National Award to Teachers 2025: MoE invites nominations from higher educational institutions, polytechnics

The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education has requested the higher educational institutions and polytechnics to send nominations for the National Awards to Teachers 2025. The last date to file the nominations is July 9.

The educational institutions and polytechnics can nominate teachers for the national award through the Minister of Education’s official website at awards.gov.in.

“The Award seeks to recognise and honour the unique and path breaking achievements of faculty members in teaching-learning, community outreach, institutional service, research, and novelty of work in the field of higher education,” as per the official notification.

Notably, the ministry has also invited self nomination (singular basis) from teachers teaching in the higher educational institutions and polytechnics.

“Former or existing Vice-Chancellor/ Director/ Principal/ Faculty member/ Colleague of the same university/ institute/ college/ Polytechnic, where the nominee holds regular employment. Members of Search-cum-Screening Committees may also take suo-moto cognizance of an outstanding faculty member and may nominate exemplary teachers. Award Jury are NOT eligible to make any nominations for this award,” the ministry said.

Furthermore, a total number of 35 awards will be conferred every year and each awardee will be presented with a medal, certificate, and cash prize of Rs 50,000, it added.

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National Award to Teachers 2025: Eligibility, selection process

The national award is open to all the faculty members of colleges, universities, higher educational institutions as category 1 and polytechnics in category 2 in India. A total of 35 awards will be conferred, including 25 in category 1 and 10 in category 2.

The nominees should fulfill the following conditions to be eligible to be nominated.

• Regular faculty member.
• At least 5 years of full-time teaching experience in the Undergraduate and or post graduate level.
• The age limit is capped at 55 years. Nominees should not exceed this age limit as on the last date of receiving application for the awards.
• Vice-chancellor, director, principal (regular or officiating) are not eligible to apply.

As per the selection process, candidates will initially be shortlisted through a preliminary search-cum-screening committee. “Committee of ‘Jury’ for final section of awardees from the shortlisted candidate,” the official statement reads.

The ceremony will be held on September 5, 2025.