Champaran’s Adarsh Kumar Wins $100K Chegg.org Global Student Prize

Adarsh Kumar, an 18-year-old from Champaran, Bihar, has won the $100,000 Cheggorg Global Student Prize 2025, standing out among nearly 11,000 applicants from 148 countries. This prestigious award highlights his exceptional contributions to community transformation and global impact.

Raised in poverty by a single mother who invested in a laptop for him, Adarsh taught himself coding and entrepreneurial skills using online resources like YouTube and Google, showcasing his resilience and self-motivation

At 14, Adarsh traveled to Kota with only ₹1,000, intending to prepare for the IIT-JEE Despite financial challenges, he leveraged free library Wi-Fi and internships to advance his education and entrepreneurial pursuits.

His initiative, Mission Badlao, has significantly impacted over 1,300 families by facilitating access to government schemes, including healthcare and education, while his platform Skillzo has empowered more than 20,000 students with essential skills and mentorship

Adarsh currently holds a full scholarship at Jayshree Periwal International School in Jaipur, where he also leads the scholarship program, and is involved in various influential roles, including advising Google and mentoring young changemakers

Global leaders, including Nathan Schultz of Chegg, Inc and Sunny Varkey of the Varkey Foundation, have praised Adarsh for his passion-driven achievements and his role in using education to address global challenges like inequality and climate change.

The recognition of Adarsh’s achievements puts India, especially Bihar, on the global education map, highlighting the region's potential despite its educational challenges

The Global Student Prize, established in 2021, celebrates young leaders who drive community transformation Last year’s winner was Mexico’s Ángela Elena Olazarán Laureano, who developed an AI medical assistant for underserved areas.

Adarsh’s journey exemplifies how innovation and perseverance can break barriers, demonstrating the power of education and entrepreneurship in transforming lives and communities

This recognition not only honors Adarsh's personal achievements but also symbolizes India's growing influence in global education and youth leadership, with Bihar and Rajasthan gaining international attention for educational innovation