NEW DELHI: The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education has officially invited online nominations for the National Awards to Teachers (Higher Educational Institutions and Polytechnics) 2026. Eligible candidates can submit their entries through the centralized Rashtriya Puraskar Portal at awards.gov.in.
Administered in partnership with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the annual awards aim to recognize exceptional faculty members from technical, non-technical, and polytechnic institutes across the country for excellence in teaching, academic leadership, and student development.
Key award categories:
- Category I (Higher Educational Institutions): Divided into three sub-categories—Engineering & Technology and Architecture; Pure Sciences (including Mathematics, Medicine, and Pharmacy); and Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Commerce, and Management.
- Category II (Polytechnic Institutions): Reserved exclusively for faculty members teaching in polytechnic institutes across India.
Eligibility criteria:
- Employment Status: Applicants must be regular faculty members of colleges, universities, higher educational institutions, or polytechnics in India.
- Experience & Age: Candidates must have a minimum of five years of full-time teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or postgraduate level and must not be over 55 years of age as of the submission deadline.
- Exclusions: Serving Vice-Chancellors, Directors, and Principals (whether regular or officiating) are not eligible to apply. However, those who previously held these administrative positions but are currently in active teaching service are eligible if they fulfill the age requirement.
Application and nomination process:
- Deadline: The window for submitting nominations will close on July 5, 2026.
- Nomination Modes: Following a Janbhagidari-based online model, candidates can apply via self-nomination, institutional nomination by the head of their institution, or peer nomination by colleagues within the same establishment.
- Support Helpline: For technical queries, applicants can reach out to the AICTE helpdesk at
helpdesknataward26@aicte-india.orgor call011-29581051/011-295811236between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM on working days.
