» Address by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development, and President, SINDA, at the SINDA Excellence Awards 2026 – Saturday, 26 September 2026 at Singapore Polytechnic

Members of the SINDA Board of Trustees and Executive Committee;

SINDA CEO, Mr Anbarasu Rajendran;

Guests, Award Recipients and Family Members.

Opening

I am really delighted to join all of you at today’s SINDA Excellence Awards, or SEA. You can see from the videos the impact that it has made, and also from Mr Anbu’s personal story.

But for today, we celebrate our student achievements across many different stages and pathways — from PSLE to university. Each of these achievements represents a milestone in our students’ journey and a step further towards their aspirations.

Every recipient here today represents a story of hard work, perseverance and achievement, and you should be proud of what you have accomplished. But these are more than personal milestones. Your success is a source of pride for your loved ones and our wider community — and contributes to the progress of those who come after you.

Celebrating Success & Progress of Indian Students

This year, we recognise a very large SEA cohort — 866 recipients across 18 categories — reflecting the breadth and diversity of achievement within our community.

At the national level, Indian students continue to make steady progress across key education milestones, from the PSLE through to post-secondary education. We see this progress reflected in this year’s SEA cohort, with:

- An increasing number of students receiving the SEA award — with notable rises in the number of recipients from the PSLE, GCE O-Level, Integrated Programme, Polytechnic Diploma, local and overseas university degree categories.

- 115 recipients receiving this honour for the second, third or even fourth time — a testament to their consistent excellence, resilience and dedication over the years.

- We also have with us recipients who are being recognised for excelling in areas such as Formula 4 racing, chess and entrepreneurship.

So, you can see that success is not defined by a single pathway or achievement. It can mean different things to different people — whether it is reaching an academic milestone, pursuing a passion, or simply becoming the best version of yourself.

And for over three decades, the SINDA Excellence Awards have recognised such successes, and these growing trends are a testament to how far we’ve come and the promise of how far we can go.

Rewriting Excellence: Different Pathways

Success is also about how we grow through challenges, develop our strengths and use what we have learnt to make a difference.

We see this in 19-year-old Sania Kaur, who receives the ITE Higher Nitec award today in Biochemical Technology.

Sania did not qualify for Polytechnic directly after secondary school, but she was determined to continue pursuing her interest in science. She worked hard through ITE, maintained a strong GPA and eventually progressed to Ngee Ann Polytechnic, where she is now pursuing Biomedical Science.

Her journey reminds us that there is no single route to success. Sometimes, excellence means taking a different path, staying focused on your goal and making the most of every opportunity along the way.

Sania also showed a strong sense of responsibility towards her family. While continuing to focus on her studies, she used money from bursaries and awards to help ease some of the financial pressure at home — showing maturity, discipline and a willingness to contribute even while pursuing her own goals.

Sania hopes to pursue a career in forensic science one day — a goal that continues to drive her as she builds her knowledge and experience.

We see another dimension of excellence in 28-year-old Hemaraaj Amuthan, who receives the Polytechnic Diploma award in Sonic Arts with Merit from Republic Polytechnic.

Growing up, Hemaraaj helped care for his wheelchair-bound mother while his family faced financial constraints and received support from social workers and community organisations. These experiences have shaped his aspiration to one day become a social worker and support others facing similar challenges.

He has already begun giving back through mental wellness, music and youth initiatives, including Roots2Wings, where he helped make conversations around mental well-being more approachable for young people.

Sania, Hemaraaj, and so many other recipients today – your stories remind us that excellence is not only about overcoming challenges, but also about using what we have learnt to support and uplift others. Well done, all of you! Please give them a big hand.

Confident, Connected and Contributing Youth

Young Indians have an important role to play in shaping the future of our community. In fact, about one in five Singaporean Indians is between the ages of 20 and 34 – so there is a sizeable community of young minds and promising potential. Like all young Singaporeans, you can play an important part in shaping our country’s next chapter.

The recently launched SG Youth Plan, shaped by the views of more than 60,000 young people, sets out a shared ambition for our youth to become Confident, Connected and Contributing.

Be Confident in pursuing your aspirations, even when your journey takes a different route.

Stay Connected to the people and support around you. None of us succeeds alone. Families, educators, mentors and community organisations like SINDA all play a part in helping young people build confidence, access opportunities and move forward.

And Contribute – the support and experiences you receive should encourage and inspire you to give back and create a positive difference for others.

These are the qualities we continue to nurture — young people who are confident in their own paths, connected to their community, and eager to contribute in meaningful ways.

Closing

So, I hope that today’s award inspires you towards many more achievements and propels you to even greater heights. Continue to aim high, grow through every experience, and use your successes to uplift others.