Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy is the highest Award which is awarded to a university for its all-round good performance in Sports.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy was instituted for the first time in 1956-57 by the Ministry of Education and it is awarded every year by the President of India.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy was awarded for the first time to Bombay University in 1956-57 and the most recent is awarded to Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar in 2017-2018.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy is named after "Maulana Sayyid Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed bin Khairuddin Al-Hussaini Azad" who was an Indian Scholar, Islamic Theologian and a Freedom Fighter in India's independence struggle.
Maulana Sayyid Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed bin Khairuddin Al-Hussaini Azad was the first Education Minister of India and thus, in regard to his contribution to Indian Education System, National Education Day is celebrated on 11th November on his Birthday.