The Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan (TAPS) is a public school located at Delhi

Delhi

Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...

, India. It is operated under Indian Army

Indian Army

The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...

 supervision under the aegis of Indian Army welfare Education society (AWES). The school was founded in 1953 and has about 6000 students. The school operates an online Computer Aided Learning (CAL) system.

The Army Public School celebrated its Golden Jubilee

Golden Jubilee

A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...

 in 2003.

History

In May 1953, the residents of the Maulana Azad Officers' Hostel started the institution following the public school pattern, with 21 children and two teachers.

The school was extended to eighth standard in July 1959, when it received recognition by the Directorate of Education, Delhi. Soon ugraded to the XI standard, it was affiliated to the University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate.

The school was renamed as 'Army Public School' in 1976. Later, the school received affiliation to the Central Board of Senior Secondary Education (CBSE).

It shifted to its present location on the Ridge Road in July 1970, occupying 31 acres of land.

Structure

The school has an area of over 33 acres (133,546.4 m²), which includes a number of sports grounds. The school has four wings and one auditorium:

• Main Block (Secondary Wing - class VI to X)
• Malhotra Block (Senior Secondary Wing - class XI and XII)
• Primary Wing (Class I to V)
• Activity Wing (activity rooms, computer lab, bank, MI room, book and uniform shop)
• Raina auditorium

The school has three cafeterias, a children's science park, and a hostel for boys.
It has six basket ball courts, one football field and one hockey field, two tennis courts, a huge slide and lots more.

To facilitate better organization and maximum participation of the students in various Co-curricular Activities and Sports, APS follows a House System . The four Houses are :

ASHOKA-An exemplary mauryan ruler, who tried to put into practice a secular state ethic of non-violence

PRATAP-Maharana Pratap(ruler of mewar) was considered to exemplify the qualities like bravery and chivalry to which Rajputs aspire.

NEHRU-Jawaharlal Nehru(first prime minister of india and a freedom fighter).

SHIVAJI-Chatrapati shivaji(founder of maratha empire who established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of a well-regulated and disciplined military and well-structured administrative organizations).

Sports

1. Army Public School lays great emphasis on sports activities to develop the over all personality of its students. A well-developed infrastructure in terms of basketball and volley ball courts, football, cricket and hockey fields and tennis courts exists in the School. Students participate in all tournaments recognised by the Directorate of Education and in other State / National Championships organised by various State Associations and National Federations.
2. Students of APS have been excelling in various sports and have won laurels in various tournaments. The out standing achievers are :-

1. Bhanu Sachdeva - Arjuna Awardee (Swimming)
2. Ravinder Pandey - Captain, Combined University Team (Basketball)
3. Anubhav Kumar - Represented India ( Squash)
4. Arvinder Pal Singh - Represented India (Squash)
5. RK Berry - Represented India (Athletics)
6. K Udai Rao - Represented India ( Equestrian )
7. Simran Shergill - Represented India ( Equestrian )

1. As part of the future plans it is proposed to construct a Squash Court, Table Tennis room and a Shooting Range in the school. The facility for riding is also proposed to be re-started.

Major Events

The following major events are organized in the School :

TAPS FEST - The TAPS FEST or the Army Public School Festival of Co-curricular activities is a mega event organised every year where students from leading schools of Delhi are provided an opportunity to compete in various events like computer related activities , debates and declamations , dance and drama , music and fine arts.

NATIONAL INTER-ARMY QUIZ AND DEBATE - Each year a National Inter-Army Quiz competition, conducted by eminent quiz masters , is organized wherein the champions from all the Commands participate in a 'battle of brains ' in the Finals.

BAL DIWAS - Bal Diwas is a day for the children commencing with a cultural programme which is followed by the children being treated to a movie in the School Auditorium and fun and games for the tiny tots.

TEACHERS DAY - The day dawns with Class Twelfth students giving the teachers a much needed break. It is a day where the students display their skills at not only various cultural events but also in teaching.

ANNUAL FUNCTION - Bringing the curtains down on the academic year, is the grand finale - the Annual Function . It is also a platform to recognize the academic achievements of the students of the year gone by.

FAREWELL TO THE TWELFTH - A special function which is organized to bid farewell to the Twelfth standard.

Features

The school showcases a decommissioned Indian Army tank, as well as a Mig-21-fighter plane next to the Malhotra Block, as a symbol of its heritage and affiliation.

Martyr's Gallery

The contribution of Army Public School in every walk of life in the form of progressive and upright citizens is commendable. However, when it comes to the Defence Services , the school's immense contribution cannot be ignored. Time and again , APS has been giving the Indian Defence Services many of its glittering jewels - soldiers who are tough but sensitive , unyielding in their integrity and patriotism.

In the memory of our alumni who have made the supreme sacrifice for the safety , unity and integrity of the country , the APS family dedicated a gallery to the Martyrs, on 26th July 1999. The Martyrs Gallery has photographs of some of the alumni of the school who have laid down their lives in the service of the Nation.

1 Major Vikrant Shastri , SM (1980 Batch ) 11 Mech Infantry, Commissioned in Dec.85. Casualty - 3rd May'95, in Assam.

2. Major Abhimanyu Sikka ( 1981 Batch ) Artillery, Commissioned in June '85 Casualty - 2001 in the Kashmir Valley.

3. Capt Umang Bhardwaj, SC (1994 Batch ) Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous) 7 JAT (ASC) , Commissioned in Dec 1999 Killed Six Militants in Mendher Sector, Rajouri, J & K Casualty - Nov 2002 in Rajouri , J&K.

4. Capt. Anuj Nayyar, MVC (1992 Batch ) Maha Vir Chakra ( Posthumous ) 17 Jat , Commissioned in June 1997 Casualty - July 1999 in Kargil.

5. Lt Atul Katarya, SM (1992 Batch ) 13 Punjab , Commissioned in Dec 96 Casualty - Oct 1998 in J&K.

6. Capt Sanjiv Dahiya ( 1991 Batch ) 5 Rajput , Commissioned in Sept 1998 Casualty - July 1999 in Kargil.

7. Lt Vijayant Thapar, VrC (1993 Batch ) 2 Raj Rif , Commissioned in Dec 1998 Casualty - June 1999 in Kargil.

8. Lt Amit Verma ( 1993 Batch ) 9 Mahar , Commissioned in Dec 1998 Casualty - July 1999 in Kargil.

9. Major Vivek Gupta , MVC (1987 Batch ) 2 Raj Rif Commissioned in June 1992 Casualty - June 1999 in Kargil.

10 . Capt Aditya Mishra (1991 Batch ) Ladhakh Scouts , Commissioned in June 1996 Casualty - June 1999 in Kargil

Magazines and publications

Students publish an annual magazine called 'Record'. It contains articles on various school events of the past year, literary works from students of all standards and achievements, and accolades received by students and school staff in the past year. The name 'Record' was changed to 'Aviral' in 2004. The school also publishes a number of newsletters every year and also contributes to newspapers and other magazines in India.

Notable alumni

The students and alumni of the school are referred to as "Tapsites"

• Sunil Chettri, football player
• Anuj Nayyar
  Anuj Nayyar
  Captain Anuj Nayyar was an officer of the 17 Jat Regiment of the Indian Army, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry award, for exemplary valour in combat during operations in the Kargil War in 1999.He was born to a Punjabi Khatri family and grew up in...
  
  , Mahavir Chakra recipient
• Shonali Nagrani
  Shonali Nagrani
  Shonali Nagrani is an Indian film actress and model, who has appeared in Hindi language films. She won the pageant of former Miss India International in 2003 and subsequently finished first runner-up of Miss International 2003...
  
  , model and Ms India International, 2003
• Sulagna Panigrahi
  Sulagna Panigrahi
  Sulagna Panigrahi is an Oriya and Indian television and film actress. As a débutante, she played the lead role in the television serial Amber Dhara as Dhara, and went on to play the principal character in Do Saheliyaan...
  
  , actor
• Suparno Satpathy
  Suparno Satpathy
  Suparno Satpathy is a noted socio-political-cultural leader from Orissa in India. He hails from Dhenkanal district.He is the Chairman of SNSMT, a leading social cause organization of India which is based out of Orissa.-External links:* * * * * * *...
  
  , noted socio-political-cultural leader
• Ritu Beri
  Ritu Beri
  Ritu Beri is a New Delhi based International fashion designer. She is the first Asian designer to head the French fashion brand, Scherrer.-Career:...
  
  , designer
• Manisha Koirala
  Manisha Koirala
  Manisha B. Koirala is a Nepali-Indian actress who works in Indian films, as well as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and social activist. Koirala has primarily worked in Hindi cinema, though she has appeared in several Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films as well...
  
  , actor
• Manpreet Brar
  Manpreet Brar
  Manpreet Brar won the Miss India crown in 1995. She was then first runner-up at the 1995 Miss Universe pageant, behind Miss USA Chelsi Smith. Brar modeled an ethnic wardrobe designed by Ritu Kumar and financed by The Times of India....
  
  , model and Ms India and Ms Universe runner up, 1995
• Chetan Bhagat
  Chetan Bhagat
  Chetan Bhagat , is an Indian author, columnist, and speaker. Bhagat is the author of five bestselling novels, Five Point Someone , One Night @ the Call Center , The 3 Mistakes of My Life , 2 States & Revolution 2020: Love, Corruption, Ambition...
  
  , Writer
• Rannvijay Singh
  Rannvijay Singh
  Ranvijay Singh Singha , is a VJ and Bollywood actor. He was a participant and also the finalist in the first season of MTV Roadies and that lead to him becoming the host for the MTV show, Roadies. He also became a part of the judging panel for MTV Roadies 8 along with Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman....
  
  , VJ and actor
• Shiney Ahuja
  Shiney Ahuja
  Shiney Ahuja is an Indian actor who won the Filmfare Best Debut Award for Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi in 2006.- Early life :...
  
  ,model and actor