Congratulations to the Winners

Category Name	Organization Name	Individual Names	Metal
Excellence in AI-First Educational Solutions	SP Jain School of Global Management		Silver
Excellence in AI-First Educational Solutions	Sunstone Education Technology Private Limited		Bronze
Excellence in Digital Assessment & Examination Solutions	Eduquity Career Technologies Pvt. Ltd.		Bronze
Excellence in Higher Education Technology Solutions	byteXL TechEd Private Limited		Silver
Excellence in K–12 EdTech Innovation	AASOKA		Bronze
Excellence in Online Learning Experience Platforms	PhysicsWallah Limited		Gold
Excellence in Online Learning Experience Platforms	Macmillan Education		Silver
Excellence in Online Learning Experience Platforms	Kruu Ed Tech Pvt Ltd		Silver
Excellence in Online Learning Experience Platforms	Acers Academy of Excellence Private Limited		Bronze
Excellence in the use of technology for offline learning	PhysicsWallah Limited		Gold
Excellence in Online & Distance Learning	Amity University Online		Gold
Excellence in Pedagogical & Curriculum Innovation	Vivekanand Education Society's Business School		Silver
University of the Year - Emerging (Estb. after 2020)	JSS UNIVERSITY, Noida		Silver
Excellence in Community & Parental Engagement	Chitkara International School		Gold
Excellence in Curriculum Enhancement	DPS International Sec 50, Gurugram		Silver
Excellence in Curriculum Enhancement	HOLY HEART SCHOOLS, Amritsar		Bronze
Excellence in Digital Infrastructure & ICT Integration	Mayo International School		Silver
Excellence in Holistic Development, Co-Curricular & Sports Education	Harrow International School Bengaluru		Silver
Excellence in Holistic Development, Co-Curricular & Sports Education	Venkateshwar International school Sector 10 Dwarka New Delhi		Bronze
Excellence in Physical Infrastructure & Learning Spaces (Non-Digital)	AMBIENCE PUBLIC SCHOOL		Silver
Excellence in Physical Infrastructure & Learning Spaces (Non-Digital)	Harrow International School Bengaluru		Silver
School Chain of the Year (National)	Sri Chaitanya Schools		Gold
School Chain of the Year (National)	The Millennium Group of Schools		Silver
School Chain of the Year (Regional)	Ekya Schools		Silver
Standalone School of the Year	O. P. JINDAL SCHOOL		Silver
Standalone School of the Year	QUEEN'S VALLEY SCHOOL		Bronze
Visionary CXO / Founder in EdTech	Accenture LearnVantage	Anurag Bansal	Silver
Visionary CXO / Founder in EdTech	Sunstone Education Technology Pvt.Ltd	Ashish Munjal	Bronze
Visionary Leader in Higher Education	Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon	Dr. Jones Mathew	Silver
Visionary Leader in Higher Education	HAVISH M CONSULTING	Havish Madhvapaty	Bronze
Visionary Leader in K–12 Education	Vega Schools	Komal Sood	Silver
Excellence in Holistic Development & Social–Emotional Learning	EuroKids Preschool		Gold
Excellence in Innovative Pedagogy	KLAY Preschools and Daycare		Gold
Preschool Chain of the year	KLAY Preschools and Daycare		Gold
Preschool Chain of the year	Makoons Play School		Silver

Award Categories

overview

The FE Education Awards return for their third edition;stronger, sharper, and more transformative than ever before! As a cornerstone celebration within the Education ecosystem, these prestigious Awards continue to honor the bold visionaries, innovative institutions, and pioneering technology enablers reshaping the landscape of education across India. With each passing year, the Awards have grown into a symbol of excellence, spotlighting those who not only adapt to change but lead it.

This year, in our third chapter, we celebrate the relentless pursuit of progress in schools, higher education, and edtech. We aim to recognize the changemakers who are raising the bar, breaking boundaries, and empowering the next generation through creativity, leadership, and impact. By showcasing their achievements, we hope to inspire many more to join this movement and redefine what’s possible in education. Let’s come together to celebrate brilliance, spark new ideas, and build a future where education is truly limitless!

photo gallery

Who Should Enter

Universities
Schools(K-12)
Colleges
Higher Institutions
Pre-Schools
Individual Educators & Leaders
Founders/CEOs
EdTechs
Chairpersons/ MDs
Coaching Institutes
NGOs
Software Companies

WHY TO ENTER?

Recognize and Celebrate Excellence

Honor the visionaries, institutions, and innovators driving meaningful change in education, showcasing their outstanding achievements and transformative contributions to the sector.
Elevate Visibility and Credibility

Gain industry-wide recognition and strengthen your brand's reputation by being celebrated on a national platform among peers, stakeholders, and thought leaders.
Inspire Progress Through Benchmarking

Stand alongside the best in the industry, set new standards of excellence, and inspire continuous improvement by measuring success against the most impactful leaders in education.

Entry Guidelines

The India Education Awards 2026, presented by FinancialExpress.com, is set to honor and applaud outstanding achievements in the field of education. These awards are designed to Recognise exceptional contributions made by educational institutions, educators, and innovators in India's educational landscape.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

To begin, please register yourself and fill in the required details.
Once registered, you can start adding entries by selecting the categories.
Each entry requires you to fill some mandatory fields, but we encourage you to fill up all the available fields to help the jury with better judgment.
The entries are saved and can be edited later, so it gives you flexibility to work and edit multiple entries.
Once you have added all your entries, you need to make the required payment.

Once the payment is made, you CANNOT edit the entries so please make sure you have provided all the information correctly.
The entry will be considered as submitted only after the required payment has been made.
Do share creative material to support your entries. If it’s a video, it shouldn’t be more than 90 secs, and if it’s a ppt/pdf then the limit is 2 MB and 6-7 slides/pages.
For YouTube videos, copy paste the YouTube link and for ppt/pdf files, please create a Google Drive (in sharing mode) and copy paste the link in the Main Creative URL field.

Jury

Dr. Anita Kanwar

Principal,
Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Arts,
Science and Commerce

Anita Paul

Former Principal,
Amity Global School,
Noida

Amol Arora

Managing Director,
SHEMROCK & SHEMFORD Group of Schools

Dr. (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal

Hon'ble Secretary General,
Association of Indian Universities

Prof. (Mrs.) Rajita Kulkarni

President,
Sri Sri University

Sneha Rathor

CEO,
Sanfort Group of Schools

Preschool Categories

Category Name

Category Description

Nomination Fee

Emerging Preschool of the year

To recognize newly established standalone preschools (established in or after 2020) that demonstrate exceptional early growth, high-quality foundational learning practices, and early innovation in curriculum, parental engagement, and operations.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Preschool of the year - Standalone

To recognize established standalone preschools (established before 2020) that demonstrate consistent excellence in early childhood pedagogy, sustained operational performance, strong parent satisfaction, and proven student outcomes over the years.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Preschool Chain of the year

To recognize established preschool chains that demonstrate excellence in pedagogy, operational efficiency, teacher training, innovation, and student outcomes across multiple locations.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Innovative Pedagogy

To recognize preschools that implement innovative, child-centered, and NEP 2020-aligned early childhood pedagogies that nurture holistic development, foundational learning, creativity, and curiosity among young children. This includes approaches such as play-based learning, activity-based learning, experiential and discovery-based learning, storytelling-led instruction, multilingual exposure, and practices inspired by globally recognized early childhood philosophies such as Montessori, Reggio Emilia, or other developmentally appropriate, inquiry-driven models.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Holistic Development & Social–Emotional Learning

To recognize preschools that prioritize social-emotional learning, positive behavior support, holistic development, and nurturing classroom environments that build confidence, emotional expression, self-regulation, and overall well-being in early learners.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

School Categories

Category Name

Category Description

Nomination Fee

Standalone School of the Year

To recognize independent schools (not part of a chain) that have demonstrated overall excellence in academics, infrastructure, pedagogy, student development, and community engagement.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

School Chain of the Year (National)

To recognize large school networks operating across multiple states in India (inter-state footprint) with a minimum of 3 branches distributed across two or more states, demonstrating excellence in curriculum, pedagogy, student outcomes, technology adoption, and scalable operational standards.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

School Chain of the Year (Regional)

To recognize school chains operating within a single state or a single well-defined region (e.g., North, south , east , west) with ≥3 branches within that region, demonstrating excellence in education quality, community engagement, and regional relevance.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Emerging School of the Year

To recognize schools established 2–5 years ago that have shown exceptional growth, innovation, and educational impact.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Physical Infrastructure & Learning Spaces (Non-Digital)

To recognize schools that have designed and maintained exceptional physical learning environments that support safety, exploration, and holistic student development. This includes age-appropriate classrooms, laboratories, libraries, outdoor spaces, sports areas, art & activity zones, sanitary facilities, and child-safe infrastructure aligned with national safety norms. The category also emphasizes security systems, hygiene, health protocols, and disaster preparedness, ensuring safe and effective learning experiences for all students.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Digital Infrastructure & ICT Integration

To recognize schools that have built robust digital ecosystems enabling effective teaching, learning, assessment, and administration. This includes smart classrooms, digital boards, virtual labs, e-content platforms, LMS/ERP systems, device access, and technology-enabled teaching methodologies. The category also evaluates cybersecurity, data privacy practices, digital literacy programs, responsible use of AI tools, and overall readiness for future-ready learning.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Curriculum Enhancement

To recognize schools that have improved and modernized their core academic curriculum in alignment with NEP 2020, integrating experiential learning, competency-based education, inquiry-driven pedagogy, and interdisciplinary learning. This category evaluates system-level curriculum design improvements that strengthen foundational skills, creativity, problem-solving, and global readiness.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Student Development Initiative of the Year - Academic

To recognize schools that have implemented a specific, high-impact academic initiative that significantly improves student learning outcomes, subject mastery, critical thinking, creativity, or overall academic performance. This category highlights program-level interventions, not whole-curriculum reform, and honors schools that introduce targeted academic initiatives with measurable results.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Holistic Development, Co-Curricular & Sports Education

To recognize schools that provide well-rounded holistic development through strong programs in sports, arts, music, dance, theatre, clubs, competitions, life skills, and physical education. This category honors schools that offer diverse opportunities for students to build confidence, creativity, teamwork, leadership, physical fitness, and cultural competence.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Sustainability Practices

To recognize schools implementing environmentally sustainable practices, including energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, and eco-conscious learning.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Community & Parental Engagement

To recognize schools that actively foster strong, collaborative partnerships with parents, families, and the wider community to enhance student learning, personal growth, and social responsibility. This category honors schools that build a culture of transparent communication, shared decision-making, community involvement, and parent participation, ensuring that education extends beyond the classroom and becomes a collective effort.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Faculty Development

To recognize schools that invest in continuous teacher development, providing training in pedagogy, subject mastery, digital competency, inclusive education, and leadership. This category honors schools with structured professional development frameworks that enhance instructional quality and improve student learning outcomes.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Inclusive Education & Accessibility

To recognize schools that provide equitable, accessible, and supportive learning environments for students with diverse needs, including physical disabilities, learning disabilities, cognitive challenges, and socio-emotional needs. This category honors schools that implement structured inclusive practices, accessible infrastructure, special education support, and individualized learning pathways to ensure every child can learn effectively.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Global Exposure & International Programs

To recognize schools that provide meaningful global exposure and international learning opportunities that broaden students’ worldviews, enhance cross-cultural understanding, and build global competencies. This category honors schools that establish international partnerships, student/faculty exchange programs, global curriculum elements, international competitions, and collaborative projects that prepare students to thrive in an interconnected world.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Mental Health & Student Well-Being

To recognize schools that prioritize mental health, emotional resilience, and psychological safety through structured programs, counseling services, peer support, awareness initiatives, and safe environments. The category highlights schools that invest in trained counselors, well-being policies, anti-bullying frameworks, and social-emotional learning (SEL) programs that nurture emotionally balanced, confident students.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Higher Education Categories

Category Name

Category Description

Nomination Fee

University of the Year - Established

To recognize established University demonstrating excellence in academics, research, innovation, student outcomes, and societal impact.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

University of the Year - Emerging (Estb. after 2020)

To recognize newer University established after 2019 showing exceptional growth, innovation, and potential impact on higher education.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Higher Education Campus & Digital Infrastructure

To recognize University/Institutes implementing exceptional physical and digital infrastructure, including smart classrooms, virtual labs, digital campus platforms, LMS deployment, and technology-enabled administrative systems.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Pedagogical & Curriculum Innovation

To recognize higher education institutions implementing innovative and research-informed approaches to curriculum design, pedagogy, experiential learning, competency-based learning, and blended or technology-enabled instructional models that significantly enhance teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Faculty Training & Professional Development

To recognize initiatives that enhance faculty teaching competencies, research skills, scholarly output, pedagogical certifications, and academic leadership development.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Recruitment & Professional Development

To recognize University/Institutes implementing robust career development, placement support, career counseling, internships, industry exposure, and employability enhancement programs for students.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Industry-Academia Collaboration

To recognize University/Institutes that have established effective partnerships with industry and international institutions for research, innovation, internships, skill-building, and global learning exposure.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Sustainability Practices

To recognize University/Institutes implementing environmental sustainability practices on campus and embedding sustainability in curriculum, research, and operations.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Online & Distance Learning

To recognize excellence in fully online or distance learning programs, digital degrees, virtual campuses, and online student support systems using scalable and innovative delivery models.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Mental Health & Student Well-Being

To recognize University/Institutes implementing programs supporting student mental health, counseling, and holistic well-being.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Skill Development & Vocational Training

To recognize University/Institutes offering vocational, technical, and competency-based programs, including industry-aligned skill certificates, hands-on labs, apprenticeships, and NSDC or sector skill council-based training.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Research, Innovation & Knowledge Creation

To recognize University/Institutes demonstrating outstanding performance in research output, innovation, intellectual property creation, and knowledge generation that contributes to academic excellence, societal advancement, and global scholarship. This category honors institutions that build a strong research ecosystem through funding support, faculty research development, innovation centers, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Internationalization & Global Engagement

To recognize University/Institutes that have demonstrated excellence in global engagement, international partnerships, cross-border education, and programs that promote global exposure, multicultural learning, and international academic competitiveness. This category highlights efforts that strengthen the university’s global standing and integration into the international higher education ecosystem.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

EdTech & Digital Innovation Categories

Category Name

Category Description

Nomination Fee

Excellence in Learning Management Systems (LMS) Infrastructure

To recognize LMS solutions focused on the technology backbone of learning—such as course management, learner tracking, reporting dashboards, system integrations, and administrative automation. This category strictly evaluates the platform infrastructure, not learning content or online courses.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Online Learning Experience Platforms

To recognize digital platforms that deliver engaging, interactive, and accessible online learning experiences through multimedia content, assessments, virtual classrooms, and personalized learning paths. This category evaluates the learning experience, not the system infrastructure.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in K–12 EdTech Innovation

To recognize EdTech solutions specifically designed for schools and learners from Kindergarten to Grade 12, focusing on child-centric pedagogy, classroom learning tools, school operations, and parent-teacher engagement.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Higher Education Technology Solutions

To recognize EdTech solutions designed specifically for universities and higher education institutions that enhance academic delivery, research enablement, student lifecycle management, virtual labs, digital credentialing, and institutional administration. This includes technologies that improve learning environments, streamline processes, and support scalable digital transformation in higher education.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Faculty Development Technology

To recognize EdTech solutions that enhance faculty professional development in higher education through technology-enabled training, pedagogical improvement tools, upskilling platforms, certification systems, academic leadership development programs, and digital teaching enablement.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in AI-First Educational Solutions

To recognize EdTech solutions where Artificial Intelligence is the primary driver of value—such as adaptive learning engines, AI tutors, automated assessments, predictive analytics, or intelligent academic support. Only solutions where AI is the core technology, not a minor feature, qualify

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Robotics & STEM Learning Solutions

To recognize EdTech solutions offering hands-on robotics, STEM kits, engineering tools, and experiential learning programs that build problem-solving, creativity, and innovation skills. Includes hardware-enabled and lab-based learning.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Digital Assessment & Examination Solutions

To recognize platforms and institutions that deliver secure, scalable, and technology-driven digital assessment solutions, including online examinations, remote proctoring, item banks, automated grading, adaptive testing, and analytics for learning outcomes. This category focuses strictly on assessment and exam administration, not learning content or LMS functionality.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in Digital School/College Management Systems (ERP)

To recognize EdTech solutions that provide comprehensive digital management systems for schools, colleges, and universities, covering operations such as admissions, fee management, timetabling, attendance, communication, HR & payroll, academic planning, and administrative automation. This category evaluates institutional process digitization, not learning delivery.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in the use of technology for offline learning

To recognize education organizations operating physical teaching centers where classroom instruction and digital systems are integrated to deliver a unified learning experience. This category evaluates the integration of in-person teaching, learner support, assessments, and academic systems with technology and excludes purely online learning or traditional offline teaching without meaningful digital integration.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Special Awards Categories

Category Name

Category Description

Nomination Fee

Excellence in Corporate-Led Educational Initiatives

To recognize for-profit corporations that design and implement high-impact education initiatives under CSR or business-led programs. This includes initiatives that strengthen learning opportunities, digital access, school infrastructure, teacher capacity-building, scholarships, mentorship, career readiness, or community education models.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Excellence in NGO-Led Educational Initiatives

To recognize non-profit organizations delivering innovative, scalable, and transformative education programs that improve learning outcomes, community engagement, foundational literacy, digital inclusion, or skills development among learners of any age.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Leadership & Individual Excellence Categories

Category Name

Category Description

Nomination Fee

Visionary Leader in Preschool Education

To recognize an individual leader (founder/CEO/academic head) who has driven transformational improvement in early childhood education through policy, scaling quality models, practitioner training or research translation and demonstrable sector impact.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Visionary Leader in K–12 Education

To recognize a school leader whose long-term vision and implementation has materially improved institutional outcomes, teacher quality, governance and community engagement with measurable evidence.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Visionary Leader in Higher Education

To recognize senior HE leaders (VCs/Chancellors/Directors) who lead transformational institutional reform — research growth, global partnerships, pedagogy shifts — backed by measurable institutional outcomes.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Visionary CXO / Founder in EdTech

To recognize EdTech founders/CEOs/CXOs whose leadership has driven product innovation, scale, learning impact and responsible practices across the sector, evidenced by adoption and outcomes.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Woman Changemaker in Education

To recognize women leaders (founders, principals, policymakers, NGO heads) who have driven significant measurable improvements in education quality, access or innovation and acted as role models for gender equity.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Lifetime Achievement Award in Education

To recognize individuals whose career-long contributions have significantly shaped education in India through leadership, innovation, and impact.

Late fee

~~₹ 35,000~~

₹ 30,000

+ GST

Payment

A non-refundable fee will be charged per entry. All payments to be made online, for cheque/DD - to be drawn in the favour of ‘Company name’ and must reach our Noida office.

Entries will only be accepted after the receiving of the payment.

Nomination Fee

Rs. 35,000*

Rs. 30,000*
(Extended Offer)

*Taxes as applicable - 18% GST Applicable

The Offer is valid till 17th February, 2026.

Important dates

AWARDS REGISTRATION
OPEN

November 17, 2025

Awards
Nomination Deadline

February 17, 2026

1st Round
of Assessment

February 20, 2026

Final
Jury Meet

February 22, 2026

Awards Ceremony

February 27, 2026

Award Selection Process

Our awards honor exceptional entries that demonstrate excellence in execution. The jury assesses submissions based on:

How groundbreaking and forward-thinking the entry is.

The ability to motivate and set industry benchmarks.

Assesses the positive change and influence created within the target audience or industry

COMMITTED TO ETHICAL AND FAIR PRACTICES

To maintain the integrity of the evaluation process, jury members with entries in a specific category will be recused from voting in that category, ensuring a fair and impartial assessment.

This meticulous approach ensures that only the most deserving entries receive recognition

ENSURING PRIVACY & SECURITY OF ENTRIES

We uphold the highest standards of confidentiality & security for all submitted entries, ensuring access is restricted to authorised personnel only. Protecting your privacy and maintaining your trust are our foremost priorities.

KNOWLEDGE PARTNER ASSESSMENT

ELIGIBILITY CHECK : The official tabulator meticulously reviews and validates all entries.

TRUSTED ASSURANCE : Their name and logo ensure credibility and transparency.

FAIR & TRANSPARENT EVALUATION

EXPERT PANEL : Industry specialists evaluate entries solely on merit.

TWO-STAGE REVIEW : A thorough process ensures the best are chosen.

WINNER SELECTION

The jury meticulously evaluates the shortlist to determine the most deserving winners. The award ceremony honors and celebrates exceptional winners.

FAQ

Who can enter the FE Education Awards 2026?

Schools (K–12), Preschools, Universities, Colleges, Higher Education Institutes, EdTech companies, NGOs, Coaching Institutes, Individual Educators, Founders/CEOs, and Corporates with education-focused initiatives are eligible to participate.

Can an organisation represented by a jury member submit entries?

No. Organisations involved in the nomination process cannot be a part of the jury.

What is the nomination fee for submitting an entry?

The nomination fee per entry is ₹35,000 + GST.

*A tax invoice will be provided post the culmination of the event. For urgent requirements, kindly write to the Financial Express team.

Is the entry fee refundable?

No. The entry fee is non-refundable, irrespective of the selection outcome.

What are the important dates I should remember?

• Awards Registration Opens: November 17, 2025
• Early Bird Offer: December 1 – December 25, 2025
• Registrations Close: January 31, 2026
• 1st Round of Assessment: February 2026
• Final Jury Meet: February 2026
• Awards Ceremony: February 2026

How many entries can I submit across categories?

There is no limit on the number of entries or categories an organisation can submit. Participants may enter as many categories as applicable.

How many categories can I become a finalist in?

While multiple entries can be submitted, an entrant can become a finalist in a maximum of 2–3 categories, based on jury evaluation.

What is the process for submitting entries?

Participants must:
1. Register on the platform
2. Select relevant categories
3. Fill in mandatory and optional details
4. Upload supporting creative material
5. Complete payment to confirm submission

Entries can be edited until payment is made. After payment, no edits are allowed.

What creative material can be shared with the entry?

Participants may upload:
• Video (max 90 seconds)
• PDF/PPT (2 MB; 6–7 slides/pages)

YouTube links and Google Drive links (sharing mode enabled) can be pasted directly in the submission fields.

How will the entries be evaluated?

Entries will be assessed on:
• Innovation & Future-readiness
• Ability to inspire and set benchmarks
• Impact created within the target audience or ecosystem

The process includes eligibility checks, a two-stage evaluation, and a final jury review.

Are entries kept confidential?

Yes. All submissions are handled with the highest standards of privacy, confidentiality, and security, restricted only to authorised personnel.

How does the Awards ensure fairness in the selection process?

• Jury members do not evaluate categories where their organisations are participating.
• A multi-layered review ensures impartiality.
• EY (as knowledge partner and tabulator) validates and assures the integrity of the evaluation process.

Glimpses of Previous Editions

Photo Gallery

Past Speakers

Amitabh Shah

Founder,
Yuva unstoppable

Amitav Virmani

Founder & CEO,
The Education Alliance

Anshul Pathak

Vice Chairman and Treasurer -
Delhi Public School Ghaziabad Society

Bhanu Potta

Senior Consultant,
AI Samarth,
CSF; Founding Partner,
ZingerLABS

Dr Chetna Sabharwal

Director,
Association of Indian Principals

Prof. Jaskiran Arora

Dean-Education Quality,
BML Munjal University

Poornima Garg

Country Director,
Room to Read India

Ravi Kapoor

Ex IRS
Podcaster,
TEDx Speaker, Author, Mentor

Prof. Shivendra Mathur

Head of Industry,
Collaboration & Registrar at
NIIT University

Shubhra Mittal

Head - Government Partnerships and Programs,
Khan Academy India

Prof. Sumita Rai

Dean-Industry Connect,
MDI Gurgaon

Vinod Karate

Project Director,
State Reform,
Central Square Foundation

Noopur Abhishek

Senior Project Lead - EdTech,
Central Square Foundation

Damayanti Bhattacharya

CEO
Maker Bhavan Foundation

Jayant Rastogi

Global CEO
Magic Bus India Foundation

Maheshwar Peri

Founder and Chairman
Careers 360

Ratna Viswanathan

Chief Executive Officer
Reach to Teach

Aditi Misra

Principal, Delhi Public School

Allan Kjaer Andersen

Director, Chaman Bhartiya School

Andrew Thangaraj

Professor, IIT Madras

Anita Rajan

Chief Executive Officer, Tata STRIVE and Vice President, Tata Community Initiatives Trust

Arjun Nair

Co-Founder, Great Learning

Ashok Varma

Partner and Leader Social Sector, PwC

Divya Gokulnath

Co-Founder
Byju's

Gururaj Kidiyoor

Professor, Dean- Academics, T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI)

Himanshu Gautam

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Safalta

Hrridaysh Deshpande

Vice Chancellor, Ajeenkya DY Patil University

Kakoli Sen

Pro Vice Chancellor, IILM University

Kanak Gupta

Director, Seth M.R. Jaipuria Schools

Kanika Sinha

Convener, ComMutiny, The Youth Collective

K. Anvar Sadath

Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE)

Kirti Seth

Chief Executive Officer, IT-ITES Sector Skill Council, NASSCOM

Meenakshi Uberoi

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, De Pedagogics

Merlia Shaukat

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Madhi Foundation

Mihir Gupta

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Teachmint

Naman Jain

Director, Silverline Prestige School

Neharika Vohra

Vice Chancellor, Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University

Nitin Kashyap

Product Manager, Read Along, Google

Padmakali Banerjee

Pro Vice Chancellor, Amity University

Prachi Windlass

Senior Director, Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF)

Preeti Vyas

Chief Executive Officer and President, Amar Chitra Katha

Purvi Shah

Senior Director, Storyweaver, Pratham Books

R. W. Alexander Jesudasan

Pro Vice Chancellor, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science

Rajiv Tandon

Chief Executive Officer, Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP), Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

Ramaprasad Srinivasan

Director, Public Sector Sales, APAC, Client Computing Group, Intel

Ravi Panchanada

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Manipal Global Education Services

Robin Bhowmik

Chief Business Officer, Manipal Global Education Services

Saikat Mitra

Senior Director, Head of Trust and Safety, Google

Sanjay Achawal

Executive Director, Ingram Micro

Sapna Chadha

Vice President Marketing, Southeast Asia and India, Google

Sasmita Samanta

Vice Chancellor, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology

Shekhar Bhattacharjee

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dalham Learning

Shruti Sharma

Partnerships, Marketing and Communications Lead, Generation Global, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Siddesh Sarma

Co-Founder and Chief Programs Officer, Leadership For Equity

Sreekanth B. Koganti

Director, Kennedy School, Guntur

Sudeshna Sengupta

Director, Academics, Vedanya

Tim Oates

Director, Assessment Research and Development Cambridge Assessment, University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate

Tristha Ramamurthy

Founder and Executive Director, Ekya Schools

Trupti Mukker

Chief Operating Officer, Byju's International Business

Vikrant Deshmukh

Lead Solution Consultant, Salesforce

Vishal Sunil

Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Rocket Learning

Yusuf Abdul-Kareem

Vice President, Emerging Markets, Law School Admission Council

Ramanan Ramanathan

Mission Director Atal Innovation Mission, Additional Secretary at NITI Aayog

Dr. Vinod R. Rao

Secretary to Government(Primary & Secondary Education), Education Department, Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar

Rukmini Banerji

CEO Pratham

Satya Raghavan

Director, Content Partnerships, YouTube India

Amit Doshi

Chief Marketing Officer, Lenovo India

Deepti Sawhney

CEO & Founder, Mahattattva

Shaheen Mistri

Founder and CEO - Teach For India

Venkatesh Sarvasiddhi

Senior Head – Digital Skills & Innovation, Industry Partnerships & CSR – NSDC

Aditya Natraj

Founder & Director of Kaivalya Education Foundation (KEF), a Piramal Initiative

Anjali Raghuvanshi

Chief People Officer, Randstad India

Ashutosh Batta

Chairman, Bloom Public School

Karthik Reddy

Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Blume Venture

RCM Reddy

MD & CEO, Schoolnet India Ltd

Supreeth Nagaraju

Head Education, Digital Media - India & South Asia - Adobe

Past Jury

Anshul Pathak

Vice Chairman and Treasurer,
Delhi Public School
Ghaziabad Society & Trustee
SelaQui International School

Dr Chetna Sabharwal

Director,
Association of Indian Principals

Deepti Sawhney

CEO & Founder
Mahattattva

Ravi Kapoor

Ex IRS
Podcaster,
TEDx Speaker,
Author, Mentor

Brand who participated with us

Venue

The Lalit,

Fire Brigade Lane, Barakhamba, New Delhi 110001

Contact Us

For Nominations and Jury Opportunities

Silky Bhatia

For any urgent matters or issues requiring immediate escalation, please write to rohit.singh@financialexpress.com

Empowering India’s Education Future: Innovation, Inclusion, Impact

Congratulations to the Winners

Award Categories

Emerging Preschool of the year

Preschool of the year - Standalone

Preschool Chain of the year

Excellence in Innovative Pedagogy

Excellence in Holistic Development & Social–Emotional Learning

Standalone School of the Year

School Chain of the Year (National)

School Chain of the Year (Regional)

Emerging School of the Year

Excellence in Physical Infrastructure & Learning Spaces (Non-Digital)

Excellence in Digital Infrastructure & ICT Integration

Excellence in Curriculum Enhancement

Student Development Initiative of the Year - Academic

Excellence in Holistic Development, Co-Curricular & Sports Education

Excellence in Sustainability Practices

Excellence in Community & Parental Engagement

Excellence in Faculty Development

Excellence in Inclusive Education & Accessibility

Excellence in Global Exposure & International Programs

Excellence in Mental Health & Student Well-Being

University of the Year - Established

University of the Year - Emerging (Estb. after 2020)

Excellence in Higher Education Campus & Digital Infrastructure

Excellence in Pedagogical & Curriculum Innovation

Excellence in Faculty Training & Professional Development

Excellence in Recruitment & Professional Development

Excellence in Industry-Academia Collaboration

Excellence in Sustainability Practices

Excellence in Online & Distance Learning

Excellence in Mental Health & Student Well-Being

Excellence in Skill Development & Vocational Training

Excellence in Research, Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Excellence in Internationalization & Global Engagement

Excellence in Learning Management Systems (LMS) Infrastructure

Excellence in Online Learning Experience Platforms

Excellence in K–12 EdTech Innovation

Excellence in Higher Education Technology Solutions

Excellence in Faculty Development Technology

Excellence in AI-First Educational Solutions

Excellence in Robotics & STEM Learning Solutions

Excellence in Digital Assessment & Examination Solutions

Excellence in Digital School/College Management Systems (ERP)

Excellence in the use of technology for offline learning

Excellence in Corporate-Led Educational Initiatives

Excellence in NGO-Led Educational Initiatives

Visionary Leader in Preschool Education

Visionary Leader in K–12 Education

Visionary Leader in Higher Education

Visionary CXO / Founder in EdTech

Woman Changemaker in Education

Lifetime Achievement Award in Education

An initiative by

Process Advisors

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Who Should Enter

WHY TO ENTER?

Recognize and Celebrate Excellence

Elevate Visibility and Credibility

Inspire Progress Through Benchmarking

Entry Guidelines

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

Jury

Dr. Anita Kanwar

Anita Paul

Amol Arora

Dr. (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal

Prof. (Mrs.) Rajita Kulkarni

Sneha Rathor

Categories

Preschool Categories

School Categories

Higher Education Categories

EdTech & Digital Innovation Categories

Special Awards Categories

Leadership & Individual Excellence Categories

Payment

Empowering India’s Education Future:
Innovation, Inclusion, Impact

Rs. 30,000*
(Extended Offer)

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OPEN

Awards
Nomination Deadline

1st Round
of Assessment

Final
Jury Meet