The awards recognise educators, school leaders, community volunteers, and grassroots changemakers who are driving meaningful improvements in India’s public education system. Organisers say the initiative has evolved beyond symbolic recognition and has become a catalyst for measurable change by providing winners with financial support, credibility, media visibility, and access to influential networks.
Speaking on the importance of recognising education leaders, SD Shibulal, Co-founder of the Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiative, said that India’s public education system remains the country’s strongest tool for building an equitable society. He noted that educators delivering extraordinary results under challenging conditions have historically remained unrecognised and that celebrating their contributions encourages many others to take similar initiatives.
The impact of previous award recipients has already been visible across several states. In Bihar, award recipient Kumari Guddi expanded her efforts beyond her own school by establishing a community helpdesk, a scholarship fund, and a supply store for girls in neighbouring communities. Her initiatives are now supporting between 50 and 100 children across multiple schools.
In Andhra Pradesh, Nellore Subhrahmanyam transformed a two-decade-old vision into reality through the creation of a mobile science bus. The initiative has expanded its reach from 20 rural schools to nearly 50 schools. His work was featured in the March 2026 edition of Samagra Shiksha, while a documentary team from Pune is preparing to chronicle his journey.
In Madhya Pradesh, Muskan Ahirwar significantly expanded her community library initiative, Kitaabi Masti, increasing its collection from 2,000 to 3,500 books. The growth has been accompanied by rising student participation, with children increasingly visiting the library independently.
Meanwhile, in Meghalaya, Batskhem Thabah said the recognition and subsequent media attention encouraged educators across the state to share and develop their own ideas for improving education outcomes.
Reflecting on the impact of the award, Nellore Subhrahmanyam stated that he had spent nearly two decades investing a significant portion of his own salary into educational work. He said the award provided reassurance to both his family and community that his efforts carried meaningful value.
Khushboo Awasthi, Co-Weaver of the Shikshagraha movement and Co-Founder of ShikshaLokam, said that every child deserves the opportunity to enter the future with confidence and dignity. She emphasised that the experiences of the first two editions of the awards have demonstrated that solutions already exist within communities through teachers, youth leaders, and local changemakers who are committed to ensuring that no child receives fewer opportunities. She added that recognising such leaders reinforces the goal of ensuring that every student graduating from a government school possesses the knowledge, confidence, and skills required to navigate a rapidly changing world shaped by technology and climate challenges.
Award recipients receive financial assistance, national media exposure, access to networks of changemakers and civil society organisations, and institutional credibility that can facilitate engagement with government departments, non-governmental organisations, and funding agencies. The 2027 edition of the awards will be presented during InvokED, an annual global dialogue on education leadership that brings together experts, educators, and changemakers to advance education equity. The next edition of InvokED is scheduled for February 26 and 27, 2027.
The awards are open to educators, school leaders, community volunteers, and individuals contributing to positive change within India’s public education system, regardless of geography, discipline, or area of work.
Shikshagraha describes itself as a people-powered movement committed to improving all one million public schools in India so that every child receives enriching learning experiences and is prepared for the future. The movement places children at the centre of educational transformation while empowering parents, women, youth, teachers, school leaders, and officials to drive sustainable improvements.
Currently, more than 35 civil society, industry, and philanthropic partners within the Shikshagraha network are collectively strengthening over 117,000 schools across 33 districts in 14 states and union territories. Their efforts focus on enabling education leaders to implement need-based school improvements while encouraging greater participation from women, youth, and local communities.
As nominations open for the third edition of the Shikshagraha Awards, the initiative continues to highlight the power of grassroots leadership in transforming public education. By recognising those working on the frontlines of change, the awards seek to accelerate improvements in schools where the need is greatest and strengthen a nationwide movement aimed at delivering equitable, high-quality education for every child.
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