PM Youth Chromebook Scheme 2026: Eligibility, How to Apply & Best Student Accessories
The Prime Minister's Youth Chromebook Scheme is one of the most searched education topics in Pakistan this month. Launched in Islamabad on 25 October 2026, it plans to give 500,000 Chromebooks with MiFi internet devices to high-scoring students over two years (Dawn, 26 October 2026). The application portal run by the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) is already open for many boards.
This guide covers who is eligible, how to apply, the documents you need, and how many devices each region gets. It also explains how to set up a Chromebook for school work and which low-cost accessories are worth buying once it arrives.
What is the PM Youth Chromebook Scheme?
It is a federal programme run by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT) with the Prime Minister's Youth Programme. The devices are supplied by the TT Care Foundation under a letter of understanding. According to Geo News, citing education ministry officials, they are refurbished Chromebooks. Each one comes with a MiFi device so the student can get online at home. Officials say repair and maintenance will be handled by a contracted firm after the first year.
| Region | Chromebooks allocated |
|---|---|
| Punjab | 181,090 |
| Islamabad | 100,000 |
| Sindh | 85,925 |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 51,170 |
| Balochistan | 31,815 |
| Azad Jammu & Kashmir | 25,000 |
| Gilgit-Baltistan | 25,000 |
Within each region, officials say four of every five devices go to school students and one to madaris students. Among school students, 70% go to the science stream and 30% to arts (Geo News, 25 October 2026).
Who is eligible?
- Punjab, Sindh, KP and Balochistan boards: top-performing Grade 9 (SSC-I) students from government schools, based on the Annual Examinations 2026.
- AJK, Islamabad (ICT) and Gilgit-Baltistan boards: top-performing Grade 9 and Grade 10 (SSC-I and SSC-II) students from government schools.
- Minimum marks: officials quoted by Geo News say students must have at least 50%, and ranking runs within each region, board and stream until the quota is used up.
The IBCC portal says only students enrolled in government schools are eligible. News reports quoting officials also mention students of private schools funded by provincial education foundations and of registered madaris, with madaris students vetted separately by the Directorate General of Religious Education. Treat the portal as final for your board.
Sindh: registration opens board by board after Class 9 results are declared. At the time of writing, the portal listed BSE Karachi and BISE Larkana as open, with Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas and Shaheed Benazirabad boards coming soon.
How to apply online (step by step)
- Open the official portal pmychromebooks.ibcc.edu.pk. Do not use any other website or WhatsApp link.
- Select your education board and enter your CNIC/B-Form, roll number or registration number (numbers only, no dashes) and your date of birth.
- Check your details. Your name, school and marks come from the list your board sent to IBCC.
- Upload your documents (below).
- Submit and download your slip with its reference number.
You can apply only once and cannot edit the form after submitting, so review everything first. False information cancels the allocation.
Documents you need (each up to 300 KB)
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| Recent colour photograph, front-facing, plain background | JPG or PNG |
| SSC-I (9th) or SSC-II (10th) mark sheet | JPG, PNG or PDF |
| Attested copy of B-Form or CNIC | JPG, PNG or PDF |
| Attested copy of father's or guardian's CNIC | JPG, PNG or PDF |
Tip for the 300 KB limit: phone camera photos are usually 2–5 MB. Scan in good light, crop to the document edges, and save as a smaller JPG or use your phone's "reduce size" or "compress" option before uploading. A flatbed or app scan at 150 DPI is usually enough to keep text readable.
Record not found?
Try your roll number or registration number instead of your CNIC or B-Form. If the portal still cannot find you, the fix is at your board: ask your school or education board to confirm your record was sent to IBCC. Officials say grievance committees will be set up at board and provincial or regional level for complaints about merit lists, enrolment checks and devices not received.
How the Chromebook is delivered
Officials say each device is linked to the student by serial number and checked against merit, enrolment and delivery details. It is then sent by courier straight to the verified student, with a central system tracking dispatch and delivery. No one should ask you for money to "approve" or "release" a Chromebook.
Setting up a Chromebook for school work
- Sign in with a Google account owned by the student or a parent. Turn on two-step verification.
- Connect to the MiFi through Wi-Fi settings. Keep the MiFi charged and placed near a window for better signal.
- Use Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Classroom for assignments. They save to Google Drive automatically.
- Download files for offline use before going somewhere with weak signal or during load-shedding.
- Keep ChromeOS updated from Settings → About ChromeOS.
Chromebooks keep most files in the cloud and usually have small built-in storage, so plan for backups. Check which ports your model has (USB-A, USB-C, microSD) before buying accessories.
Useful Chromebook accessories for students
The scheme provides the Chromebook and MiFi. A few low-cost extras make long study sessions easier. These are our general recommendations and are not part of the scheme.
Mouse
A wireless mouse is faster than a touchpad for Docs, Slides and drawing diagrams. Budget options include the Jedel WS690 wireless mouse and the Xtrike Me GW-116 2.4 GHz wireless mouse. Both use a USB receiver, so check that your Chromebook has a USB-A port or use a hub.
Headset for online classes
A USB headset with a microphone helps in noisy homes. The A4Tech HU-35 USB headphone and the Poly Blackwire C3210 USB headset (noise-cancelling mic, USB/USB-C) plug straight in.
Storage and backup
Keep a copy of important work offline on a Lexar 32GB USB 3.2 flash drive or a Kingston 64GB DataTraveler. If your model has a microSD slot, a SanDisk Ultra 64GB microSD adds space that stays inside the laptop.
USB-C hub
If your Chromebook only has USB-C ports, a hub adds USB-A, HDMI and card slots. The UGREEN 7-in-1 USB-C hub (4K HDMI, 3× USB 3.0, SD/TF, 100W pass-through) or the 11-in-1 USB-C hub (4K HDMI plus Ethernet) lets you connect a mouse, flash drive and a TV or monitor for bigger-screen study.
Laptop stand
Raising the screen to eye level reduces neck strain during long classes. The Speed-X SX-L01 foldable aluminium stand is light enough for a school bag, and the J24 laptop stand adjusts height and angle for 10–17 inch laptops.
Protection
A padded sleeve such as the HAWK LP3 14-inch sleeve fits inside a school bag, and the Mancro anti-theft backpack (water-resistant, hidden pockets) helps protect the laptop on rickshaw and bus rides.
| Budget | Accessories | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Wireless mouse + 32GB flash drive | Rs 3,500 – 3,700 |
| Online classes | Mouse + USB headset + foldable stand | Rs 7,150 – 7,350 |
| Complete | Mouse + headset + stand + USB-C hub + sleeve | Rs 16,550 – 19,550 |
Not selected? Other options
The scheme is merit-based with a fixed quota, so many students will not get a device. Families buying their own can look at a Chromebook such as the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434T (Core m3, 8GB RAM, 14-inch FHD touch screen that flips into a tablet) or browse our laptops and tablets. For internet at home, a pocket Wi-Fi such as the ZTE 303ZT 4G hotspot works with a data SIM. Our PTA guide explains what to check before using any SIM device.
FAQ
What is the official website for the PM Youth Chromebook Scheme?
pmychromebooks.ibcc.edu.pk, run by IBCC.
Who can apply?
Top-performing Grade 9 government-school students from the Annual Examinations 2026 (Grade 9 and 10 for AJK, Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan boards). Check your board on the portal.
Is there a fee?
No fee is mentioned on the portal. Do not pay anyone who promises to get you selected.
Is there a deadline?
No single national deadline had been announced at the time of writing. Sindh boards open one by one after results. Check the portal and your board's notices.
Are the Chromebooks new?
Geo News, citing education ministry officials, reports that they are refurbished.
Scheme details can change. Figures here come from the IBCC portal, Dawn (26 October 2026) and Geo News (25 October 2026). Always confirm with the official portal and your education board.
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