Overview
On October 10, 2026, the Association of Indian Principals (AIP), in partnership with Macmillan Education India, organized the Leader of the Year Awards 2026 in New Delhi. The ceremony celebrated school principals, directors and institutional leaders who have demonstrated excellence in academic leadership, innovation, inclusivity, community engagement and implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Key Participants
The event was hosted by Mr Dalip Sharma, Executive Chairman of AIP, and featured Shri Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, as the chief guest. Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the pivotal role of school leadership in achieving NEP 2020 objectives such as learner‑centric, inclusive and future‑ready education.
Mr Rajesh Pasari, Managing Director of Macmillan Education India, and Mr Kashish Jhamb, CEO of City Innovates, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the partnership’s commitment to advancing learning outcomes through strong leadership.
Scope and Representation
AIP represents more than 6,000 school and higher‑education leaders across India. Nominations for the awards were received from educational institutions nationwide, reflecting growing recognition of visionary leadership in the sector.
Award Highlights
The awards honoured exemplary leaders for achievements in:
- Technology integration and digital learning solutions;
- Teacher development and empowerment initiatives;
- Inclusivity and equitable access to quality education;
- Sustainability practices and community engagement.
Thought‑Leadership Discussions
Panel discussions explored the human side of school leadership, the evolving role of educators, and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, competency‑based learning and other emerging technologies in reshaping India’s education system.
Closing Remarks
The ceremony reaffirmed the collective commitment of AIP, Macmillan Education India and the broader education community to nurture leadership excellence, build a stronger, more equitable and future‑ready education system for India.
About the Organisations
- Association of Indian Principals (AIP): A national network of over 6,000 school and higher‑education leaders focused on leadership development, educational excellence and international collaboration.
- Macmillan Education India: A leading education company providing high‑quality content, innovative teaching solutions, professional development programmes and digital learning platforms to schools and policymakers across India.
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