National Awards Presented to Teachers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with teachers selected for the National Teachers Awards on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in New Delhi. The event marked Teachers Day, an annual observance dedicated to honoring educators and recognizing their contributions to education and nation-building. Teachers Day is celebrated across India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a philosopher, scholar, and former President of India. The tradition of observing September 5 as Teachers Day began in 1962, the year Dr. Radhakrishnan assumed office as President. When approached by students and admirers to celebrate his birthday, Radhakrishnan reportedly suggested that the day be observed as Teachers Day instead, honoring the teaching profession. Radhakrishnan, who had a distinguished career as a philosophy professor at several leading institutions and served as Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University and Banaras Hindu University, viewed education as a tool for holistic personal development. His influence extended to shaping India's higher education system, notably as chairman of the University Education Commission in 1948-49.