National Award to Teachers 2026: Recognising Excellence in Higher Education and the Role of Transformative Teaching Education, Human Resources and Science GS Paper II 4 September 2026 Read highlighted facts first n FAST READ — read only this box if short on time
- Prof. Mithun Radhakrishna of IIT Gandhinagar was selected for the National Award to Teache**rs 2026. **- The award recognises exemplary contributions to teaching and learning.
- Higher-education quality depends on teaching, mentoring, research integration and student engagement.
- Awards can spread good practice only when successful methods are documented and replicated.
- Teacher quality remains one of the strongest institutional determinants of learning.
WHY IN NEWS
- Professor Mithun Radhakrishna of IIT Gandhinagar received national recognition under the National Award to Teache**rs 2026. **- The award draws attention to teaching quality in higher education, where institutional prestige is often measured more visibly through research output than classroom learning.
- Effective university teaching combines conceptual clarity, experimentation, mentoring, assessment and exposure to real problems.
TOP DATA & FACTS
- Award: National Award to Teache**rs 2026. **- Awardee highlighted: **Prof. Mithun Radhakrishna.
- Institution**: IIT Gandhinagar.
- The award recognises exemplary contributions to teaching and learning.
- Good higher-education teaching includes curriculum design, mentoring and assessment.
- Active learning requires students to solve, discuss or create rather than only listen.
- Formative assessment provides feedback during learning.
- Laboratory and project work connect theory with practice.
- Interdisciplinary teaching helps students solve complex real-world problems.
- Digital tools can improve access but do not automatically improve learning.
- Mentoring affects retention, confidence and research participation.
- Teaching innovation should be evaluated through learning outcomes, not novelty alone.