High School Student Wins National Humanitarian Award as Only Under 18 Awardee For Contribution to Maharashtra Government

A Mumbai-based high school student, Suhanee Soni, has been recognised by the ICan Foundation National Humanitarian Award 2026 for her contribution to policymaking in the Maharashtra government, highlighting the growing role of young people in public policy. Soni became the first and only high school student in the body’s history to contribute directly to its policymaking process, working closely with Dr. Pramod A. Naik, Director of the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) under the Government of Maharashtra, to examine the implementation of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 across the state’s polytechnic institutes.

Examining NEP 2020 Implementation Across Maharashtra’s Polytechnic Institutes

The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education is a government board established under the Maharashtra Act XXXVIII of 1997. It is responsible for designing diploma-level technical curricula, affiliating eligible institutions, monitoring academic standards, conducting examinations and revising programmes to reflect evolving technological and industry requirements.

Working alongside Dr. Naik, Soni examined whether polytechnic institutes had incorporated the recommendations of NEP 2020 into their academic frameworks. The policy calls for a more multidisciplinary approach to education, encouraging institutions to move beyond rigid disciplinary boundaries and equip students with a broader range of intellectual and practical skills. Her work involved understanding the relationship between the policy’s recommendations and their implementation within technical education. Rather than approaching the NEP solely as a national policy document, Soni explored how its principles could inform curriculum development and improve the educational experience of students enrolled in STEM-oriented diploma programmes.

From Policy Analysis to a Recommendation Accepted by the Government Body

A key aspect of Soni’s contribution was helping formulate recommendations to strengthen the implementation of NEP 2020 in technical education. One recommendation she helped ideate was the introduction of elective courses in the humanities for STEM students. The proposal sought to broaden technical education beyond narrowly specialised training by giving students opportunities to engage with disciplines outside their principal fields of study.

Importantly, the recommendation was endorsed and commended by the government body, especially Dr. Naik, marking a tangible outcome of Soni’s engagement with the policymaking process. Rather than remaining an academic exercise, her work contributed to a proposal that received institutional acceptance. As a consequence, Soni was nominated and selected as the only under 18 winner of the National Humanitarian Excellence Award 2026, as one of 5 nominees from Maharashtra, the ceremony for which was held in the 15th of August, 2026,

Through her engagement with the Government of Maharashtra’s many institutions, she has explored how evidence-based policymaking can address societal challenges and improve public welfare. Her recognition underscores the importance of youth participation in shaping policies that respond to the needs of communities across Maharashtra.

What does the future hold?

Soni has been invited by more government bodies to be able to champion youth-led reform and policy recommendations. She is excited to continue contributing to the field and making strides.