New Delhi, August 24: On September 5, President Draupadi Murmu will honor 21 educators and faculty members for their exceptional contributions to higher and technical education in India. This recognition will take place in New Delhi on Teacher’s Day.
The Ministry of Education has highlighted that this year’s awards will include teachers from IITs, IISERs, universities, medical institutions, and polytechnic colleges. This initiative aims to acknowledge educators who not only teach but also engage in research, innovation, and making education accessible to society.
Among the selected 21 educators, 12 are from central higher education institutions, 5 from state universities, and 4 from polytechnic institutes. Notable recipients from central institutions include Professor Avlokita Agarwal from IIT Roorkee, Professor Kirti Chandra Sahu from IIT Hyderabad, Professor Vinay Chamola from BITS Pilani, Dr. Shreekanth Gollapudi from IIT Bhubaneswar, Dr. Mithun Radhakrishna from IIT Gandhinagar, and Professor Sourav Dutta from IISER Bhopal.
Additionally, Professor Vikram Vishal from IIT Bombay, Professor Sarvaiya Jayarajsingh Indrajeet Singh from the National Forensic Sciences University in Gandhinagar, Professor K. Shankar Prasad Rath from IIT Kanpur, Dr. Manisha Nigam from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, and Dr. Amar Mohanrao Takasande from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Wardha are among the honored educators.
In the state universities category, three teachers from government institutions and two from private institutions have been recognized. Four educators from polytechnic institutes, including two from government and two from private polytechnics, will also receive awards.
Nominations for the National Teacher Awards 2026 were invited online through the national awards portal from May 26 to July 20, 2026. This year, the nomination process included self-nominations, institutional nominations, and nominations by colleagues, promoting public participation. The evaluation criteria went beyond mere teaching excellence, assessing teachers on multiple levels, including teaching effectiveness, community outreach, research and innovation, sponsored research, faculty development programs, and contributions to teaching and mentoring.
According to the Ministry of Education, the selection process occurred in two stages. Initially, a preliminary search and screening committee reviewed nominations and created a shortlist of eligible candidates. Subsequently, a jury committee selected the final award winners. The inclusion of higher education and polytechnic teachers in the National Teacher Awards was decided in 2023, expanding the awards, which previously focused mainly on school teachers. This change aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, aiming to foster a culture of excellence in education.
The government believes that recognizing outstanding teachers with awards and honors encourages better performance in the education sector. Notably, this year’s list features educators from diverse fields, including engineering, medicine, science, Sanskrit, Manipuri dance, mass communication, and yoga. Thus, the National Teacher Awards are not only honoring those who teach in higher education but also acknowledging significant contributions in research and subject expertise on a national platform.
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