Akarsh Shroff, the founder of YuvaSpark, was conferred the National Youth Award on April 3, 2025, for his pioneering efforts in enhancing early childhood education in India, particularly through anganwadi digitisation and innovation in rural education infrastructure.
A National Recognition for Social Commitment
The National Youth Award, instituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is conferred annually to individuals under 30 years of age who have shown exemplary commitment to national development and social service. The award was presented to Akarsh by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya at a ceremony held at the Parliament House, New Delhi. The event recognised awardees from both the current and previous year, with a total of 22 young changemakers honoured.
Akarsh Shroff – The Young Visionary from Bengaluru
At just 17 years of age, Akarsh Shroff started YuvaSpark in 2018 as a high school student, aiming to reform the education system at the grassroots level. What began as a student-led initiative quickly evolved into a nationwide movement for educational equity and innovation.
Today, YuvaSpark has successfully digitised learning in over 600 anganwadi centres (government-run early childhood care centres) across rural India. These centres now use YuvaSpark’s custom-curated academic content in vernacular languages, enabling better teacher training and child engagement.
Transforming Lives Across India
YuvaSpark’s impact goes far beyond just education at anganwadis:
- The organisation has launched programmes aimed at enhancing infrastructure at orphanages and libraries in government schools.
- It also supports special schools by providing smart learning devices tailored to differently-abled children.
- With the help of over 700 volunteers from 35 institutions, YuvaSpark has directly impacted the lives of more than 3.46 lakh children in 10 Indian states.
The initiative has also been backed financially by major institutions including Amazon, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Indian Oil, MNGL, and SECI, raising a total of ₹2.5 crore in funding to date.
Academic Brilliance and a Bold Choice
Akarsh completed his graduation from BITS Pilani in 2022, one of India’s top educational institutions. In a move that showcased his unwavering commitment to social causes, he opted out of campus placements to focus full-time on his mission to improve education quality across India.
The National Youth Award: An Overview
The National Youth Award is one of the highest civilian honours given to youth in India for exceptional contributions in fields such as:
- Education
- Health
- Innovation
- Culture
- Human Rights
- Sports
- Tourism
- Community Service
It serves as a national acknowledgment of youth-led transformation, recognising those who choose the path of service and social change over personal gains.
Summary of Key Information: Akarsh Shroff – National Youth Award 2025
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in News | Conferred the National Youth Award on April 3, 2025 |
| Awarded By | Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya at Parliament House, New Delhi |
| Award Instituted By | Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India |
| Award Purpose | To honour individuals under 30 for national development & social service |
| Recipient Name | Akarsh Shroff |
| Hometown | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Founded Organisation | YuvaSpark, in 2018 as a 17-year-old high school student |
| Key Contribution | Digitisation of learning at 600+ anganwadi centres |
| Other Initiatives | Smart devices for special schools, orphanage infrastructure, libraries |
| Total Impact | 3.46 lakh children across 10 States, 700+ volunteers |
| Funding Raised | ₹2.5 crore from Amazon, BCG, Indian Oil, etc. |
| Education | Graduate from BITS Pilani (2022); opted out of placements |
| Keywords | National Youth Award, YuvaSpark, Akarsh Shroff, Anganwadi Digitisation, Youth Innovation in India |
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