227 meritorious students receive ‘Shining Stars’ award in Nandyal
Minister of Minority Welfare N. Md. Farooq on Monday (July 20, 2026) said that giving enough recognition and encouraging talent enables students to scale great
Minister of Minority Welfare N. Md. Farooq on Monday (July 20, 2026) said that giving enough recognition and encouraging talent enables students to scale great heights and bring pride to the State and the country. He was speaking at the district-level ‘Shining Stars Awards - 2026’ ceremony held in Nandyal town on Monday. The awards were given by the State government to honour students who demonstrated outstanding performance in the SSC and Intermediate public examinations. District Collector Rajakumari Ganiya, Graduate MLC Bhumireddy Ramgopal Reddy, and others participated in the programme. A total of 227 meritorious students including 183 from the 10th grade and 44 from Intermediate, selected at the district level, were felicitated on behalf of the State government.
Each student received a cash incentive of ₹20,000, a certificate of appreciation, and a gold medal. Addressing the students, Mr. Farooq said talent knows no distinction between government and private sectors, and the government honours every student who studies hard and achieves excellent results. He advised students to make good use of the cash incentives provided for their higher education. Mr’. Farooq urged students to set high goals and move forward with determination. Stating that the government prioritises education sector, he said they are implementing various reforms such as the mid-day meal scheme for students in government junior colleges, free bus travel for underprivileged students, and measures to enhance the quality of education.
The recruitment of 16,347 teachers through the DSC process initiated by HRD Minister Nara Lokesh has strengthened the education sector, he said. The Minister mentioned that special encouragement is being given to students from government schools who have demonstrated outstanding talent. Fulfilling a promise made prior to the examinations, he presented a pair of three-gram gold earrings to a student who had secured the highest marks. Rajakumari Ganiya said the ‘Shining Stars’ programme is being organised to encourage talent, in line with the vision of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. She expressed hope that students would excel in higher education and grow into exemplary citizens who contribute to the nation’s development.
She advised parents to avoid exerting undue pressure on their children and instead encourage them to choose higher education paths aligned with their interests and capabilities. The Collector emphasised that a deep understanding of the subject, analytical study, and self-confidence are essential for achieving success in today’s competitive world. The Collector outlined the State government’s initiatives, including strengthening school infrastructure, providing ‘Sarvepalli Radhakrishna Vidyarthi Mitra’ kits and ‘Dokka Seethamma’ mid-day meals, offering modern training for teachers, and implementing special programmes for student skill development. Ms. Ganiya urged parents to participate in the Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) scheduled for July 24.
The BriefWire