8 educators from region bag national award

Of 81 teachers who were conferred with the national awards on Friday by the President Droupadi Murmu, eight are from the North Indian region (comprising Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh).

As many as 21 educators were selected by the Higher Education Department, 45 by the School Education Department and 15 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Narinder Singh from Ludhiana has been recognised for his initiative for enhancing infrastructure at Government Primary School, Jandiali.

Recognising the poor condition of existing facilities at the school, Narinder actively engaged with the community, mobilising parents, former students and various stakeholders to secure support and funding to establish 15 new classrooms.

His efforts extended beyond the basic infrastructure to include specialised facilities like an IT Park, smart library, math park and a herbal garden, indicating a holistic vision for the growth of students.

The award citation read, “The emphasis on practical learning is evident with the establishment of a traffic training park and various sports courts. The inclusion of essential utilities such as a water harvesting system, generator and Wi-Fi further highlights a commitment to providing a conducive learning atmosphere.”

“The personal investment of working 12 to 16 hours everyday underscores his profound dedication, which directly resulted in over 20 percent annual increase in school enrolment, showcasing the tangible impact of his leadership and tireless work,” added the citation.

Credited for developing innovative pedagogy and promotion of civic responsibility, Sunita, a geography and social science teacher from PM SHRI Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Murthal Adda, Sonipat, has also received the national award. It is learnt that she has personally overseen an increase in student enrolment and a decrease in dropout rate, particularly in geography.

Shashi Paul, a junior basic teacher (JBT), posted at Government Model Centre Primary School (GMCPS) at Shamror in Solan district, is the only teacher from Himachal Pradesh to receive the honour this year. He has been honoured for the institutionalised structured sports training in the school that led to students achieving state-level success in chess and badminton.

“His students from underprivileged backgrounds have even secured admissions to prestigious institutions like Lawrence School. He has developed English workbooks for the schools, established modern ICT and experiential learning labs, and mobilised community support from NGOs and local clubs to improve school infrastructure. His efforts have led to increased student enrolment, improved attendance and a child-friendly school environment, exemplifying his profound impact on his students and community,” read the citation of the award said.

For consistently delivering 100% results in the board exams and using digital tools to impart teaching, Parveen Kumari, a social science teacher at the Government Girls Model Senior Secondary School has also received the coveted award.

“She effectively uses hands-on projects such as a herbal nursery and a kitchen garden to connect theoretical knowledge with practical application and foster a sense of environmental responsibility. Her integration of technology is another key element, as evidenced by the two YouTube channels she has launched to provide accessible and engaging learning content,” citation said.

Awadhesh Kumar Jha, principal of government school in Delhi’s Rohini, is the only teacher from the national capital among the 45 chosen by the School Education Department for the National Teachers’ Award-2025.

Jha has established ‘Zero Waste Citizen Bank’, where students deposit dry waste to inculcate the philosophy of ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’. He has also established the ‘Shobhit Reading Room’, which is accessible from 8 am to 8 pm on all 365 days. Accommodating 70 students, it provides them access to books, computers and the Internet.

Kuldeep Gupta from Government Higher Secondary School, Jindrah, Jammu, was recognised by the government for his dedication to student counselling and drug de-addiction awareness, combined with his focus on academic excellence.

Dr Anjana Bhatia, a botany teacher at Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, is recognized for innovative teaching through experiential learning, nature camps and game-based approaches that spark curiosity and lifelong learning.

Ganesh Timanna Pandit, a Professor at Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi, has developed instructional material for first and second year students of Shiksha Shastri.

He has supervised many PhD scholars and has various publications in journals and non-journals to his credit. He has also been a resource person in various faculty development programmes held from time to time in various universities.