BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday said true success for students is not measured merely by marks or certificates but by their values, humility, discipline and overall personality.
Addressing a state-level fund transfer programme under the ‘Pratibhashali Vidyarthi Protsahan Yojana’ at the Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Centre in Bhopal, Yadav urged students to remain humble after achieving success and treat failures as opportunities to learn and improve.
He said life, like sport, involves both victories and defeats, and those willing to face challenges with determination are the ones who ultimately succeed. Students, he said, should not be afraid of difficulties but should work towards their goals with patience, honesty and perseverance.
Yadav inaugurated the programme by lighting a ceremonial lamp and transferred more than Rs 304.98 crore directly into the bank accounts of around 1.22 lakh meritorious students for purchasing laptops. Each eligible student received an incentive of Rs 25,000.
The beneficiaries are students who secured 75 per cent or more marks in their first attempt in the Class 12 examination conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education.
Laptop a gateway to knowledge
Yadav described laptops as more than electronic devices, calling them gateways to knowledge, research, innovation and new opportunities. He encouraged students to use them for online learning, digital study material, e-libraries, research and preparation for competitive examinations.
He said every student possesses a unique talent and teachers play a crucial role in identifying and nurturing it. Comparing teachers with sculptors who reveal the hidden form within a block of stone, Yadav said the contribution of parents and teachers through sacrifice, hard work and guidance remains vital to a student’s success.
The Chief Minister congratulated meritorious students, teachers and parents, saying the increasing representation of government school students in merit lists reflected the efforts of teachers and improvements in the education system.
He said the state government was providing textbooks, uniforms, bicycles, scooters, scholarships and laptops to students so that financial constraints did not prevent talented youngsters from pursuing their aspirations.
Rs 43,000 crore allocated to education sectors
Yadav said education was being treated as an investment in Madhya Pradesh’s future. Under the 2026-27 budget, Rs 36,730 crore has been earmarked for the School Education Department, Rs 4,247 crore for Higher Education and Rs 2,932 crore for Technical Education, Skill Development and Employment.
He said educational infrastructure was being expanded across the state, including schools, colleges, technical institutions and medical colleges. The expansion of medical colleges and seats would provide more opportunities for students to pursue medical education within Madhya Pradesh.
Yadav also highlighted the introduction of a second main examination for Classes 10 and 12. He said the provision would allow students to improve their marks and give those who do not clear the examination another opportunity without losing an entire academic year.
Target of 55 medical colleges by 2028
Yadav said Madhya Pradesh had made significant progress in medical education, noting that the state had only five medical colleges in the 55 years following Independence. The number has now increased to 33, including government and private institutions, with more than 6,500 MBBS seats.
The government has set a target of taking the total number of medical colleges to 55 and undergraduate medical seats to 10,000 by 2028, he said.
He also said the state budget had been increased to Rs 4.38 lakh crore without imposing any new tax. Recruitment against vacant posts was continuing across departments, while long-pending promotions of government employees had also been addressed, he added.
Over 6.5 lakh students benefited
School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh said government schools had witnessed a steady increase in enrolment over the past three years and claimed that dropout rates had fallen to zero due to government initiatives.
He said the laptop distribution programme was helping students transition to digital education and align with the objectives of the National Education Policy.
Singh said more than 6.5 lakh students had so far received a total of Rs 1,620 crore under the Pratibhashali Vidyarthi Protsahan Yojana for purchasing laptops. Recruitment for around 18,000 vacant teaching posts is also underway, he said.
Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah said the laptop incentive scheme had grown substantially and was benefiting meritorious students across the state.
During the programme, Yadav interacted with students about their career aspirations. Student Bundela said he wanted to become a successful politician and serve the country and the state. Another student spoke about the importance of skills for young people, while a student pursuing accountancy said the laptop would support her online education. MBBS student Tanvi Kumawat said she aspired to become a doctor and serve people in need.
Encouraging the students, Yadav said, “If you LEARN today, you will EARN tomorrow,” adding that the laptops would be an important aid to their education.
Backward Classes and Minority Welfare Minister of State (Independent Charge) Krishna Gaur, School Education Secretary Dr Sanjay Goyal and Commissioner Public Instruction Abhishek Singh were among those present.
Meritorious students, teachers and parents from across the state also attended the programme.