CM Rekha Gupta honours meritorious students, athletes at ‘Yashotsav 2026’, 1,200 toppers receive laptops

New Delhi, 28 March 2026– Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday attended the valedictory ceremony and award presentation of Yashotsav 2026 at Yashobhoomi in Dwarka, where she felicitated meritorious students and athletes. As part of the initiative, 1,200 top- ranking students were given laptops by the Delhi government for their outstanding academic performance. Winners of the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh 2025-26 were also honoured, with the event drawing participation from thousands of young athletes. In addition, 222 high-achieving students from Classes 10 and 12, along with 34 top-performing schools, were recognised.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said these achievements reflect not just the hard work of students but also the guidance and support of teachers and parents. “This is not merely an award ceremony, but a celebration of the dedication, discipline and success of our youth,” she said, adding that the government is committed to providing equal opportunities in both education and sports so that young people can realise their aspirations.

Highlighting ongoing efforts, Gupta said nearly 9,000 classrooms have been equipped with smart boards in 2025-26, while computer labs have been set up in 275 schools and digital libraries introduced in 100 schools to strengthen access to quality, technology-driven education. She added that the government aims to make every school digitally equipped with facilities such as smart classrooms, computer and language labs, and modern libraries, enabling students to pursue higher education in premier institutions in India and abroad.

Referring to the National Education Policy 2020, implemented under the leadership of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi, Gupta said it has made the education system more holistic, inclusive and future-ready. “Our focus is to move beyond textbooks and build a modern, digital learning ecosystem. Initiatives like laptop distribution will help students engage with new technologies and prepare for global competition,” she said.

The Chief Minister also praised the successful conduct of the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh, noting that it provided a platform to over 25,000 athletes and helped promote a sporting culture in the capital. She reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting athletes with training, resources and incentives. Under the ‘Mukhyamantri Khel Protsahan Yojana’, she said, a total of ₹50 crore has been released–₹35 crore earlier and ₹15 crore in the latest tranche–to support athletes with training and resources. Gupta concluded by stating that the government is working to ensure that every young person in Delhi whether in education or sports gets the right opportunities, recognition and support to excel.

Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Ashish Sood said the ₹1.03 lakh crore budget presented by the Chief Minister is historic, with nearly ₹19,000 crore earmarked for education, underlining the government’s commitment to students’ holistic development and changing perceptions around government schools.

He appreciated the efforts of education department officials, teachers, parents and students in translating this vision into reality. Calling Yashobhoomi a symbol of youth achievement, he said Delhi’s true glory lies in its students be it 222 CBSE toppers, 79 differently-abled achievers, or the 25,000 participants of the Khel Mahakumbh.

Sood said the scale of participation in the Khel Mahakumbh became possible after opening up 16 grounds and stadiums for players, moving sports beyond limited infrastructure. He added that incentives of up to ₹7 crore, ₹5 crore and ₹3 crore have been fixed for Olympic gold, silver and bronze medal winners, respectively. “Education and sports are not tools of politics, but the foundation of nation-building,” he said, adding that the government is focused on nurturing a winning mindset among youth.

He also highlighted several initiatives in the education sector, including art festivals, the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ programme, Sardar Patel painting competitions, 280 Bal Vatikas, assistive support for differently-abled students, efforts to mainstream out-of-school children, and the setting up of over 100 drone clubs.

Sood said this is only the beginning, and the government aims to position Delhi as a leader in education and sports at both national and international levels. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the guidance of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi, he added, Delhi is poised to emerge as the country’s sporting capital.