Every year on Teachers’ Day, the Government of India celebrates the educators in the country by conferring the National Award to Teachers. Presented by the President or the Vice President of India on September 5 each year, the purpose of this award is to publicly recognise the contribution of some of the most meritorious teachers and headmasters in the country in the field of education.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development or the Ministry of Education, responsible for executing the National Award to Teachers, nominates an independent national jury who select the awardees each year.

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In 2020, this independent national jury, with approval from the Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhriyal, has selected a total of 47 teachers and headmasters out of 153 shortlisted candidates.

They will be honoured for their contributions towards improving the quality of education and striving towards betterment of the lives of their students.

The selected teachers hail from different parts of India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar among others. 

The awards, which are normally presented by the President in a ceremony on September 5, will not be given out physically due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year. However, an online ceremony has been organised to facilitate the recipients.

The award, instituted in 1958, is presented to teachers working in primary, middle as well as secondary schools. It is presented on Teachers’ Day, an occasion to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India as well as an outstanding teacher.