On 11 November 2026, India observed National Education Day (Rashtriya Shiksha Diwas) to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the country’s first Minister of Education. The day also highlighted the Prime Minister’s School Health and Nutrition Initiative (PM SHRI), which has upgraded more than 14,500 schools into green, experiential learning centres.

Key points

• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad founded key institutions such as IIT Kharagpur, UGC, and several national academies.
• PM SHRI focuses on modernising schools with green infrastructure and experiential pedagogy.
• National Education Day is celebrated annually on 11 November but is not a holiday.
• Key exam topics: history of Maulana Azad’s contributions and the objectives of PM SHRI.

Details

Maulana Azad, born on 11 November 1888, served as India’s first Minister of Education from 1947 to 1958 and was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992. He championed compulsory primary education up to 14 years and universal adult literacy. In 2008, the Ministry of Education declared 11 November as National Education Day to honour his legacy.

The PM SHRI scheme, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, upgrades schools to become green, experiential learning exemplars. Over 14,500 schools have been transformed, providing better learning environments and promoting holistic education.

What it means for students

Students preparing for UPSC, State PCS, and other competitive exams should note the following:

• Include Maulana Azad’s life and contributions in GS-1 History sections.
• Understand the objectives and achievements of the PM SHRI scheme for GS-2 Education topics.
• Use the National Education Day theme to frame essay answers on education reforms.
• No official website is mentioned for further details; refer to the Ministry of Education’s portal for updates.

Source: Freenaukrialert. Written for students by the Isolated Study News Desk from public reports. Always check the official website for final dates and details.