National Teachers’ Day 2026: NEP 2020 Review & MCQs

National Teachers' Day is celebrated across India on 5th September to commemorate the birth anniversary of philosopher, statesman, and educator Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

While India observes National Teachers' Day on 5th September, UNESCO designates 5th October as World Teachers' Day, instituted in 1994.

When Dr. Radhakrishnan became the second President of India in 1962, his students requested to celebrate his birthday; he suggested observing it as Teachers' Day to honor all educators.

Dr. Radhakrishnan was awarded the Bharat Ratna in its inaugural year (1954), alongside C. Rajagopalachari and Dr. C.V. Raman.

Dr. Radhakrishnan held the prestigious Spalding Professorship at All Souls College, Oxford, building civilizational bridges between Eastern and Western philosophical thought.

NEP 2020 restructured schooling into four developmental stages: Foundational (5 years, ages 3-8), Preparatory (3 years, ages 8-11), Middle (3 years, ages 11-14), and Secondary (4 years, ages 14-18).

Eminent space scientist and former ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Kasturirangan headed the committee that drafted the National Education Policy 2020.

The First National Policy on Education was promulgated in 1968 based on the recommendations of the landmark Kothari Commission (1964–66).

The Kothari Commission recommended public investment in education at 6% of GDP, a benchmark reaffirmed by both the 1986 and 2020 education policies.

NIPUN Bharat (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) targets basic literacy and mathematical skills by age 9.

PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) standardizes norm-referenced assessments across CBSE, ICSE, and state boards.

The ABC digital platform allows students to pause studies, transfer credits between universities, and resume higher education without losing academic progress.

Multiple entry and exit options provide flexible learning pathways tailored to students' financial and vocational requirements.

The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 inserted Article 21A and amended Article 45 and Article 51A (adding fundamental duty 51A(k)).

Enacted by Parliament in August 2009, the RTE Act came into force across India on 1st April 2010, legally guaranteeing free schooling for children aged 6–14.

Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act mandates that private unaided schools admit at least 25% students from EWS and disadvantaged groups in Class 1/pre-primary.

Cognitive studies confirm that young children learn foundational reading and arithmetic concepts fastest and best in their primary mother tongue.

APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) integrates with DigiLocker and ABC to serve as a lifelong academic passport for Indian students.

DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) hosts QR-coded energized textbooks and teacher professional development modules in 30+ Indian languages.

Established under the NCTE Act, 1993, NCTE oversees teacher education quality, developing the 4-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP).

PM SHRI schools showcase experiential learning, smart classrooms, green infrastructure, and pedagogy aligning with the National Curriculum Framework.

PM POSHAN provides hot cooked meals to over 11.8 crore school children in government and government-aided primary and upper primary schools.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad spearheaded the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), UGC, and Sahitya Akademi; his birthday (11th November) is National Education Day.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development designated 11th November as National Education Day in 2008 to honor India's first education minister.

The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 placed education on the Concurrent List, empowering both Parliament and State Legislatures to enact educational laws.

NCERT conducts educational research, designs the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), and publishes standard textbooks for elementary and secondary schooling.

NEP 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education, including vocational education, from 26.3% (in 2018) to 50% by 2035.

HECI is envisioned with four independent verticals: regulation (NHERC), accreditation (NAC), funding (HEGC), and academic standard-setting (GEC).

Nai Talim emphasized learning through productive manual craft work (weaving, carpentry, agriculture) combined with moral education.

The National Award to Teachers recognizes exemplary educators across government, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and Navodaya schools for innovative pedagogical contributions.