AI SummaryNational Awards to Teachers is a central government award for school teachers who go beyond their normal duties to improve the quality of school education. For 2026, the Ministry of Education has already finished collecting online self-nominations, and the selection by the Independent National Jury is running from 3rd to 7th August 2026. The winners will be honored by the President or Vice President of India at the award ceremony on 4th and 5th September 2026.
This award started in 1958 and recognizes deserving teachers working in primary, middle and secondary schools across the country. Selected teachers receive a certificate, a silver medal and a cash prize of ₹50,000. In 2025, President Droupadi Murmu honored 45 teachers with this award on Teacher's Day.
National Awards to Teachers - Introduction
The scheme is run by the Ministry of Education through the Department of School Education and Literacy. Every year, the department opens the National Awards Portal for online self-nomination by teachers. For the 2026 cycle, the portal was open from 15th June to 10th July 2026, and the final submission of self-nominations was allowed up to 13th July 2026.
One important thing to know: this portal is only for school education teachers. Teachers and faculty members from higher education institutions and skill education should apply through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal at awards.gov.in. You can read full details in our article on National Awards to Teachers (Higher Education).
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | National Awards to Teachers |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Benefit Type | Public Recognition |
| Award | Certificate, silver medal and ₹50,000 cash prize |
| Number of Awards | 45 teachers honored in 2025 |
| DBT Scheme | No |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Education |
| Nodal Department | Department of School Education and Literacy |
| 2026 Award Ceremony | 4th and 5th September 2026 |
| Official Website | nationalawardstoteachers.education.gov.in |
Eligibility
Teachers and Heads of Schools working in recognized primary, middle, high or higher secondary schools can apply for this award. The following teachers are covered under the scheme:
- Teachers of schools run by State Governments or UT administrations, local bodies, aided schools and private schools affiliated to State or UT boards.
- Teachers of central government schools like Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Sainik Schools, Atomic Energy Education Society (AEES) schools and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).
- Teachers of schools affiliated to CBSE and CISCE boards.
- Only regular teachers and Heads of Schools with a minimum of ten years of service are eligible.
Retired teachers are normally not eligible, but a teacher who served at least four months of the calendar year up to 30th April of the award year may be considered if all other conditions are met.
Exclusions
Some teachers cannot apply for this award even if they work in an eligible school. Keep these points in mind:
- Retired teachers who served less than four months of the relevant calendar year.
- Educational administrators, inspectors of education and staff members of training institutes.
- Teachers or headmasters who give private tuitions.
- Contractual teachers and Shiksha Mitras.
Benefits
Selected teachers get public recognition from the President of India or the Vice President of India at the national award ceremony held every year on 5th September, Teacher's Day. Each awardee receives a certificate, a silver medal and a cash prize of ₹50,000.
This award is a mark of national-level appreciation for the teacher's hard work and dedication to improving student learning. It also gives other teachers a good example to follow in their own schools.
Application Process
For the 2026 cycle, the online self-nomination window on the National Awards Portal was open from 15th June to 10th July 2026, with final submission allowed till 13th July 2026. The window for 2026 is now closed. The next cycle will be announced on the official portal at nationalawardstoteachers.education.gov.in, so keep checking the site.
The application process is fully online and follows these steps:
STEP 1 - Go to the official web portal at nationalawardstoteachers.education.gov.in and click on the New Registration option. Fill in your details like organization type, name, mobile number and email, then click Next and verify your mobile number using the OTP you receive.
STEP 2 - Create a strong password with at least 8 characters, mixing uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. This completes your registration.
STEP 3 - Log in to the portal with your credentials and read the instructions carefully. Fill in all sections of the application, which include Primary Information, School Information, Principal Information, Questionnaire and Profile.
STEP 4 - Upload your supporting documents. PDFs should be under 5 MB and images under 100 KB. You can also share YouTube URLs of your teaching videos. If you face issues uploading files, you can give a link to a Google Drive folder containing your documents.
STEP 5 - Preview your application, download a copy for your records, accept the official declaration and submit. Remember that you cannot edit the application after final submission, so double-check everything before you press submit.
Documents
Keep these documents ready before you start filling the application form:
- A recent photograph of maximum 100 KB.
- Your updated biography or record of achievements in PDF.
- Complete service records and school-wise experience data in PDF.
- Supporting evidence for objective criteria and performance targets in PDF.
- YouTube URLs of videos showing your teaching impact, if any.
- A certificate from your controlling officer confirming details like attendance and in-service training.
Selection Process
The selection of awardees is done in multiple rounds. District Selection Committees first verify and evaluate the applications, and each district forwards a shortlist to the State Selection Committee. The State and Organization Selection Committees then prepare the final shortlist and send it to the Independent National Jury, which is constituted by the Union Education Minister.
Applications are marked on two types of criteria: objective criteria carry 10 marks, and performance criteria carry 90 marks. Performance is judged on areas like innovative teaching methods, joyful learning, use of technology, learning material and mentorship, community engagement and school governance. For 2026, the Jury is selecting the winners through video conference interaction from 3rd to 7th August 2026, and the final names will be finalized on 8th August 2026.
References
Official National Awards to Teachers Portal
News: Ministry invites applications for National Teachers Awards 2026
FAQ's
When were applications invited for the 2026 awards?
The National Awards Portal was open for online self-nomination from 15th June to 10th July 2026, and the final submission of self-nominations was allowed till 13th July 2026. The window for 2026 is now closed.
When will the 2026 winners be announced?
The Independent National Jury is selecting the winners from 3rd to 7th August 2026. The names will be finalized on 8th August 2026, and selected teachers will be informed between 10th and 20th August 2026.
What do selected teachers get?
Selected teachers receive public recognition from the President or Vice President of India at the award ceremony on 5th September. Each awardee gets a certificate, a silver medal and a cash prize of ₹50,000.
Can college teachers apply on this portal?
No. This portal is only for school education teachers. Teachers from higher education institutions and skill education should apply through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal at awards.gov.in. Read our article on National Awards to Teachers (Higher Education) for full details.
Who manages this scheme?
The Ministry of Education, through the Department of School Education and Literacy, handles the implementation and supervision of this scheme.
How can I get technical help?
If you face any issues on the portal, send an email to helpdesk-nat@gov.in.
Can I edit my application later?
No, once you click the final submission button, you cannot make any further changes, so double-check everything before submitting.
Are there specific file requirements for the application?
Yes. Keep your photo under 100 KB and PDFs under 5 MB. Avoid using special characters in your file names.
Can I use Google Drive for documents?
Yes, if you face issues with direct uploading, provide a Google Drive link containing all your supporting files.