Global Student Prize 2025 awarded to young Indian innovator

The Chegg.org Global Student Prize, in partnership with the Varkey Foundation, in its fifth year awarded $100,000 to one exceptional student, currently studying at Jayshree Periwal International School.

At just 13, Kumar launched the non-profit Mission Badlao with his sister-in-law, which saw them work together to make positive changes in their community – securing land for a new government school, facilitating 2,000+ Covid vaccinations, distributing menstrual health products, and planting 3,000 trees.

At 14, he left home with only 1,000 Rupees (USD $10) and travelled hundreds of miles to Kota, in pursuit of coaching for the Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination. 

Unable to afford coaching, Kumar turned libraries into classrooms, using free Wi-Fi to cold-email mentors, land internships, and shadow founders. These experiences shaped Skillzo, a platform he launched in 2023 to equip underserved high schoolers with mentorship, entrepreneurship training, and real-world opportunities.

In two years, Skillzo has empowered 20,000+ students, many earning scholarships, launching ventures, and winning national awards. Internationally, Kumar was named the youngest Google Youth Advisor, joining 52 global leaders shaping technology policy.

Selected from nearly 11,000 nominations across 148 countries, Kumar received the 2025 Global Student Prize at a prestigious event near London, where leading figures in education gathered for an evening of celebration.

I’m truly honoured, I’m truly grateful to be here, it’s a moment of pride, it’s a dream moment for me
_{^{Adarsh Kumar}}

“I’m truly honoured, I’m truly grateful to be here, it’s a moment of pride, it’s a dream moment for me,” Kumar said while accepting the award.

Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey Foundation, said that Kumar’s journey is “a powerful reminder that education is the greatest gift we can give”.

“Through your determination and vision, you have shown how education can turn even the greatest challenges into a pathway to a brighter future. Most importantly, you have taken what you have learned and used it to make a lasting impact on the lives of many other young people,” Varkey congratulated the young changemaker.

The award sets out to platform extraordinary students who are reshaping communities and the world through innovation, leadership, and service. The prize is open to all students who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in an academic institution or training and skills program. Part-time students as well as students enrolled in online courses are also eligible for the prize. 

The Global Student Prize 2025 is a sister award to the Varkey Foundation’s USD $1 million Global Teacher Prize and newly launched $1 million Global Schools Prize.

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