NEW DELHI, September 5: President Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Teachers’ Awards 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi today, as India celebrates Teachers’ Day on the birth anniversary of former President and renowned educationist Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
A total of 69 educators have been selected for national recognition this year, including 48 school teachers and 21 teachers and faculty members from higher education institutions and polytechnics.
48 School Teachers to Receive National Awards
The Department of School Education and Literacy has selected 48 school teachers from across the country for the National Teachers’ Awards 2026.
The awards recognise teachers who have made exceptional contributions to improving the quality of school education and positively influencing the lives of their students.
Short documentaries highlighting the work and achievements of individual awardees are also scheduled to be shown during the ceremony.
21 Higher Education and Polytechnic Faculty Honoured
President Murmu will additionally confer awards on 21 teachers and faculty members from higher education institutions and polytechnics.
The group includes 12 faculty members from central higher education institutions, five from state universities and colleges, and four from polytechnics.
The awards recognise contributions in areas including teaching and learning, research, innovation, student mentoring and academic outreach.
Rigorous Selection Process
The National Teachers’ Awards are selected through a structured and transparent process involving online nominations and evaluation by expert committees.
For higher education awards, nominations were invited through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal, with provisions for self-nomination, institutional nomination and peer nomination.
School teachers were similarly evaluated through district, state and national-level selection mechanisms.
Teachers’ Day Celebrated Across India
The ceremony coincides with Teachers’ Day, celebrated annually on September 5 to mark the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s second President and one of the country’s most respected scholars and teachers.
Schools, colleges and universities across India are holding programmes today to recognise the contribution of teachers to education and nation-building.
President Highlights Role of Teachers
Ahead of Teachers’ Day, President Murmu extended greetings to teachers across the country and highlighted their role in nurturing talent, strengthening character and encouraging students to achieve excellence.
She also stressed the importance of teachers continuously updating their knowledge, embracing technology and adopting innovative teaching methods.
National Recognition for Excellence in Education
The National Teachers’ Awards aim to recognise educators who go beyond conventional classroom teaching and introduce innovative methods, support students and contribute to the broader improvement of India’s education system.
The September 5 ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan remains one of the country’s most prominent annual events dedicated to recognising excellence in teaching.
source – Ministry of Education / Press Information Bureau (PIB)
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