Adarsh Kumar from Bihar Wins USD 100,000 Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2025
ANALYSIS
Introduction (Why in News)
Adarsh Kumar, an 18-year-old student-innovator from Champaran, Bihar, has been awarded the USD 100,000 Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2025 in London. Selected from nearly 11,000 nominations across 148 countries, this annual award recognises students who have made a significant impact on learning, society, and innovation. His story of rising from poverty to global recognition highlights the transformative power of education and mentorship.
Basic Profile
- Name: Adarsh Kumar
- Age: 18 years
- Origin: Champaran, Bihar, India
- Early Life: Raised by a single mother who worked as a home cleaner to fund his education.
- Education: First student to secure a full-ride scholarship to Jayshree Periwal International School, Jaipur, worth Rs 30 lakh.
- Key Life Events:
- Launched first venture in Grade 8, which failed.
- Second venture, Mission Badlao, assisted 1,300 families in accessing welfare schemes.
- Left home at 14 with Rs 1,000 to pursue IIT-JEE coaching in Kota.
- Used public resources and mentorship to launch Skillzo, a platform providing exposure, mentorship, and entrepreneurial skills to students.
Major Contributions / Achievements
- Founded Skillzo, which has impacted over 20,000 underserved students, enabling scholarships, ventures, and national competition wins.
- Launched initiatives like Mission Badlao, providing access to welfare programs: Ayushman Bharat cards, pensions, COVID-19 vaccinations, and school enrollments.
- Selected for the Global Student Prize 2025, reflecting exceptional creativity, social impact, and innovation.
- Plans to launch SkillzoX, an AI-powered mentorship platform for rural students, and Ignite Fellowship, a global accelerator for student changemakers.
Official Statements / Quotes
- Adarsh Kumar: “Winning the Global Student Prize has given me the confidence to work harder. Dream big and be the change you want to see.”
- Nathan Schultz, CEO of Chegg Inc.: “Adarsh’s story is a symbol of courage and grit of young changemakers whose voices deserve to be heard.”
- Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Varkey Foundation: “Education opens doors, creates opportunity, and transforms lives.”
Wider Impact / Significance
- Demonstrates how innovation and persistence can overcome socioeconomic barriers.
- Inspires students from underserved communities to pursue education and social entrepreneurship.
- Enhances India’s visibility in global student and innovation platforms.
- Reinforces the role of mentorship, digital literacy, and skill development in creating scalable social impact.
Way Forward
- Expansion of SkillzoX to increase accessibility of mentorship in rural areas.
- Scaling Ignite Fellowship to train global student changemakers.
- Encouraging replication of similar student-led initiatives across India to foster inclusive educational innovation.
NECESSARY STATIC PART
Institution / Award: Chegg.org Global Student Prize
- Established: 2021 (as sister award to Global Teacher and Global Schools Prizes)
- Purpose: Recognises students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, innovation, social impact, and global citizenship.
- Prize: USD 100,000 for the winner, with selection based on impact, creativity, community contribution, and overcoming challenges.
Other Initiatives:
- Skillzo – Platform providing mentorship, skill exposure, and guidance to underserved students.
- Mission Badlao – Initiative providing access to government welfare schemes to marginalized families.
Updated - 02 October 2025 ; 10:32 AM | News Source: Daily Excelsior