Army Goodwill Schools Mark 10 Years of Partnership with Bharti Airtel Foundation

By Desk Editor Published on Sep 11, 2026

Convener News Desk

SRINAGAR, Sept 11: Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh on Friday marked 10 years of partnership with the Bharti Airtel Foundation, an initiative that has expanded from 14 schools to all 43 AGS in the region and strengthened academic and technology-enabled learning.

The commemorative event was held at Army Goodwill Public School, Pahalgam, and attended by Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command; Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Co-Chairman, Bharti Airtel Foundation; Mrs Shinei Sharma, Regional President, AWWA, Northern Command; and senior officials of the Army and the Foundation.

Over the past decade, the partnership has focused on strengthening institutional leadership, classroom practices, academic management and teachers’ capabilities, besides promoting technology-enabled learning and implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The initiative has also sought to foster creativity and scientific temperament among students. AGS Innovation Clubs have facilitated more than 160 student-led projects, with students participating in national platforms including ISRO YUVIKA, INSPIRE-MANAK and Young Scientist India.

Addressing the students, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma spoke about his own experiences as a student and the challenges he overcame, urging them to aim higher and remain committed to their aspirations.

Rakesh Bharti Mittal announced continued support to AGS for the next decade and outlined new initiatives, including books for school libraries, sports coaching, additional smart classes, higher-education scholarships and cash incentives for meritorious Class 10 and 12 students.

Mrs Shinei Sharma urged teachers and parents to support students in preparing for future challenges and called for greater focus on girls’ education to promote an inclusive society.

Northern Command said it remains committed to strengthening the educational ecosystem of Army Goodwill Schools and empowering students through education, creativity, leadership and holistic development.