National Teachers’ Award 2025: Educators Transforming Classrooms into Hubs of Inspiration

From innovation labs to mentoring support, meet the professors awarded the National Teacher Award 2025 for transforming higher education.

National Teachers’ Award 2025

When Prof. Urvish Soni enters his polytechnic classroom in Ahmedabad, he does not see a place of rote lectures. Instead, he sees 3D printers, animated student debates and prototypes being tested. His “one student, one skill” initiative has transformed passive learners into creators, giving them practical skills aligned with industry needs. This transformative approach has earned him a place among the 21 higher education faculty members awarded the National Teacher Award 2025.

The ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, where President Draupadi Murmu presented the awards, was a landmark moment for Indian education. For the second consecutive year, teachers from universities, IITs, IIMs, polytechnics and central institutes were honoured along with school teachers. “Smart classes may help, but only a smart teacher can recognise the heart of a child and make it fly,” the President said, stressing that empathy and guidance are as important as academic rigour.

Stories of Impact

Among this year’s awardees, Prof. Vijay Kumar Pandey of Banaras Hindu University has been instrumental in freeing mathematics from its fearsome reputation. By nurturing a research culture and mentoring students from small towns, he has proven that even the most difficult subjects can become gateways to discovery.

At Aligarh Muslim University, Prof. Vibha Sharma uses literature not just to teach language, but also engages students in community projects and leadership roles. Her recognition in a field dominated by science and technology is significant.

In Arunachal Pradesh, Dr. Proshanto Kumar Saha of Rajiv Gandhi University has gone beyond his teaching duties. Through his neuropsychology lab, he has provided counselling and emotional support to students struggling with trauma, blending education with compassion.

These stories illustrate how higher education in India is being reshaped by professors who refuse to be confined to just chalkboards and lecture notes.

Rising Recognition for Higher Education

The education ministry said that over 10,000 nominations were received for the awards this year, of which 45 teachers were selected, including 21 from higher education. This is a significant increase from last year's 13 teachers, reflecting the growing emphasis on colleges and universities.

Another trend is the move away from recognition focused on metros. Many awardees come from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, polytechnics and state universities, indicating that excellence in teaching is no longer restricted to elite institutions but is being recognised across different geographies.

Teachers’ Voices

Speaking to All India Radio, Prof. Soni said, “When my students hold a prototype in their hands, they see themselves as creators, not just learners. This is a bigger reward than any award.” Prof. Pandey added, “I myself am from a small town. When I see a student from a village clearing a national exam or publishing research, I feel like I am rewriting my journey.”

Such voices highlight the human aspect of higher education—where guidance, empathy, and life experiences are as important as learning content.

Higher education in India has for years faced criticism for rote-based learning and low employability. Yet, the 2025 awardees paint a different picture—where classrooms also serve as innovation labs, where mathematics builds confidence, and where counselling centres become lifelines for struggling youth.

Their work is deeply connected to the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, which advocates skill building, inclusiveness and research-based education. Recognising such teachers is a step towards bridging the gap between policy and practice.

Each winner received a silver medallion, a certificate and INR 50,000 cash along with an interactive session with the Prime Minister. More importantly, they received recognition for the fact that their work is shaping the minds and future of a new generation of Indians.