India Observes National Education Day 2026

Founding of India’s premier academic and cultural institutions

In 1951, he supported the founding of IIT Kharagpur, which was followed by the establishment of Indian Institutes of Technology in Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, and Delhi.

He also established the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi in 1955. To maintain educational standards and provide financial support, he created the University Grants Commission in 1956.

Azad supported the development of national academies, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1953, and the Sahitya Akademi and Lalit Kala Akademi in 1954. He also promoted the All India Council for Technical Education.

Educational philosophy and advocacy for universal learning

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad entered politics during the 1905 Partition of Bengal, where he worked with leaders such as Sri Aurobindo Ghosh to oppose the partition on religious grounds and advocate for a united India. He believed that education should be the highest priority in the national budget, stating that it should be placed "immediately" after food and clothing.

Azad supported the use of the mother tongue for primary education. He also advocated for the use of English for higher education and international communication.

He believed that the solution to religious extremism was to provide sound and healthy religious education to youth during their development stages.

Constitutional and policy framework for modern education

The National Policy on Education of 1986 introduced initiatives such as Operation Blackboard and the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas to provide residential education to talented rural students. Kendriya Vidyalayas were also established to provide a common curriculum and quality education, particularly for children of transferable Central Government employees.

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was launched in 2001 to achieve universal elementary education by improving infrastructure and increasing enrolment for children aged 6 to 14.

The National Education Policy 2020 focuses on foundational literacy, inclusive and equitable education, multidisciplinary learning, digital education, and skill development to enhance the quality of India’s education system.

DScholar Press launches support initiative for first-time authors

DScholar Press International launched a support initiative for first-time Indian authors to coincide with the November 11, 2026, National Education Day.

The program offers publishing services for eligible manuscripts not exceeding 200 pages, including physical print, ISBN registration, and five complimentary copies.

The package includes worldwide dissemination and metadata submission to major bibliographic databases.

Eligible applicants include Indian citizens living in India or abroad who submit original work via the official online system, as email submissions are not accepted.

The firm is a registered MSME under the Companies Act, 2013, and is the first professional publisher in the TTAADC region.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad launched the Urdu journal Al-Hilal in 1912 to express liberal, rationalist views and to oppose colonial exploitation.

Historical context of the annual observance

India has observed National Education Day annually since 2008.

The ministry designated November 11 to recognize the contributions of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to academic reform and institution-building.

At the inaugural 2008 event, then-President Pratibha Patil emphasized the need to strengthen educational institutions and improve the quality of education.

She urged stakeholders to evaluate the country's educational performance and seek methods to advance India as a global knowledge society.

Educational institutions currently mark the day through activities including debates, seminars, essay-writing competitions, and awareness programs to emphasize the importance of education.