National Education Day 2023

About National Education Day

• It is celebrated on November 11 every year to mark the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first education minister. 
• This day is observed to honour the remarkable contributions of Maulana Azad in the field of education and institution building in the country.
• The Ministry of Human Resource Development (now the Ministry of Education) announced on September 11, 2008, about observing November 11 as National Education Day.
• Since 2008, National Education Day has been celebrated.
• Significance:
  • The purpose of celebrating National Education Day is to enlighten individuals about the importance of education and its positive impact on the nation’s development and well-being.
  • It highlights the importance of the learning spirit.
• National Education Day 2023 Theme: Embracing Innovation
• Key Facts about Maulana Abul Kalam Azad:
  • Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, born on November 11, 1888, was a scholar, educationist, freedom fighter, and senior leader of the Indian National Congress (INC).
  • He became the youngest person to serve as President of INC in 1923, at the age of 35.
  • He was one of the leading supporters of the non-violent civil disobedience movement that was led by Mahatma Gandhi.
  • He was the first Education Minister of independent India. He served in the position from 1947 to 1958. 
  • He is highly esteemed for his dedicated efforts to improve and make education more accessible.
  • He was instrumental in the establishment of premier educational institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the University Grants Commission (UGC).
  • He was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, in 1922.

Q1) What is the University Grants Commission (UGC)?

The University Grants Commission (UGC) was established by an Act of Parliament in 1956 to coordinate, determine, and maintain standards of teaching, examination, and research in university education. 

Source: National Education Day 2023: Know why it is celebrated on November 11