Scholarship
National Awards to Teachers(NAT)
Overview
About NAT
The National Awards to Teachers is a recognition programme run by the Department of School Education and Literacy, part of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It was first instituted in 1958, and the awards are presented each year on 5 September, Teachers' Day, by the President or Vice President of India.
The award honours serving school teachers and heads of school whose work has raised the quality of school education and improved learning for their students. The benefit is public recognition rather than a study grant or cash scholarship for students, so it is aimed at teachers, not at pupils looking for financial aid.
Eligibility covers teachers and heads of recognised primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary schools. That includes government and local-body schools, private schools affiliated to CBSE, CISCE and state boards, and central government schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools and Eklavya Model Residential Schools. Candidates apply through an online portal, and nominations move through district or regional and state selection committees before a final review by an independent national jury.
Sources: National Awards to Teachers – official portal, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education · National Awards to Teachers – myScheme, Government of India
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry of Education
Central Government
Department of School Education and Literacy
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | In Kind |
| Application mode | Online |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| School teachers and Heads of Schools working in recognised primary/middle/high/higher secondary schools under the following categories are eligible: | |
| Schools run by the State Govt./Union Territories Administration, schools run by local bodies, schools aided by the State Govt. and Union Territories Administration, and Private schools affiliated to the State/Union Territories Board. | |
| Central Govt. Schools, i.e. Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Sainik Schools run by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Schools run by Atomic Energy Education Society (AEES) and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) run by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. | |
| Schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) (other than those at (a) and (b) above). | |
| Schools affiliated to the Council for Indian Schools Certificate Examination (CISCE) (Other than those at (a), (b) and (c) above). | |
| Normally, retired teachers are not eligible for the award, but those teachers who have served a part of the calendar year (at least for four months, i.e. up to 30th April in the year to which National Awards relate) may be considered if they fulfil all other conditions. | |
| Only regular Teachers and Heads of Schools with a minimum of ten years of service are eligible. |
Who cannot apply
Exclusions
- Retired teachers who have not served at least a part of the calendar year - at least for four months i.e. up to 30th April in the year to which the National Award relates.
- Educational Administrators, Inspectors of Education, and the staff of training Institutes are not eligible.
- The Teachers/Headmasters who have indulged in tuitions are not eligible.
- Contractual Teachers and Shiksha Mitras are not eligible.
What you get
Award & benefits
- Public recognition is given away by The President of India (or) The Vice President of India on 5th September (Teacher's Day) every year. This recognition is for meritorious primary, middle and secondary school teachers.
- The purpose of National Awards to Teachers is to celebrate the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in the country and to honor those teachers who, through their commitment and industry, have not only improved the quality of school education but also enriched the lives of their students.
What to prepare
Documents required
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply online
See the official links below for the application portal.
Source
Official links
Questions
NAT – FAQ
Disclaimer
Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.