Delhi

National Teachers Awards 2025

New delhi, august 26. Twenty-one teachers from higher education institutions (HEIs) and polytechnics have been chosen for the annual National Awards to Teachers (NAT) 2025 of the Union ministry of education, for exemplary contribution to education.

“The 21 selected teachers are from polytechnics, state universities and Central higher education institutions. The selection is based on the performance of the teacher under the parameters of teaching-learning effectiveness, outreach activities, research and innovation, sponsored research, faculty development programs and consultancy teaching. Of the above, learning effectiveness and outreach activities have the preponderant weightage,” says a ministry statement.

Sikkim

Heartfulness training

Gangtok, august 26. Seventy-two primary-secondary teachers and eight officials of the Sikkim government’s education ministry recently concluded a week-long Master Trainers Residential Workshop on Mindfulness and Meditation at the Heartfulness Education Trust (HET), Hyderabad.

The Master Trainers Workshop was a continuation of a three-day INSPIRE Teacher training programme in association with HET, attended by 1,068 teachers across seven venues in Sikkim earlier in July. Subsequently, 72 teachers from the state were selected for the Master Trainers Workshop at Hyderabad.

These Master Trainers will train teachers to implement The Heartfulness Way Curriculum-THW (in classes VI-IX) and the Heartfulness Experiences Life’s Potential (HELP) curriculum in classes X-XII.

Uttar Pradesh

Chevening-Vajpayee scholarships

Lucknow, august 19. The Uttar Pradesh government and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) signed a partnership agreement that provides full financial support to five students from the state to pursue one-year postgraduate degree programmes in the UK under a new Chevening-Atal Bihari Vajpayee UP Government Scholarship Scheme.

“Under the scheme, five students annually will be awarded full scholarships for the next three academic years, starting this year, to pursue Masters degrees at prestigious universities in the UK,” said chief minister Yogi Adityanath, addressing the media.

The scholarship will cover tuition, research and examination fees, living expenses, and airfare. The total cost per student is an estimated £38,000-42,000 (Rs.45-48 lakh), of which the UP government will bear Rs.23 lakh, while FCDO will cover the other half.

Kerala

Reading drive

Kochi, august 14. General education minister V. Sivankutty announced that grace marks will be awarded to school students who participate actively in reading-related activities during the new academic year 2026-27.

“As part of the initiative, state government schools will set aside a dedicated period each week for reading books, newspapers, and other materials. For classes I-IV, these sessions will focus on age-appropriate reading exercises, while students in classes V-XII will engage in newspaper-based activities and related follow-up tasks,” said Sivankutty, addressing a media conference.

Teachers will undergo training to conduct these sessions effectively and a dedicated handbook will be developed to guide them.

Chhattisgarh

New skilling programs

Raipur, august 23. “In compliance with provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the state government signed a three-year partnership agreement with the Navi Mumbai-based Magic Bus India Foundation to integrate skills education into the curriculums of government schools statewide, especially in tribal and Naxal-infested areas,” said chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai, addressing a media conference.

The CM also launched the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ (English for Your Good Village) programme which provides villagers residing within a 5 km radius access to 53 beneficiary programs and 28 community facilities from 17 departments. For the first time Ayushman cards have also been distributed to residents to access education and health benefits.

Ladakh

Gompa schools upgradation

Leh, august 13. Lt. Governor Kavinder Gupta called for introduction of secular education in monastic institutions. Addressing delegations from the Ladakh Buddhist and Gompa associations, Gupta said: “Adequate and qualified teachers should be appointed in Gompa schools to ensure young monks receive quality education. Vocational education must be provided to make them self-sufficient.”

Gupta also assured the associations that recruitment rules would be tightened to ensure only qualified candidates are appointed as teachers, thereby improving Ladakh’s education system. He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to green energy to make the region carbon-neutral and promote renewable energy initiatives.