Siddharth Rajgarhia Honoured with ‘Rising Star in Education Leadership’ Award at ET Education Excellence Awards 2026
Delhi, June 12, 2026: Siddharth Rajgarhia, Chief Learner & Director Delhi Public School Varanasi, Nashik, Lava Nagpur and Hinjawadi, Pune has been conferred the ‘Rising Star in Education Leadership’ award at the Education Excellence Awards 2026, organised by The Economic Times. The recognition celebrates leaders who are shaping the future of education in India through vision, innovation, and impact.
Speaking on the recognition, Siddharth Rajgarhia, Chief Learner and Director of Delhi Public School (DPS) Varanasi, Lava Nagpur and Hinjawadi, Pune said, “This award means a great deal to me, but it truly belongs to the entire DPS family, our teachers, students, and parents, who have been part of this journey. Education is a shared responsibility, and I see this as an encouragement to keep pushing for better learning experiences and a more rounded education for every child.”
Siddharth Rajgarhia took on the role of Chief Learner and Director at DPS Nashik in 2012 and has since expanded his leadership to DPS Varanasi, Lava Nagpur and Hinjawadi, Pune, with a new branch in Kharadi, Pune East, set to open soon. Alongside this, he is Co-Founder of Equanimity Learning, an education platform he runs with Gautam Rajgarhia. An engineering graduate from RV College, Bangalore, he holds a Master’s in Business and Management from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and has completed the Certificate in School Management and Leadership programme offered jointly by Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School.
Under his leadership, DPS Varanasi, Nashik, and Lava Nagpur have been recognised among the top co-educational schools in their regions, with the network now expanding to DPS Hinjawadi, Pune and the upcoming DPS Kharadi, Pune East. He has also been honoured as one of the Most Impactful Edu Leaders by the Indian Principals’ Network (IPN Foundation) and named Eduleader India 2022-23 by Brainfeed Magazine.
Siddharth Rajgarhia has worked extensively on building awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals among students, connecting young learners across more than 10 countries for collaborative initiatives. His approach to education focuses on academic excellence alongside character building, preparing students to become responsible global citizens while staying rooted in Indian culture and values.
Siddharth Rajgarhia, Chief Learner and Director of Delhi Public School (DPS) Varanasi, Nashik, Lava Nagpur, Hinjawadi Pune, and the upcoming Pune East campus, leads multiple institutions with a strong learner-centric vision. A passionate advocate for innovation in education, he has fostered progressive environments where students, educators, and communities thrive together. His leadership philosophy is guided by the belief that steady, small improvements add up over time captured in Equanimity Learning’s principle of “1% better everyday” emphasising continuous growth, holistic development, academic excellence, and preparing young minds for an ever-evolving world. Through collaborative leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement, Siddharth has helped shape modern schooling practices across some of India’s fastest-growing regions. His work reflects the growing importance of visionary educational leadership in nurturing future-ready learners and contributing to India’s long-term growth and development.
Through Equanimity Learning, Siddharth and Co-Founder Gautam Rajgarhia work with schools on AI integration, leadership development and personalised training for educators, built around a philosophy of small, consistent daily improvement-“1% better everyday.” The platform’s recent initiatives include EquaL, a structured school audit and rating framework that helps institutions assess and strengthen their systems across governance, teaching-learning design and student wellbeing.
Looking ahead, Siddharth believes artificial intelligence will play a defining role in the next phase of school education, helping move classrooms from a one-size-fits-all approach toward more personalised, data-informed learning for every student. He sees AI as a tool that supports teachers rather than replaces them, freeing them to spend more time on mentorship, creativity and character building, areas that depend on human connection. This thinking runs through both his work at DPS and Equanimity Learning, where stronger systems and new technology go hand in hand with preparing students to become thoughtful, capable global citizens.
The Education Excellence Awards by The Economic Times recognise and celebrate pioneering institutions, inspired educators, and breakthrough innovators driving meaningful, lasting change across India’s education landscape, serving as a benchmark for excellence and a platform to highlight best practices from across the country.
The ‘Rising Star in Education Leadership’ award adds to a growing list of accolades that reflect his contribution to shaping progressive, future-ready education in India.
About DPS Varanasi, Nashik, Lava Nagpur, DPS Hinjawadi and DPS Kharadi Pune East
Delhi Public School (DPS) Varanasi, Nashik, Lava Nagpur, DPS Hinjawadi and DPS Kharadi Pune East are part of the wider DPS network, known for their commitment to academic excellence, holistic development, and value-based education. Under the leadership of Siddharth Rajgarhia, these schools have built a strong reputation for nurturing well-rounded students through a curriculum that blends rigorous academics with co-curricular growth, exposure to global perspectives, and a deep connection to Indian art, culture, and heritage. With a new branch coming up in Hinjawadi, Pune, the schools continue to expand their footprint while staying true to their founding vision of shaping responsible, future-ready global citizens
About Equanimity Learning
Equanimity Learning is an education platform co-founded by Siddharth Rajgarhia and Gautam Rajgarhia, working with schools and educators on AI integration, leadership development and personalised training. Built around the idea that small, consistent daily improvements compound into lasting institutional growth, the platform’s offerings include EquaL, a school audit and rating framework, along with courses and workshops for teachers and school leaders across India and abroad.
Last Updated on: Monday, June 22, 2026 10:15 pm by Prachi Chadha | Published by: The Weekly News Team on Monday, June 22, 2026 10:15 pm | News Categories: News
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