India’s name has been highlighted on the stage of the World Governments Summit 2026 going on in Dubai. Mumbai-based teacher Rouble Nagi has been awarded the prestigious Global Teacher Prize 2026. The award was presented to him by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. With this win, he got an amount of 1 million dollars, which is more than 8 crores in Indian rupees. This award is given by Varkey Foundation every year to an exceptional teacher.
How did Rouble Nagi bring about change in the slums?
Rouble Nagi did not limit education only to books but found a new way of teaching children through art. He painted the walls of Mumbai slums and made them ‘Living Walls of Learning’. This teacher of Jammu and Kashmir origin has been working in the field of education for the last many years. Some of the key figures in his work are given below:
He has opened more than 800 learning centers in more than 100 villages and hamlets across India. More than 10 lakh children and women have benefited from his efforts. More than 1 lakh 55 thousand houses have been painted under the ‘Misaal Mumbai’ campaign. Awareness about cleanliness and education has reduced the school dropout rate by more than 50%.
What will be the use of the prize money?
After winning the award, Rouble Nagi has said that she will use this money only for the welfare of the society. His plan is to create an institute where free vocational training will be given to the needy. She wants children to acquire digital literacy so that they can get employment in future. More than 5,000 nominations were received for this year’s award from 139 countries around the world, out of which an Indian teacher has won.