Ramon Magsasay Award

News– The ‘Foundation to Educate Girls Globally’, an Indian non-profit focused on promoting girls’ education, has been selected as a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient.

About Ramon Magsasay Award

• It was established in 1957 to honour the legacy of Ramon Magsaysay, the seventh President of the Philippines, remembered for his integrity and leadership.
• First presented in 1958, it is widely regarded as Asia’s highest honour and is often called the “Asian Nobel Prize.”
• The award is conferred every year on August 31, Magsaysay’s birth anniversary, in Manila, Philippines.
• Each awardee is honoured with a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize.

Objectives

• To celebrate greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia.
• To honour individuals and organisations for selfless service and contributions to the public good, irrespective of race, creed, gender, or nationality.

Award Categories

• 1958–2008: Given in six categories –
  • Government Service
  • Public Service
  • Community Leadership
  • Journalism, Literature & Creative Communication Arts
  • Peace & International Understanding
  • Emergent Leadership (introduced in 2000 with Ford Foundation support)
• Since 2009: Fixed categories discontinued, except Emergent Leadership. Selections are now based on overall merit of leadership and service.

Significance for India

• Several Indians have been awardees, including Verghese Kurien, M.S. Subbulakshmi, Kiran Bedi, Aruna Roy, and Bezwada Wilson.
• In 2025, Educate Girls became the first Indian organisation to win the award, marking a milestone in India’s contribution to social transformation.