4 min readNew DelhiJun 26, 2026 12:28 PM IST
The Department of School Education and Literacy, under the Ministry of Education, is inviting online applications and nominations for the National Teachers Awards 2026. Teachers who are eligible from the country can submit their application form through the official portal: nationalawardstoteachers.education.gov.in. The applications for the National Awards will remain open till July 10, 2026.
National Teachers Awards 2025 awardees
Every year, the National Teachers Awards are presented to honour the teachers who have made outstanding contributions in improving school education and supported the overall growth of students.
National Teachers Awards: Eligibility criteria
The eligibility criteria are as follows:
— Any teacher who works in schools which are operated by the Central Government, state government, Union Territory Administration, local bodies, and in aided and private schools affiliated with recognised Boards is eligible to apply.
— Central Government schools, like Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Sainik Schools, which are run by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), schools which are run by the Atomic Energy Education Society (AEES), and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), which the Ministry of Tribal Affairs runs.
— Schools which are affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or Council for the Indian Schools Certificate Examination (CISCE).
— Regular teachers and heads of schools with 10 years of service.
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National Teachers Awards: Who is not eligible
— Educational administrators, inspectors of education, and the staff of training Institutes are not eligible.
— The teacher/Headmaster should not have indulged in tuitions.
— Contractual teachers and shiksha mitras are not eligible.
For those teachers who are retired are not eligible for the award, but those who have served a part of the calendar year (at least for four months, that is up to 30 April in the year to which National Awards relate) may be considered if they fulfil all other conditions.
National Teachers Awards: Important dates
The important dates for the National Teachers Awards 2026 are mentioned in the table below