President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said that the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) can be realised only through quality education, underlining the pivotal role of teachers in shaping the nation’s future.
Addressing the National Teachers Award Ceremony 2026 in New Delhi on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, President Murmu said that a society that respects its teachers is truly a progressive society. She emphasised that education is not merely a means of acquiring knowledge but a powerful instrument for individual empowerment and national development.
The President said that academic excellence, skill development and entrepreneurship are crucial pillars of a country’s progress. She highlighted the government’s priority of establishing India as the “Skill Capital of the World” while simultaneously strengthening the country’s position as a global knowledge power.
Describing knowledge as the greatest source of power, President Murmu said education enables individuals to think independently, make informed decisions and contribute meaningfully to society and the nation. She stressed that teachers have a particularly important responsibility in this process, describing dedicated teachers as the frontline nation builders.
The President also recalled the contribution of Savitribai Phule, particularly her pioneering efforts towards women’s education and rights. Her legacy, she said, continues to inspire efforts to make education more inclusive and accessible.
During the ceremony, President Murmu conferred the National Teachers Awards on 48 selected school teachers from 27 States, seven Union Territories and six Central Government organisations. The awards recognise teachers who have made exemplary contributions to education and demonstrated innovative approaches in their classrooms and communities.
The President also presented National Awards to 21 teachers and faculty members from Higher Education Institutions and polytechnics. The recipients included 12 teachers and faculty members from Central Higher Education Institutions, five from State universities and colleges—including three government and two private institutions—and four faculty members from polytechnics, comprising two government and two private institutions.
Short documentaries highlighting the achievements and exemplary work of each awardee were also showcased during the event, offering glimpses into their contributions to teaching, innovation and student development.
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministers of State for Education Jayant Singh and Dr Sukanta Majumdar, Secretary of School Education T K Anil Kumar, Secretary of Higher Education Dipti Gaur Mukherjee and Secretary of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Debashree Mukherjee were among those present at the ceremony.
Earlier in the day, President Murmu paid floral tributes at Rashtrapati Bhavan to Bharat Ratna Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary. Dr Radhakrishnan, a renowned philosopher, scholar and teacher, served as Vice President of India from 1952 to 1962 and as President from 1962 to 1967.
Teachers’ Day is observed in India every year on September 5 to commemorate Dr Radhakrishnan’s birth anniversary. The occasion serves as a reminder of the enduring contribution of teachers in nurturing generations of citizens and laying the intellectual and social foundations of a progressive nation.
President Murmu’s remarks placed education at the centre of India’s development journey, stressing that a skilled, knowledgeable and empowered population will be indispensable to achieving the goal of a Viksit Bharat.
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