Pune Student’s Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 Earns National First Rank
Khadki/New Delhi, 24th July 2026: In a remarkable achievement, Prateek Sharma, a Class 11 student of Army Public School (APS), Khadki, has secured first place in the National Originality and Creativity Challenge, a prestigious nationwide competition organised by the Ministry of Industry and Internal Trade. The grand finale was held at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi.
The competition attracted participation from more than two lakh students across India. After multiple rounds, only 12 finalists were shortlisted to compete in the national finale, with the Ministry sponsoring their travel and accommodation.
Prateek’s journey began at his school, where his Hindi teacher, Usha Rai, and Principal Rupan Jaswal encouraged him to participate in the challenge. In the first round, contestants were required to write a 1,000-word essay on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). As per the competition rules, the essay had to be entirely original, without the use of artificial intelligence or external references.
Speaking about his experience, Prateek said he initially felt nervous after reaching New Delhi and meeting some of the country’s brightest young minds. However, he remained focused during the final round, where participants were given two hours to write an essay on the theme, “Viksit Bharat 2047: My Vision.”
“I poured my absolute dedication into that essay, putting my genuine vision for India’s future on paper,” Prateek said. “When the results were about to be announced, the anticipation was overwhelming. Hearing my name called out as the winner felt surreal. My eyes filled with tears, and seeing the immense pride on my parents’ faces is a memory I will cherish forever.”
The achievement has brought pride not only to Prateek’s family but also to Army Public School, Khadki, and the wider Pune community. His success highlights the importance of originality, creativity and strong academic mentorship in nurturing young talent.
School authorities congratulated Prateek on his outstanding accomplishment, describing his victory as an inspiration for students across the country and a testament to the power of independent thinking and dedication.
