National Education Day 2025: Honouring Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s Vision

India marks November 11 each year as “National Education Day” to celebrate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the nation’s first Minister of Education and one of the architects of modern Indian learning. The day recognises his lifelong contribution to nation-building through education and his belief that knowledge must be universally accessible.

Legacy of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Born in 1888, Maulana Azad served as India’s first Education Minister from 1947 to 1958. A prominent freedom fighter, scholar, and visionary, he laid the groundwork for India’s educational infrastructure after independence. He firmly believed that education should promote critical thinking, confidence and civic responsibility rather than just academic success. His vision shaped India’s cultural and intellectual foundation in the early decades of independence.

Institutional Foundations and National Recognition

Under Maulana Azad’s guidance, several premier educational and research institutions were established, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), University Grants Commission (UGC), and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). To honour his invaluable service, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Education Ministry) declared November 11 as National Education Day in 2008. The day is observed nationwide through seminars, essay contests, and educational events highlighting the power of learning.

Promoting Awareness and Social Responsibility

This year, various institutions and organisations, including the Punjab Police, conducted awareness drives to mark the occasion. Through school outreach programmes, they emphasised traffic safety, discipline and civic education, underlining that education extends beyond classrooms to foster responsible citizenship and community welfare.

Exam Oriented Facts

• National Education Day is celebrated on November 11, marking Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s birth anniversary.
• He served as India’s first Minister of Education from 1947 to 1958.
• The observance was officially instituted in 2008 by the Ministry of HRD.
• Azad was instrumental in establishing IITs, UGC, and CSIR in post-independence India.

Continuing His Educational Vision

Educational institutions across the country celebrated the day with workshops, lectures and poster-making competitions. The events echoed Maulana Azad’s enduring message — that education must be inclusive, accessible and transformative, empowering citizens to build a progressive, equitable and enlightened India.