As we step into the New Year, 2026 stands as a year of remembrance, gratitude and celebration. This year marks the 100th birth anniversary of Padma Shri Hon’ble Sant Baba Iqbal Singh Ji (1926–2026), a visionary leader whose lifelong dedication transformed rural education in Punjab and beyond.

Hon’ble Baba Iqbal Singh Ji believed that education must nurture both values and knowledge, which led Hon’ble Babaji to lay the foundation of Akal Academy, Baru Sahib, an institution dedicated to holistic learning and the empowerment of generations of students to lead purposeful and meaningful lives.

Alongside this, we also celebrate 40 Foundation Years of Akal Academy, Baru Sahib (1986–2026), the mother institution and pioneer of a growing network of 131 Akal Academies. Here, value-based education lies at the heart of every initiative, shaping students’ spiritual, academic, and physical development.

Life at Akal Academy follows a balanced daily rhythm. Each day begins with Nitnem, the Sikh prayer, grounding students in spirituality and moral values. This is followed by classes in worldly knowledge, building strong academic foundations. The day also includes structured breaks and co-curricular engagements, where students participate in sports such as lawn tennis, basketball, football, and hockey, along with martial arts disciplines including Judo, Gatka, and Tai Chi, etc. fostering discipline, resilience, and physical well-being.

Complementing this holistic approach, Akal Academy also prepares students for the future through the integration of AI and Robotics programmes, blending traditional value-based education with emerging technologies to equip learners with the skills needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow while remaining firmly grounded in ethics and holistic development.

From Sant Baba Iqbal Singh Ji’s visionary guidance to the mother institution that initiated value-based education, Akal Academy continues to nurture generations to grow holistically- spiritually, intellectually, physically, and technologically, embodying a unique balance of tradition, innovation, and moral purpose.

With these reflections, we extend our warm New Year wishes for 2026. May this milestone year inspire renewed commitment to values, education, and service, and may its legacy continue to guide generations to come.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) ) is becoming a part of almost everything we use and rely on. From healthcare and global finance to military systems, transportation, logistics, and education, nearly 79% of companies today already integrate AI in some form. By 2030, this number is expected to rise significantly as the global AI market triples in size, shaping how the world works and learns.

This shift naturally leads to an important question:

Is AI still an optional skill, or has it become a new necessity for the next generation?

The answer is clear: #AI, #coding and #robotics are now essential skills. As industries rapidly adopt intelligent technologies, early exposure gives students a crucial advantage. They develop the ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and approach challenges with creativity and confidence. This foundation also helps them understand the technologies shaping modern industries.

To support this evolving learning landscape, a dedicated AI, Coding & Robotics course is included in our curriculum, supported by a Skill Lab that provides practical exposure. It offers hands-on experiences, connecting classroom concepts with real-world applications within a globally aligned #STEM framework, fostering curiosity, experimentation, and innovation — learning today, leading tomorrow.