President gives away award for academic excellence

New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday presented the "Pranab Mukherjee Award for Academic Excellence" to Aman Aggarwal for scoring the highest aggregate in Class XII CBSE Examination 2017 among the students of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya located in the President's Estate.

Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated the winners and urged them to strive for excellence in every walk of life.

The President stated that he cherished the occasions when he had taken the class of young students of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya on Teachers' Day in the last two years.

He said that they would get a chance to serve this great country in various walks of life. "Though a vast and diverse country, India has an underlying unity."

He said that he was sure that the children would meet the expectations of their parents, friends and neighbours, an official statement said.

Meanwhile the "Omita Paul Award for Academic Excellence" for scoring the highest aggregate marks amongst girls in the Class XII CBSE Examination 2017 as well as the "Kunjannamma Mathew Award for Academic Excellence" for scoring the highest marks in Mathematics amongst the girls in Class XII CBSE Examination 2017 were presented to Kumari Muskan Sharma by Secretary to the President Omita Paul and Additional Secretary to the President Thomas Mathew, respectively.

Paul emphasised that children must retain their inquisitive minds and search for new solutions to problems.

She also urged teachers to keep a questioning mind alive in a child since it was the path to creativity and innovation.