Inspired Teacher (alternatively termed President's Inspired Teacher) is the highest civilian recognition for University-level teachers in the

Republic of India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area; the most populous country since 2023; and, since its independence in 1947, the world's most populous democracy. Bounded by ...

in the form of an in-residence program with the

President of India The president of India (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, and the commander-in-chief, supreme commander of the Indian Armed ...

Rashtrapati Bhavan The Rashtrapati Bhavan (, ISO: ''Rāṣṭrapati Bhavana''; ; formerly Viceroy's House (1931–1947) and Government House (1947–1950)) is the official residence of the President of the Republic of India at the western end of Rajpath, Rai ...

New Delhi New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the Government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Parliament ...

. This recognition is not related to the National Award for teachers, which is the highest recognition for school teachers. The Inspired Teacher honour is instituted by the

in 2015 to recognize top performing faculties at the Central Universities and to give a platform to have their voice heard among the top bureaucrats to solicit suggestions from teachers on educational policy matters. Nomination of one faculty member by the respective Central Universities in India for participation to the In-residence Program at the Rashtrapati Bhavan consists of student feedback, teaching quality, and research output analyses. The recognized Inspired Teachers are invited for a one-week-lon
In-Residence programme
with the

at the

History

Pranab Mukherjee Pranab Kumar Mukherjee ( ; born, 11 December 1935 – 31 August 2020) was an Indian statesman who served as the president of India from 2012 until 2017. He was the first person from West Bengal to hold the post of President of India. In a pol ...

, the former

, instituted Inspired Teacher recognition in 2015. The in-residence programme for inspired teachers was announced by the President at the annual conference of vice-chancellors of central universities on February 5, 2015. The

had defined an Inspired Teacher as an academic who is a value-oriented, mission-driven, self-motivated and result-oriented individual who works towards impacting the environment in a positive manner through his own actions as well as by imparting knowledge amongst students to help them achieve their potential. An Inspired Teacher links the individual goals of the students to the societal and national goals. The President, in his address during an interaction with the Inspired Teachers, quoted a statement from the Greek novelist

Nikos Kazantzakis Nikos Kazantzakis (; ; 2 March (Old Style and New Style dates, OS 18 February) 188326 October 1957) was a Greeks, Greek writer, journalist, politician, poet and philosopher. Widely considered a giant of modern Greek literature, he was nominate ...

, which he believed outlined his vision of a true teacher. Nikos Kazantzkis had said: “True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own”. The President instituted Inspired Teacher recognition as a means to give dignity and recognition to quality teachers. It was essential that such Inspired Teachers be recognized so that they have motivation and drive. The Inspired Teachers were invited for one week ‘In Residence’ programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of this endeavour. 31 teachers were recognized with the "President's Inspired Teacher" award for 2015. 13 teachers were recognized with the "President's Inspired Teacher" award for 2016.2016 list of Inspired Teachers
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References

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External links

*http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=122441 *http://presidentofindia.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressRelease/1577/1_LIST_OF_INSPIRED_TEACHERS.pdf *http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/prez-took-notes-as-we-spoke-varsity-teachers/93907.html *http://www.rediff.com/news/report/president-hosts-inspired-teachers-at-rashtrapati-bhavan/20150618.htm *http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/stay-at-rashtrapati-bhavan-an-inspiration-say-teachers/ *http://www.metroindia.com/education/article/20/04/2015/need-to-teach-indian-science-to-students-professor-felix/1783 *http://presidentofindia.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressRelease/2177/1_List_of_Participants_of_Inspired_Teachers_23-29_April_2016_.pdf Civil awards and decorations of India