CM FELICITATES 30 STATE-LEVEL TOPPERS, URGES STUDENTS TO REMAIN DISCIPLINED AND COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

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ITANAGAR, September 10, 2026: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday felicitated 30 state-level meritorious students under the Golden Jubilee Meritorious Students Awards for the academic session 2024-25, urging young achievers to remain disciplined, focused and committed to excellence as they prepare to shoulder the responsibility of Arunachal Pradesh’s future.

Addressing the award ceremony in Itanagar, attended by Education Minister P.D. Sona, Advisor to the Education Minister Mutchu Mithi, senior officials of the Education Department, teachers, students and parents, Khandu congratulated the awardees and appreciated the contribution of their parents, families, teachers and friends in their academic journey.

A total of 30 state-level toppers from Classes III to XII were felicitated during the ceremony, while around 840 students have received the award at the district level.

The Golden Jubilee Meritorious Students Award was instituted in 2022, marking 50 years since Arunachal Pradesh was named as a Union Territory in 1972, and its implementation began from the academic year 2023-24. The 2024-25 edition is the second state-level award ceremony, while the 2025-26 edition is scheduled to be conducted during the current year.

Focus on Education Reforms

Highlighting ongoing reforms in the education sector, the Chief Minister said the State Government is working to restore the quality and effectiveness of government schools through implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Mission Shikshit Arunachal, with a target of achieving its objectives by 2029.

He said a task force was constituted for the implementation of NEP 2020, followed by extensive consultations with community-based organisations and other stakeholders. Education officials, including the Minister, Advisor, Secretary, Director and DDSEs, have also conducted consultations at the district level, following which a comprehensive roadmap has been prepared.

Khandu said the government is rationalising the number of schools and moving towards strengthening the Inter-Village (IV) school model, with greater emphasis on infrastructure and adequate availability of teachers, particularly subject teachers.

He noted that significant recruitment of subject teachers through the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission has already been undertaken to strengthen government schools.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the encouraging rise in enrolment in government schools in recent years, describing the trend as significant at a time when declining enrolment in government schools remains a challenge across the country.

Emphasising the importance of holistic development, Khandu said discipline, respect for elders and teachers, academic excellence and physical fitness must go hand in hand.

Referring to Arunachal Pradesh’s tribal traditions, he urged students to preserve the culture of respecting parents, elders, teachers and every member of the school community.

He also stressed that sports should receive equal importance alongside academics for the overall development of young people. He noted that playgrounds have been provided in government schools across the State to encourage students to participate in sports and physical activities.

Khandu said the State Government has been creating multiple avenues for Arunachali youth to pursue careers in government service, the private sector, entrepreneurship, startups and other emerging fields.

He cited opportunities through the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board, APPSC, UPSC and multinational companies, while encouraging students to also explore entrepreneurship and business as viable career options.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the State Government’s efforts to encourage more Arunachali youth to join the Armed Forces as officers.

He said the State’s first Sainik School has been established at Pasighat in collaboration with the Government of India, while the second Sainik School is being established at Tawang under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

Khandu further said the government is working with the Army to establish a structured coaching mechanism through which selected students from Arunachal Pradesh would receive specialised preparation for competitive examinations such as the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS).

The proposed initiative, he said, would create greater opportunities for young people to pursue careers as officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces, including the SSB, ITBP, CRPF and BSF.

Highlighting efforts to provide global exposure to students, Khandu said the State Government is supporting students who secure admission to universities ranked among the top 150 globally under QS rankings.

He said the scholarship initiative, which is available to students after Class XII, has already benefited several Arunachali students, with around 13-14 students receiving the opportunity this year.

Sharing his personal experience, Khandu said he was himself a product of the government school system and therefore understands the challenges and ecosystem of government schools.

He recalled studying at Government Gompa Middle School in Tawang and said he was part of the first batch of students after the school was upgraded to a secondary school.

The Chief Minister encouraged the awardees to continue striving for excellence while remaining grounded in discipline, culture and values, and urged them to use their education and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the development of Arunachal Pradesh.