Rashtriya Military School Bengaluru has been awarded the prestigious Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Trophy for the Best National Defence Academy (NDA) Result for the academic year 2025-26, recognising the institution’s performance in preparing its cadets for entry into the National Defence Academy.
The trophy was presented by the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Training) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The recognition highlights the contribution of the Bengaluru-based military school towards preparing young students for competitive defence examinations and the demanding selection process associated with entry into the armed forces.
The COAS Trophy for the Best NDA Result places particular emphasis on the school’s performance in producing successful NDA candidates. The achievement also reflects the importance of military-oriented residential education institutions in creating an early foundation for students aspiring to pursue careers in the Armed Forces.
Rashtriya Military School Bengaluru, formerly known as Bangalore Military School, is one of the five Rashtriya Military Schools in India. The institution was established on August 1, 1946, as the King George VI Royal Indian Military College, Bengaluru. Following independence, the institution became part of the network of military schools established to provide quality education while encouraging discipline, leadership and a strong sense of service.
The school operates as a military boarding school and provides education through the secondary and senior secondary levels. Its academic programme is aligned with the Central Board of Secondary Education, while its institutional environment incorporates physical training, sports, extracurricular activities and leadership development.
Preparation for the National Defence Academy has historically formed an important part of the military school’s educational orientation. Students seeking to join the Armed Forces can pursue academic preparation alongside the physical and personal development required for defence service.
The latest COAS Trophy recognises the outcome of that broader educational approach during the 2025-26 academic year. While the award specifically relates to NDA results, the achievement also draws attention to the school’s larger role in nurturing students interested in military service.
Rashtriya Military School Bengaluru’s motto, “Sheelam Param Bhushanam,” meaning “Character is the highest virtue,” reflects the institution’s emphasis on character and personal development. Military schools seek to combine academic education with qualities such as discipline, responsibility, teamwork and leadership.
The school’s campus and residential environment provide students with opportunities to participate in structured activities beyond classroom education. Sports and physical education form an important component, with facilities and training opportunities covering disciplines including football, hockey, basketball, volleyball, cricket, tennis, badminton, swimming, boxing, athletics, judo and table tennis.
Such activities can provide students with exposure to teamwork, competition, physical conditioning and leadership from an early stage. These qualities are also relevant to the broader requirements of military life, although success in the NDA selection process depends on multiple stages, including the written examination, Services Selection Board assessment and medical standards.
The school has also maintained a tradition of producing alumni who have gone on to serve in different fields. Its alumni, known as Georgians, include military officers as well as personalities from civil services, business, sports and the entertainment industry.
Among its notable alumni are Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria, who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, former Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Satishkumar Namdeo Ghormade, and former Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Group Arun Sarin. The school’s alumni network also includes External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and several other prominent figures.
The institutional history of the Rashtriya Military Schools is closely associated with India’s effort to develop educational institutions capable of providing students with both academic preparation and exposure to a disciplined environment. Alongside the Rashtriya Indian Military College and Sainik Schools, such institutions have contributed to the pool of candidates entering the Armed Forces’ training establishments.
The NDA, located in Khadakwasla near Pune, serves as the tri-services pre-commissioning training institution for cadets selected for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Candidates appearing for the NDA and Naval Academy examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission must meet prescribed educational and other eligibility requirements before undergoing the subsequent selection process.
For schools such as Rashtriya Military School Bengaluru, therefore, preparation for NDA extends beyond classroom performance. Students require a combination of academic knowledge, physical fitness, confidence, communication skills, leadership qualities and the ability to perform under competitive conditions.
The COAS Trophy for the 2025-26 academic year provides institutional recognition of the Bengaluru school’s performance in this area. It also places attention on the role of teachers, military staff, trainers and school leadership in creating an environment that supports students pursuing defence-oriented careers.
The award was presented at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, a venue named after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and associated with important events involving India’s defence establishment. The presentation provided a formal setting for recognising the school’s NDA-related achievement.
For the students of Rashtriya Military School Bengaluru, the distinction represents recognition of the institution’s performance during the academic year. For the school administration, it reinforces the importance of maintaining academic standards while continuing to develop the physical, leadership and character attributes associated with its military-school tradition.
The achievement also comes at a time when India’s defence education ecosystem continues to place emphasis on developing young candidates for officer-entry pathways. Institutions such as Rashtriya Military Schools provide students with an environment where academic education and structured extracurricular development can be pursued together.
The Best NDA Result award for AY 2025-26 thus represents more than an academic distinction. It reflects the Bengaluru institution’s continuing focus on preparing students for one of India’s principal pathways into commissioned military service, while carrying forward its long-standing emphasis on character, discipline and leadership.
As Rashtriya Military School Bengaluru celebrates the COAS Trophy, the recognition adds another milestone to an institution with decades of military-education heritage. Its performance in the NDA pathway underscores the continuing role of military schools in preparing young Indians who aspire to take up leadership responsibilities in the Armed Forces and other areas of national life.
