” and female students as “Boy.” The mistakes have led parents and students to question the reliability of the entire result compilation process. Concerns are being voiced that if such basic details could be incorrectly recorded, there may also be errors in marks or rankings. The discrepancies have prompted demands for a thorough review and correction of the published merit list.
Top Performers from Hoshiarpur
Despite the overall disappointment, 13 students from Hoshiarpur succeeded in securing positions in the state merit list. Among them, Arun Kumar of Government Senior Secondary School, Kamahi Devi, emerged as the district’s top performer with 107 marks, followed by Anshu of Government High School, Chamuhi, who scored 104 marks. Other successful candidates include Lovepreet Kaur (92), Harmanpreet Singh (92), Vidyut Kapatiya (92), Payal Sharma (91), Jashanpreet Kaur (89), Nitin Sharma (89), Amandeep Rana (88), Arshdeep Singh (83), Ritika (82), Gurleen Kaur (75), and Smriti Manhas (75).
OMR Errors Blamed for Lost Opportunities
SCERT has also pointed out that a number of students lost their chances of qualifying due to errors in filling OMR sheets. Common mistakes included incorrect roll numbers, improperly shaded answer circles, and the use of correction fluid. These errors highlight the need for better guidance and practice for students in handling examination procedures.
