National Teachers’ Awards 2026, 48 Teachers, List, Importance

National Teachers’ Awards 2026 will be conferred by President Droupadi Murmu on 5 September 2026 (Teachers’ Day) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. This year, 48 outstanding school teachers from across India have been selected for their exceptional contribution to education, innovation in teaching, and positive impact on students’ lives. The awards are presented annually by the Ministry of Education to recognise teachers who have significantly improved the quality of school education.

National Teachers’ Awards 2026

The key highlights related to the National Teachers’ Awards 2026 have been tabulated below.

List of 48 Teachers Selected for National Teachers’ Awards 2026

The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education has selected 48 school teachers for the National Teachers’ Awards 2026. The awardees represent States, Union Territories and Central Government organisations across India.

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What is the National Teachers’ Award?

The National Teachers’ Award is one of India’s most prestigious honours for school teachers. It recognises teachers who have shown innovation, dedication, leadership, and excellence in improving the learning experience of students.

The award was instituted in 1958 and is presented every year on Teachers’ Day (5 September) to celebrate the contribution of teachers towards nation-building. The awards are administered by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.

About National Teachers’ Awards 2026

The National Teachers’ Awards 2026 will recognise 48 outstanding school teachers from across India, with President Droupadi Murmu scheduled to confer the awards at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 5 September 2026, during the national Teachers’ Day celebrations.

• 48 school teachers have been selected through a three-stage selection process at the District, State/Organisation and National levels.
• The awardees represent 27 States, 7 Union Territories and 6 Central Government organisations, reflecting the geographical and institutional diversity of India’s school education system.
• Of the 48 awardees, 26 are male and 22 are female teachers.
• The awards recognise teachers for their outstanding contribution to school education, innovative teaching practices and efforts that enrich students’ learning and overall development.
• The selection process included online self-nominations, followed by evaluation at different levels and assessment by an Independent National Jury.
• Short documentaries highlighting the exemplary work of each awardee will also be showcased during the award ceremony.
• The 2026 awardees include teachers from government schools, PM SHRI schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, Sainik Schools and other recognised institutions.
• Sushma Tamang, a Post Graduate Teacher of Chemistry at PM SHRI Government Senior Secondary School, Dikling, Sikkim, has been selected for the National Teachers’ Award 2026. Her selection has been recognised as an achievement for Sikkim’s education sector.
• The National Teachers’ Awards 2026 ceremony will be broadcast live on Doordarshan and the Ministry of Education’s SWAYAM PRABHA channels, besides being streamed through the Ministry’s digital platforms.

Selection Process for National Teachers’ Awards 2026

The National Teachers’ Awards 2026 selection process follows a structured, merit-based system involving District/Regional, State/Organisation and National-level evaluation, with the final names selected by an Independent National Jury.

• Online Self-Nomination: Teachers submit their applications and supporting portfolios through the official National Teachers’ Awards portal.
• District/Regional Level: The District/Regional Selection Committee scrutinises applications, verifies the submitted information and shortlists eligible teachers.
• State/Organisation Level: The State Selection Committee or Organisation Selection Committee reviews the shortlisted candidates and forwards the best nominations to the national level.
• Independent National Jury: The shortlisted candidates are assessed by an Independent National Jury, including through Virtual Conference (VC) interaction.
• Performance-Based Assessment: Teachers are evaluated on parameters such as innovative teaching practices, improvement in learning outcomes, use of teaching-learning materials, experiential learning, co-curricular activities and community participation.
• Final Selection: The Independent National Jury finalises the names of the awardees, followed by approval by the Union Education Minister.

Why Are the National Teachers’ Awards Important?

National Teachers’ Awards recognise and celebrate teachers who make an exceptional contribution to school education, student development and innovative teaching, while motivating educators across India to adopt better teaching practices.

• Recognises teaching excellence: Honours teachers who demonstrate exceptional dedication, commitment and academic leadership.
• Promotes innovative teaching: Encourages the use of creative, experiential and technology-enabled teaching methods in classrooms.
• Improves learning outcomes: Highlights teachers who have made a measurable difference in students’ academic performance and overall development.
• Encourages inclusive education: Recognises efforts to create inclusive and equitable learning environments for students from diverse backgrounds.
• Motivates teachers: National recognition boosts teacher morale and encourages educators to continuously improve their practices.
• Shares best practices: The innovative approaches of award-winning teachers can inspire and be adopted by other schools and educators.
• Supports education reforms: The awards complement the objectives of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, particularly its focus on holistic, learner-centric and quality education.