The highly anticipated PRARAMBH: India Early Childhood Excellence Summit & Awards 2026 successfully took place today at the Holiday Inn, Ambala Highway, Zirakpur. Brought together by the Confederation for Quality in Early Childhood Care and Education (CQ-ECCE) and the Association of Indian Principals (AIP), the summit served as a major benchmark for leadership, knowledge empowerment, and quality enhancements in early education.
The premier event gathered top government dignitaries, legal experts, educators, and industry leaders to engage in crucial dialogues regarding early education reforms, women leadership, and child security frameworks.
Key Highlights and Critical Dialogues:
Government Initiatives & Safety Reforms: A standout session titled ‘A Candid Conversation on Early Education, Child & Women Safety and Punjab Govt’s Key Initiatives & Reforms’ featured high-level insights from Keshav Hingonia (IAS), Special Secretary, and Amarjit Singh Bhullar, Deputy Director of the Social Security and Women & Child Development Department, Government of Punjab. The discussion highlighted the state’s upcoming reforms and structural steps toward creating secure environments for children and women.
Addressing Legal Frameworks: One of the core panel discussions addressed a pressing challenge in the education sector: “No Laws To School The Pre-Schools In India.” Chaired and moderated by Gurpreet Kaur, Director of the Association of Indian Principals, the panel featured Vivek Atrey (Ex-IAS Officer) and Criminal Lawyer Krishan Kr. Mehta, who collectively explored the gaps in regulatory frameworks for early preschool setups.
Child Protection, Safety, and Wellbeing: Focused on the core pillars of child safety, health, and holistic development, this segment brought together prominent voices including child safety expert Suman Shreedhar, clinical nutritionist Harleen Bakshi, counsellor Poonam Ahluwalia, and behavioural health expert Dr. Tarlochan Singh.
Women Leadership and Empowerment: Celebrating excellence in leadership, another dedicated panel discussion featured prominent speakers such as Sakshi Katyal (Chairperson, CII IWN), highlighting systemic advancements and operational excellence driven by women leaders across the education ecosystem.
Business & Quality Enhancement: Educators and industry pioneers like Julie Wickham (Bedford School, Mohali), Atul Lakhotia (Founder, HelloParent), and Ajit Singh Ahluwalia (Founder, Smart Books India) exchanged views on upgrading preschool infrastructure, modern pedagogy tools, and vendor management to enhance the early childhood learning experience.
Steering Global Frameworks
The event also witnessed international insights, with key participation from Sunita Krishnan (Regional Director, Canadian Education Council – Global Affairs Canada), cementing the summit’s vision to align local early childhood education methodologies with global standards.
Expressing their vision for the event, Anubhavv Arora, Executive Chairman of CQ-ECCE, along with Amandeep Singh Paapi, Founder and Group CEO of DAWK Media Network, reiterated their core organizational mission: “Building Safe Futures, Together.”
The summit wrapped up with the prestigious India Early Childhood Excellence Awards, celebrating standard-setting institutions, principals, and educators who have demonstrated unparalleled commitment to creating a nurturing and safe environment for India’s youngest learners.
