President Murmu presents National Teachers Awards 2026 to 96 teachers, faculty members

President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Teachers Awards 2026 in New Delhi on Sept 5, honoring 48 school teachers and presenting National Awards to teachers and faculty members from 21 higher education institutions and polytechnics.

The school teachers selected for the awards represent 27 states, seven Union Territories and six organizations of the Central Government.

Among the higher education awardees were 12 teachers and faculty members from central higher education institutions, five from state universities, including three government and two private colleges, and four from polytechnics, comprising two government and two private institutions.

Addressing the ceremony, Murmu said quality education would be essential to realizing the vision of a Viksit Bharat. She also said that a society that respects its teachers is progressive in the true sense.

Short documentaries highlighting the exemplary work of each awardee were also showcased during the event.

Earlier, Murmu paid floral tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan at Rashtrapati Bhavan on his birth anniversary, which is observed as Teachers' Day in India.

Radhakrishnan was a distinguished philosopher, scholar and teacher. He served as India's Vice President from 1952 to 1962 and as President from 1962 to 1967.