The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu conferred National Awards on teachers from across the country at a function held in New Delhi today (September 5, 2024) on Teachers’ Day.

Addressing the gathering, the President said that teachers have to prepare such citizens who are not only educated but also sensitive, honest and enterprising. She stated that moving ahead in life is success, but the meaning of life lies in working for the welfare of others. We should have compassion. Our conduct should be ethical. A successful life lies in the meaningful life. Teaching these values to the students is the duty of teachers.

The President said that teachers play the most important role in success of any education system. Teaching is not just a job. It is a sacred mission of human development.  If a child is not able to perform well, then the education system and teachers have a bigger responsibility.  She pointed out that often teachers pay special attention only to those students who perform well in exams. However excellent academic performance is only one dimension of excellence. A child may be a very good sportsperson; some child might have leadership skills; another child enthusiastically participates in social welfare activities. The teacher has to identify the natural talent of each child and bring it out.

The President said that the status of women in any society is an important criterion for its development. She stated that it is the responsibility of teachers and parents to educate children in such a way that they always behave in accordance with the dignity of women. She emphasised that the respect  for women should not be only in ‘words’ but also in ‘practice’.

The President said that according to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, if a teacher himself does not continuously acquire knowledge then he/she cannot teach in true sense. She expressed confidence that all the teachers will continue the process of acquiring knowledge. She said that by doing this, their teaching will remain more relevant and interesting.

The President told teachers that the generation of their students will create a developed India. She advised teachers and students to have a global mindset and world-class skills. She stated that great teachers build a great nation. Only teachers with a developed mindset can create citizens who will build a developed nation. She expressed confidence that by inspiring students, our teachers will make India the knowledge hub of the world.

Every year, India celebrates 5th September, the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, as National Teachers’ Day. The purpose of the National Teachers’ Award is to celebrate the unique contribution of teachers in the country and to honour those teachers who, through their commitment and dedication, have not only improved the quality of education but also enriched the lives of their students. Each award carries a certificate of merit, a cash award of Rs. 50,000 and a silver medal.

The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, has selected 50 teachers for this year’s National Teachers’ Awards. They have been selected through a rigorous transparent and online three stage i.e., District, State and National level selection process by the Department of School Education and Literacy. The 50 selected teachers are from 28 States, 3 UTs and 6 Organizations. Out of 50 selected teachers, 34 are males, 16 are female, 2 are differently abled and 1 working with CWSN. In addition, 16 teachers from the Department of Higher Education and 16 teachers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship were also awarded.

NEP 2020 recognizes that motivated, energized and capable faculty is critical for the advancement of the students, institution and profession. It also envisages incentives such as rewards and recognition to cultivate a culture of excellence in the education ecosystem. As such, in the year 2023, it was decided to institute two categories of awards for HEIs and Polytechnics under the umbrella of NAT, hitherto restricted to School teachers only. The 16 select teachers are from Polytechnics, State Universities and Central Higher Education Institutions.

Below is the list of Awardees from the Dept. of School Education & Literacy:

Below is the list of Awardees from the Dept. of Higher education:

Below is the list of Awardees from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: