PM Modi Interacts with 82 Outstanding Teachers on Teacher's Day, Emphasizes Holistic Development

Informal Dialogue with Educators

On the occasion of Teacher's Day, Saturday, September 5, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an informal interaction with 82 outstanding teachers and educators selected for the National Teacher Award-2026 at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The primary objective of this meeting was to listen to the teachers' experiences and exchange crucial suggestions for innovation in education, children's holistic development, and improving the education system in line with evolving social conditions.

Focus on Student Behavior and Well-being

Prime Minister Modi addressed the teachers, stating that understanding a student's personal behavior and attitude towards life, alongside their academic progress, is extremely important for a teacher. He particularly emphasized that teachers must keenly observe subtle changes in students' temperaments and behavior. Furthermore, he highlighted the significant role of teachers in protecting children from screen addiction caused by the uncontrolled use of mobile and other digital devices, as well as other bad habits like addiction.

Need to Focus on Behavior and Personality

Prime Minister Modi stressed that the aim of education should not be merely scoring marks in exams, but rather deeply understanding students' personalities, interests, practical skills, and social engagement. He believes teachers, who spend extended periods with students, are best positioned to identify any sudden changes in their behavior. He urged teachers to try and ascertain the root causes if any unexpected changes are observed in a student's conduct. In this context, he also shed light on the necessity of strong coordination between families and schools to protect children from serious issues like substance abuse and digital addiction.

Teachers' Growing Role in Changing Family Structures

The Prime Minister noted the changing social landscape and the decline in joint families, stating that as a result, the role of teachers in children's lives has become more critical than before. He explained that previously, children had the opportunity to learn life experiences and values from various family members, but due to smaller family sizes, schools and teachers now play a central role in their personality development. He inspired teachers to see themselves not just as subject matter experts but as mentors, motivators, and facilitators in their students' all-round personality development.

Innovative Teaching Methodologies Shared by Teachers

During the informal interaction, teachers selected for the National Teacher Award shared their experiences with Prime Minister Modi about the innovative and creative teaching methods being adopted in their respective institutions. These teachers explained how they have enhanced students' interest and engagement by effectively utilizing local resources, incorporating technology, activity-based learning, and making practical experiences an integral part of their teaching style.

Connecting Education to the Real World

Prime Minister Modi further urged teachers not to limit students to textbook knowledge but also to provide them with opportunities to understand real-life situations and challenges. He suggested that children's learning experiences can be made more comprehensive and enriching by connecting them with local communities, nature, science, technology, arts, and various social activities. He described these experiments and innovations by teachers to strengthen the education system as an extremely significant endeavor for the nation.

82 Teachers to Receive National Teacher Award

This year, a total of 82 teachers and educators have been selected for the National Teacher Award-2026. Among them are 48 teachers from the Department of School Education, 21 from Higher Education, and 13 from the Ministry of Skill Development. These selected teachers will be honored by President Droupadi Murmu during a special ceremony organized on the occasion of Teacher's Day.