From an asteroid-hunting science teacher and a celebrated “Math Wizard” to educators transforming tribal, mining and special-needs classrooms, 82 teachers and trainers from across India are being honoured with the National Teachers’ Awards 2026.
82 Educators Honoured on Teachers’ Day
September 5, 2026 President Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Teachers’ Awards on 82 educators from across the country on Teachers’ Day. The recipients include 48 school teachers, 21 faculty members from higher education institutions and polytechnics, and 13 trainers associated with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The awards recognise educators who have introduced innovative teaching practices, strengthened community participation and improved learning opportunities for students.
From Maths Innovation to Asteroid Hunting
Among the awardees is Haryana teacher Anil Kaushik, popularly known as the “Math Wizard”. He developed a physical mathematics laboratory with more than 40 original learning models, along with a digital mathematics lab featuring interactive puzzles. Rajasthan teacher Divyendu Sen has taken science beyond conventional classrooms by training rural students to track and identify asteroids. He has also developed low-cost learning initiatives, including an AI-enabled biology model, a digital biology laboratory and a QR-based botanical learning system called “Tree Talk”.
Technology and Inclusive Education Transform Classrooms
Several winners have been recognised for making learning more accessible and practical. Rajasthan teacher Vartika Gulati uses everyday objects such as groundnuts and kites to explain algebra and geometry, while Odisha teacher Padaraj Nayak has guided students in developing more than 50 prototypes. In Jharkhand, Munmun Bhattacherjee has worked to improve education in a vulnerable coal-mining community through foundational literacy programmes, dropout prevention and support for children with special needs. Gujarat educator Nitinkumar transformed a resource-limited tribal school with computer, VR and digital-learning facilities.
Higher Education Blends Tradition With Technology
The awards also highlight innovation in universities and technical institutions. IIT Hyderabad professor Kirti Chandra Sahu has conducted research on raindrop behaviour with applications in rainfall prediction and climate modelling. Karnataka Sanskrit University faculty member Shivani V. has worked to connect Sanskrit scholarship with computational linguistics, artificial intelligence and digital humanities. Other awardees have contributed to fields ranging from Vaastu Shastra and the Bhagavad Gita to IoT, drone technology and adaptive sports. Together, the 2026 awardees reflect how Indian educators are combining creativity, technology and community leadership to make learning more engaging and inclusive.
