48 teachers to receive National Teachers Awards on Teachers’ Day

The government on Friday announced the National Teachers Awards 2026 for 48 school teachers from across the country, recognising their contribution towards improving the quality of education and enriching the lives of students.

The teachers have been selected from 27 States, seven Union Territories and six organisations under the Central government. Of the 48 awardees, 26 are men and 22 are women. The list includes educators working in State and Union Territory schools as well as institutions under the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Sainik schools, Eklavya Model Residential Schools and PM SHRI schools.

Teachers across India honoured

Among those selected for the national honour are J Prakash Rao from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Rajesh Kouluri from Andhra Pradesh, Yaku Tame from Arunachal Pradesh, Rajesh Bordoloi from Assam and Suman Goel from Delhi. Zafar Alam, who teaches at an Eklavya Model Residential School under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has also been chosen for the award.

Other recipients include Mahadev Hanamant Shinde from Goa, Nitin Kumar Mahendrakumar Pathak from Gujarat, Anil Kaushik from Haryana, Manjari V Mahajan from Himachal Pradesh, Mohammad Ayaz Raina from Jammu and Kashmir and Archana Shukla from Madhya Pradesh.

Teachers from Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Ladakh are also among this year’s recipients, giving the awards a wide geographical representation.

The Department of School Education and Literacy said the awards are intended to recognise teachers whose commitment and work have contributed not only to improving school education but also to making a meaningful difference in the lives of their students.

Three-stage selection process

The 48 teachers were chosen through a three-stage selection process conducted at the district, State and national levels by the Department of School Education and Literacy. The process is designed to identify educators whose work demonstrates significant contribution to teaching and the wider school community.

The National Teachers Awards are presented annually as part of the Teachers’ Day celebrations. They recognise educators for innovative teaching practices, dedication to students and their contribution towards strengthening school education.

President Droupadi Murmu will confer the awards on September 5, celebrated across India as Teachers’ Day to mark the birth anniversary of former President and educationist Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

Short documentaries highlighting the work and achievements of each of the 48 recipients will also be screened during the award ceremony. The films will showcase their contribution in classrooms and schools, offering a glimpse into the initiatives and practices that led to their selection for the national honour.