In a moment of immense national pride, Indian educator and social reformer Rouble Nagi has been awarded the prestigious $1 million GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize 2026. This marks a historic win for India, coming after a gap of six years since an Indian last received the honour.
The announcement was made at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, where global leaders and educationists gathered. The award was presented by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE.
The prize, an initiative of the Varkey Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO, recognises Nagi’s two-decade-long transformative work in education through art-led learning. Through her initiative Misaal India and the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation (RNAF), she has established over 800 learning centres across more than 100 slums and villages in India.
Her innovative approach transforms abandoned walls into large-scale interactive murals that teach literacy, numeracy, hygiene, environmental awareness, and life skills. This unique methodology has helped bring over one million children into formal education.
Expressing gratitude, Rouble Nagi thanked the leadership, the Varkey Foundation, UNESCO, and the jury. She stated the honour strengthens her resolve to continue working for quality education. The $1 million prize money will be used to establish a Skilling Institute offering free vocational and digital training, furthering her mission of empowering women and underserved communities.
Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Global Teacher Prize, hailed Nagi, saying, “She represents the very best of what teaching can be… Her work strengthens not only individual lives but entire communities.”
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, commented, “Teachers like Rouble remind us that education can change the course of a life.”
Drawing inspiration from social reformer Savitribai Phule, Nagi’s work is rooted in empowerment through education without discrimination. She dedicated the award to the children of India and to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India), reaffirming her belief that education-led empowerment is central to building a developed, inclusive, and self-reliant nation.
