Uttar Pradesh Launches Awards For Public Education Excellence

The Seekho Sikhao Foundation, a non-profit education initiative, has launched the inaugural Seekho Sikhao Awards 2026 to celebrate individuals and institutions driving change in Uttar Pradesh's public education system.

The awards will cover all 75 districts of the state and will recognise excellence across five categories: the Shikshak Award, Vidyalaya Award, Gram Panchayat Award, BRC Award, and the Balika Shiksha Award.

These categories highlight achievements in teaching, school governance, community participation, and block-level resource coordination, with the Balika Shiksha Award focusing on a teacher who embodies the vision of an educated and empowered girl child.

One of the key outcomes of the initiative will be the development of a State Playbook, which will document effective and scalable practices emerging from across the public education system.

The playbook is expected to serve as a reference for policymakers and educators seeking to replicate successful models in other regions.

Applications for the awards will open on August 21 and remain available until September 20, with nominations assessed across four regions: Western Uttar Pradesh, Central Uttar Pradesh, Bundelkhand, and Purvanchal.

From each region, one winner and one runner-up will be selected per category, with the statewide Balika Shiksha Award honouring a total of 17 winners and 16 runners-up from across the state.

The winners will be announced on November 26, which is observed as Samvidhan Divas or Constitution Day, at a ceremony in Lucknow.

Anupama Dalmia, Founder of the Seekho Sikhao Foundation, said that the organisation was founded on the belief that lasting change in education cannot come from a single institution alone, and that real progress happens when teachers, families, communities, and government systems work together.

Ashok Gupta, CEO of the Dalmia Bharat Foundation, noted that the foundation's commitment to education is rooted in supporting initiatives that create lasting impact at the community level, and expressed the foundation's support for an initiative that celebrates these efforts and encourages wider learning from them.

The Seekho Sikhao Foundation was established in July 2019 with the goal of partnering with the government to improve education outcomes.

The launch of the Seekho Sikhao Awards 2026 is a significant step towards recognising and promoting excellence in public education in Uttar Pradesh, and is expected to have a positive impact on the state's education system.

The awards will not only honour individuals and institutions but also provide a platform for sharing best practices and promoting collaboration among stakeholders in the education sector.

This initiative is a testament to the commitment of the Seekho Sikhao Foundation and the Dalmia Bharat Foundation to improving education outcomes in Uttar Pradesh, and is a significant step towards creating a more equitable and effective public education system in the state.

The Seekho Sikhao Awards 2026 will be an annual event, and will continue to recognise and promote excellence in public education in Uttar Pradesh in the years to come.

The impact of the awards will be closely monitored, and the feedback from the winners and runners-up will be used to improve the education system in the state.

In conclusion, the launch of the Seekho Sikhao Awards 2026 is a significant development in the field of public education in Uttar Pradesh, and is expected to have a positive impact on the state's education system.

The awards will not only honour individuals and institutions but also provide a platform for sharing best practices and promoting collaboration among stakeholders in the education sector, and will continue to recognise and promote excellence in public education in Uttar Pradesh in the years to come.