RMS Conference 2026 in New Delhi Reviews Cadet Development, Institutes Best RMS Trophy

The Annual Principals’ and Administrative Officers’ Conference of Rashtriya Military Schools (RMS) was held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on September 15, bringing together senior military leadership, school administrators and distinguished alumni for a review of the network’s progress and a discussion on best practices in military-oriented education.

The conference was chaired by Lieutenant General Vipul Shinghal, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Training). Among the guests of honour were two notable RMS alumni: Shri Ashok Lavasa, IAS (Retd), and Lieutenant General SN Handa (Retd).

As the annual forum for the Rashtriya Military Schools system, the conference provides principals and administrative officers an opportunity to assess developments across the institutions and exchange views on academics, discipline, leadership and the wider development of cadets. This year’s meeting again placed that institutional review at the centre of the conversation.

Discussions focused on strengthening institutional practices and sharing approaches that can support both the academic and personal growth of students. The RMS model is built around more than classroom instruction: it seeks to combine education with character formation, discipline and leadership training, shaping cadets in a structured environment.

Rashtriya Military Schools occupy a distinct place in India’s military-linked education landscape. Their stated objective is to develop students in a setting that encourages responsibility, a spirit of service and the qualities associated with disciplined leadership, alongside formal academic learning.

The presence of senior military leadership at the conference gave the RMS administration an opportunity to revisit those objectives and consider how they are being implemented across the schools. The exchange was intended to help align institutional practice with the broader purpose of military education.

A notable development at the 2026 conference was the institution of the Best RMS Trophy in honour of Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria, PVC. The new award is intended to recognise overall excellence among Rashtriya Military Schools, rather than measuring performance only through academic results.

Captain GS Salaria is one of the most distinguished alumni associated with the military-school system. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration for exceptional valour in the face of the enemy. By naming the trophy after him, the RMS system has linked present-day institutional standards with the legacy of service and sacrifice represented by one of its own alumni.

The trophy is expected to serve as a benchmark for balanced performance across the RMS network. Its focus on overall excellence reflects the fact that military education is not limited to academics alone, but also includes leadership, discipline and the holistic development of cadets.

That broader approach was a recurring theme throughout the conference. Principals and administrative officers used the platform to share experiences and institutional practices that could be adapted across the RMS system while still preserving the identity and goals of each school.

Academic performance remains an important part of the RMS framework, but the conference agenda made clear that the schools are also expected to produce well-rounded cadets. Leadership opportunities, structured activities, discipline and character building are meant to complement classroom education and prepare students for responsibilities beyond school.

The participation of distinguished alumni added another layer of significance to the event. Their presence highlighted the long-term influence of the RMS system, whose former students have gone on to serve in the armed forces, civil administration and other professional fields while carrying forward the values learned at military school.

Shri Ashok Lavasa, IAS (Retd), represented the civil-service side of the RMS alumni community, while Lieutenant General SN Handa (Retd) reflected the institution’s continuing link with military leadership. Their attendance as Guests of Honour also allowed the current leadership of the schools to engage with former students who later held senior public roles.

The conference at the Manekshaw Centre also reflected the RMS view that education is closely tied to nation building. The schools aim to create an environment in which cadets develop not only academic ability, but also a sense of duty and responsibility towards society and the country.

The introduction of the Best RMS Trophy in honour of Captain GS Salaria, PVC, is likely to provide an additional institutional reference point for excellence. By recognising overall performance, the award encourages schools to pursue balanced development across academics, discipline, leadership and other aspects of cadet life.

In that sense, the 2026 conference combined institutional review with a reaffirmation of the heritage associated with Rashtriya Military Schools. It brought together those responsible for leading the schools, senior military officers and alumni who have contributed to public life in different fields.

The focus on best practices is especially relevant as military education continues to adapt. Schools that prepare young students for demanding academic and professional pathways must balance traditional values with evolving educational needs and contemporary methods of learning.

RMS leadership’s emphasis on holistic cadet development reflects that challenge. Academic instruction provides the base, while leadership activities, discipline, physical development and character building are meant to shape the wider growth of students.

Seen in that context, the annual conference functions both as a review mechanism and as a learning platform. By bringing together principals and administrative officers from across the RMS network, it allows experiences from individual schools to be discussed within a shared institutional framework.

The 2026 edition also added a fresh element to that framework through the Best RMS Trophy. Named after a Param Vir Chakra awardee and RMS alumnus, the award connects current institutional performance with the schools’ legacy of military service.

Overall, the Annual Principals’ and Administrative Officers’ Conference 2026 reaffirmed the RMS emphasis on character building, discipline, leadership and nation building. With senior military leadership, distinguished alumni and school administrators gathered at one venue, the conference served as both a progress review and a reminder of the institutions’ long-standing role in shaping responsible and disciplined citizens.