By shifting from rankings to holistic celebration, we can preserve intrinsic motivation, foster resilience, and align with India’s visionary National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. In the context of public rankings, this translates to a toxic brew of anxiety and self-doubt. Picture a 12-year-old student, let us call her Zara, who has poured weeks into her science project on sustainable energy. Long-term, public rankings stifle intrinsic motivation, the internal drive that propels true lifelong learners. By aligning recognition with NEP principles, we can cultivate confident, creative citizens ready to tackle global challenges like climate change and technological disruption.