Sixteen teachers from across India have been named winners of the Shiv Nadar Foundation – Oxford Saïd India’s Best Teachers’ Awards 2026. The inaugural edition received more than 9,400 registrations from 32 States and Union Territories.
The winners were announced at the national finale held today at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, where 79 shortlisted teachers from across the country presented their teaching practices, classroom innovations and evidence of student impact before expert juries.
The Awards recognise teachers of Classes IX–XII across eight subject categories: Business Studies and Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, Economics, English, Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics and Physics. In each subject, one public-school teacher and one private-school teacher were selected as national winners, resulting in 16 winners across the eight categories.
The 16 winners
| Subject | Public School | Private School |
| Business Studies and Entrepreneurship | Aarti Bhoker, PM Shri KV No. 1 Gaya, Bihar | Barkha Kaushik, N.K. Bagrodia Public School, Dwarka, New Delhi |
| Computer Science | Ishita Pandey, KV SECL Jhagrakhand, Chattisgarh | Jovitha Preethi, AECS Magnoloa Maaruti Public School, Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Economics | Rekha Rajan Krishnakumari, PM Shri KV Patton Shift 1, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Vanita Kabra, Children’s Academy International School, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| English | Sakshi Deshwal, PM Shri GIC Purkazi, Uttar Pradesh | Suparna Misra, Delhi Public School, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| Environmental Science | Meera Rathore, Army Public School, Jodhpur, Rajasthan | Vasundhara Yadav, Brighton International School, Raipur, Chattisgarh |
| Geography | Vinayak Kohli, PM Shri KV Kondagaon, Chattisgarh | Meena Karuppiah S, Mahatma Global Gateway, Madurai, Tamil Nadu |
| Mathematics | Bhagwati Bisht, Army Public School, Noida Uttar Pradesh | S Krithika Ganesh, Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Sr Sec School, Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Physics | Sriram S, Ilango Adigal Govt, Puducherry | Vaishnavi Bhave, Somalwar School Nikalas, Nagpur, Maharashtra |
The selection process prioritised the quality and impact of classroom practice rather than relying primarily on academic qualifications or length of service. Teachers were evaluated on parameters including conceptual accuracy, classroom methodology, assessment and feedback, inclusion, student engagement, evidence of learning outcomes, and the potential for effective teaching practices to be adapted across different educational settings.
At the national finale, the 79 shortlisted teachers were evaluated by subject-specific juries comprising academics from the University of Oxford, leading Indian academic institutions and experts from the wider education sector. Each teacher presented their approach and evidence of its impact on students, followed by questions from the jury as part of the final assessment.
The jury included Dr. Juliana Dresvina, Dr. Jennifer Chang Wathall, Carrie Lomas, Frances Lloyd, Manos Kapterian, Pinar Ozcan, Dr. John Ingram, Dr. Mahesh Prasad, Abha Adams and Mallika P. Tagore, among other experts across the eight subject categories.
Speaking on the occasion, Shikhar Malhotra, Chairman, Shiv Nadar Foundation, said, “Teachers shape far more than what students learn in a classroom. They influence how young people think, question, solve problems and understand the world around them. Through the India’s Best Teachers’ Awards, we wanted to recognise teachers for the quality of their practice and the difference they make to their students.”
“The response to the first edition, with more than 9,400 registrations from across the country, reflects the depth of teaching talent in India. These 16 teachers exemplify that talent, and we hope this recognition gives their work greater visibility while creating new opportunities for them to learn, grow and inspire other educators. As part of this journey, the winners will undertake a five-week professional development programme, followed by a fully funded residential learning programme at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, giving them an opportunity to deepen their practice and learn alongside peers,” he added.
Professional development is a central component of the Awards. The 16 winners will participate in a five-week hybrid professional development programme, designed to deepen their teaching practice and enable them to exchange ideas with educators working across different subjects and school environments.
Following the programme, the winners will receive a fully funded opportunity to attend a bespoke one-week residential learning and development programme at Said Business School, University of Oxford. The programme will bring the teachers together for focused learning and peer exchange, while offering perspectives on pedagogy, leadership and educational practice.
Manos Kapterian, COO, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, said, “The influence of an exceptional teacher extends far beyond a single lesson or academic year. It shapes how young people think, how they approach difficult questions and, ultimately, how they understand their own potential. India’s Best Teachers’ Awards reflect a shared commitment between Oxford Saïd and the Shiv Nadar Foundation to recognise that influence and to invest in the people who create it every day. What is particularly important to us is that this recognition is connected to continued learning.”
