Karan SharmaLudhiana: The official release of the CBSE Class X results has highlighted two notable trends in the city this year. A significant number of students have scored above 99% in the examinations, and many among these high achievers have expressed a clear preference for the non-medical stream in Class XI.Students opting for the non-medical stream believe it offers the best pathway to top engineering institutes and future careers in technology-driven fields, including start-ups, after clearing competitive examinations such as the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).Satkarn Singh, who scored 99.2% and is a student of DAV Public School, Pakhowal Road, said he had already decided to opt for the non-medical stream. “My core interest is in civil engineering. My family has a teaching background, but given the current situation, I want to go for JEE as there are several options in engineering. This is what my teachers advised me. My friends who scored similarly are also choosing the same course,” he said.The growing perception of artificial intelligence as a future game-changer has also influenced students’ choices. Ridhima, a student of Sacred Heart Convent School, BRS Nagar, who scored 99.4%, said her aim was to become a software engineer. “I have interest in AI and technology,” she said.High-scoring girls have also shown a strong inclination towards the non-medical stream, especially subjects like mathematics and physics. Saanjh Kaur, who scored 99.6% and studies at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, said she opted for non-medical due to her interest in maths and physics. “My goal is to become an actuarial scientist. I am following the best possible path,” she said.Not all toppers, however, have chosen the non-medical route. Divyam, who scored 99.2% and is a student of DAV School, said he opted for the medical stream due to his interest in biology. “My father is an IT consultant, but I dream of becoming a surgeon. I am now looking for courses that will help me achieve my goal,” he said.Parents and teachers said the choices reflected the increasing demand for skilled professionals in technology-related fields in India and abroad.
