APS Innovation Shines Bright At Nav Chintan 2025
Newz Daddy Defence Updates
Army Public School Ahmedabad, under the aegis of the Golden Katar Division, Ahmedabad, successfully hosted the Command Principals’ Meet – Nav Chintan 2025 on 25–26 September 2025. The two-day conclave brought together senior Army officials, AWES directors and Principals from Army Public Schools across the country to deliberate on key educational reforms, policy implementation, and innovations within the APS network.
This shows the importance of APS Ahmedabad within the network of more than 130 Army Public Schools spread across India. The Golden Katar Division, headquartered in Ahmedabad, has been a strong support system for the education and welfare activities of Army families. Such meets highlight the Army’s effort to link defence discipline with quality schooling.
The fact that APS Ahmedabad could host a national-level principals’ meet highlights its infrastructure and standing among Army schools. According to its website, Army Public School Ahmedabad Cantonment, is a senior secondary school following the CBSE curriculum. (Website: apsahmedabad.co.in) apsahmedabad.co.in
APS Ahmedabad is known for its modern labs, smart classrooms, and extracurricular focus. Being a CBSE school, it follows the curriculum set by the Central Board of Secondary Education, which is India’s largest school board, and prepares students for competitive exams and future-ready skills.
This meeting also reflects how the Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) is active in nurturing educational leadership across APS schools. AWES is the apex body overseeing Army Public Schools in India, established in 1983. (Website: awesaps.in) awesaps.in
AWES runs over 130 Army Public Schools and more than 250 Army Pre-Primary Schools across the country, providing education to children of Army personnel. The society also manages professional colleges in engineering, medicine, law, management, and education.
“Nav Chintan” literally means “new thinking.” The theme reflects the Indian government’s larger vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” where education, innovation, and skill-building play key roles. It encourages schools to adopt new methods rather than sticking only to traditional teaching.
The key highlight was addressed by Major General P.R. Murali (Retd.), Managing Director, AWES, who reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation. The MD’s Open Forum enabled Principals to engage in meaningful discussions on 360-degree teacher assessment, integration of technology, and enhancing student skills. The meeting focused on the implementation of the ‘National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’, ‘Digital Integration in Teaching-Learning Processes’, ‘Skill-Based Education’, and ‘Holistic Student Development’. It served as a platform for sharing best practices and fostering collaboration across APSs.
The National Education Policy 2020 is India’s biggest education reform in decades. It focuses on multidisciplinary learning, vocational skills, digital literacy, and reducing rote learning. APS schools, being spread across the country, are important institutions for rolling out this policy successfully. Major General P.R. Murali’s presence underscores that AWES leadership is directly guiding policy implementation in APS institutions.
This direct involvement ensures that schools do not just hear about reforms, but actively implement them with proper monitoring and support. 360-degree teacher assessment is a model in which teachers are evaluated from multiple perspectives, by students, peers, self, and supervisors, which is considered more fair and development-oriented in many modern education systems. Such an assessment has been adopted in several progressive schools worldwide. It helps teachers know their strengths and improve on weak areas.
Integration of technology is a key push in Indian education today: the NEP 2020 encourages digital learning, blended classrooms, online assessment, and use of educational apps and platforms. In India, platforms like DIKSHA and SWAYAM are already offering digital content. Many APS schools have also set up smart classrooms and e-learning centres. Skill-based education is one of the pillars of NEP 2020: it encourages classes and courses designed to give students real-world skills, not just exam knowledge.
These include coding, robotics, design, communication, cooking, and gardening. Such training improves employability and creativity. Holistic student development means focusing not just on academics, but on physical, arts, social, emotional, and ethical growth. Sports, arts, yoga, and social service programs in APS schools are strong examples of this holistic model. The sharing of best practices helps reduce duplication of work: a method that works well in one APS can be adapted by others.
This saves time, effort, and resources, while spreading innovative methods quickly across the APS network. On the second day, delegates visited APS Ahmedabad to witness innovative and NEP-aligned practices. APS Ahmedabad student-led exhibition featured projects in culinary arts, gardening, handicrafts, and more. Notable presentations included APS Chennai’s session on Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) and other NEP-aligned initiatives.
CLIL is used in Europe and is now growing in India. It helps students learn subjects while building stronger language skills. This dual benefit is important for global learning. The student-led exhibition is a very good model: it allows students to take ownership and showcase applied learning. Such hands-on projects help in critical thinking and real-world exposure.
These projects also match the NEP’s goal of project-based learning. The event was graced by top-notch visionaries like Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, AVSM, SM, Chief of Staff, Southern Command. He shared his pearls of wisdom and valuable insights, emphasising the importance of visionary leadership in transforming education.
The Southern Command of the Indian Army covers a large area of western and southern India. Its involvement in education reflects the Army’s focus on community development along with defence. The event concluded with a vote of thanks followed by an in-house session to consolidate outcomes and define the way forward. Follow-up meetings and action points are crucial to ensure that the ideas discussed at such meetings translate into everyday classroom changes.
Through Nav Chintan 2025, APS Innovation received a strong boost. The gathering connected minds, shared proven models, and clarified strategies for implementing NEP 2020, digital learning, skill-based curricula, and holistic growth. In the coming months, the success of this meeting will lie in how many APS schools adopt and sustain the innovations discussed.
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