In a momentous recognition of his lifelong dedication to education and the Indian diaspora, Mr Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-founder of Global Schools Foundation (GSF), has been conferred with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) 2025 by President of India, in a glittering ceremony at the capital of India’s eastern state of Odisha.

Mr Temurnikar is only the 5th person from Singapore to receive the prestigious PBSA, which has been given by the Government of India since 2003. The award honours individuals and organisations for their extraordinary contributions to the global Indian community and various fields such as education, business, arts and culture. 

“I am honoured and humbled by this award at the hands of the honourable president Droupadi Murmu,” said Mr Temurnikar. “This recognition has given me renewed encouragement to do more for the diaspora and bring the rich cultural heritage and knowledge of India to the world.”

The PBSA is the highest honours bestowed upon overseas Indians and Indian-origin individuals and organisations, highlighting their exceptional achievements for the betterment of the diaspora and better understanding of India globally. Mr. Temurnikar’s recognition comes as a result of his pioneering efforts in revolutionising the educational landscape in Southeast and East Asia, particularly through his work in bringing CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) affiliated schools to countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. 

In addition to his role as an influential educator, Mr. Temurnikar has worked relentlessly to strengthen the ties between India and its diaspora through cultural and community connect, making this award a fitting tribute to his far-reaching impact.

Mr Temurnikar is a leading figure in global education who pioneered the start of CBSE schools outside India for the Indian expat. Since then, the vision of providing education excellence has expanded to cultural and community connect with the diaspora. His Global Schools Foundation (GSF), born in 2002, now has 12 international schools with 64 campuses in 11 countries. More than 45,000 students study at these institutions. 

Mr Temurnikar has also played a vital role in strengthening the cultural and emotional bond between the Indian diaspora and their home country through GSF’s cultural arm - Global Indian Foundation. By promoting Indian culture and values through educational programmes and extracurricular activities, GIF’s efforts have helped forge lasting connections between India and its citizens living abroad.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is a prestigious honour given to non-resident Indians (NRIs) and organisations that have demonstrated exceptional contributions to their fields of expertise. Instituted by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the PBSA is presented annually during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention, which serves as a platform for the Indian diaspora to come together and discuss issues of mutual interest and relevance.

Mr Temurnikar was among 27 notable winners who received the award at the 18th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention scheduled to be held from 8–10 January 2025 at Bhubaneswar, Odisha. A Jury-cum-Awards Committee, with India’s Vice-President as the Chairman and India’s External Affairs Minister as the Vice-Chair and other distinguished members from various walks of life, considered the nominations for the Awards in 2025. 

Previous recipients are Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin or an organization/institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin in recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad. 

ABOUT GLOBAL SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

Founded in 2002, Global Schools Foundation is a Singapore-headquartered, community-oriented education institution whose mission is to cultivate and nurture young minds into global leaders of the future. In the last two decades, the Foundation has imparted academic and cultural education on more than 100,000 students across 70 countries. Its cultural arm Global Indian Foundation is in the forefront in running programmes and events that showcase the richness of Indian heritage in their country of domicile.  It also encourages cross-cultural connection between students of different communities and nationalities through various platforms. Its investment arm Global Schools Group runs 12 international schools in 11 countries including Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, UK and UAE.