In a story that reads like a modern-day fable of grit and genius, 21-year-old Adarsh Kumar from Champaran, Bihar, has been named the winner of the 2025 Global Student Prize, widely regarded as the “Student Nobel.”
Adarsh’s remarkable journey began at age 14, when he left his home with just ₹1,000 and a second-hand laptop, determined to create opportunities where none existed. Growing up in a village where power cuts were routine and Wi-Fi connections were rare, Adarsh taught himself coding through offline resources and free digital libraries.
Over the years, he founded “RuralTech Innovators”, a youth-led initiative that uses low-cost technology to improve education and digital literacy in underserved rural communities. His organization has since reached over 50,000 students across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, providing access to e-learning tools, solar-powered study labs, and AI-assisted tutoring in local languages.
“I may have come from a place where even electricity was a luxury, but dreams don’t need power—they need persistence. My village gave me challenges; I turned them into fuel.”
The Global Student Prize, presented annually by the Varkey Foundation in partnership with Chegg.org, recognizes exceptional students making a real impact on society through innovation, leadership, and resilience.
Adarsh’s achievement has not only brought pride to India but also inspired countless young people to believe that no dream is too big when powered by purpose.
