Akhil Bhartiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh – Shiksha Bhushan’ Award to be Conferred upon Shri D. Ramakrishna Rao, Prof. B. Mahadevan and Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar

The prestigious ‘Shiksha Bhushan – Akhil Bharatiya Shikshak Samman’, presented annually to distinguished educationists who have made inspiring and noteworthy contributions to the field of education and social life, will be conferred this year upon Shri D. Ramakrishna Rao, Prof. B. Mahadevan and Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar. The selection of these three eminent educationists has been announced by the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh and Shaikshik Foundation. The awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held in Hyderabad on 3 October, 2026.

The tradition of honouring eminent educationists who have made inspiring and significant contributions to education and society was initiated in 2015 by the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh and Shaikshik Foundation. Every year, three educationists are selected for the ‘Shiksha Bhushan – Akhil Bhartiya Shikshak Samman’ who have dedicated their lives to the advancement of education and society, upholding the dignity and ideals of the Bharatiya Guru-Shishya tradition.

The award comprises an official citation recognising the recipient’s enduring contribution, a silver memento symbolising eternal remembrance and inspiration, and a cash award of ₹1 lakh as an expression of gratitude for their dedication, sacrifice and lifelong commitment.

A distinctive feature of this award is that its entire financial support is contributed by teachers themselves. For this purpose, teachers have established an endowment fund. No applications are invited for the award. Instead, eminent educationists from across the country are identified who have lived their lives not merely for personal achievement, but as a dedicated pursuit of social and nation-building.

Educationists to be Honoured This Year

Shri D. Ramakrishna Rao, born in Andhra Pradesh, has made significant contributions to the field of education through his extensive experience as a Principal, Director, Professor and in various national-level educational responsibilities. He has also served as the National President of Vidya Bharati. He has made notable contributions to curriculum development in accordance with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, development of educational materials, teacher education, and education in tribal areas. He has authored approximately 59 research papers on subjects including education, teacher training, value education, yoga and physical education.

Prof. B. Mahadevan, born in Tamil Nadu, is recognised for his distinguished contributions to management education, the Indian Knowledge System and Indian philosophical thought. He has served in several important capacities, including Professor and Dean at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) and as a Founding Vice-Chancellor. He has made significant contributions towards integrating the Indian Knowledge System, Vedas, Bhagavad Gita and Indian philosophical thought with modern management education. His major publications include Introduction to Indian Knowledge System, Operations Management: Theory and Practice, and The New Manufacturing Architecture.

Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, born in Telangana, is a distinguished scientist, educationist and higher education administrator. After pursuing higher education in Electrical Engineering at IIT Madras and post-doctoral research at the University of Waterloo, Canada, he served as a Professor at IIT Delhi, Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), among several other important positions. He has published approximately 250 research papers in nanoscience, nanotechnology and various other fields. He has been honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri and several other distinguished awards.