Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Teachers’ Day 2026 called on educators to play a broader role in shaping children’s lives, urging them to look beyond textbooks and academic performance to address emerging challenges such as excessive screen use. During an interaction with winners of the National Teachers’ Awards, Modi emphasised the importance of preserving childhood, nurturing curiosity and encouraging children to participate in sports, physical activities and creative pursuits.
The interaction took place at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on September 4, a day before Teachers’ Day, and was shared publicly by the Prime Minister on September 5. The conversation covered innovative teaching methods, public speaking, students’ talents, screen dependence and other challenges affecting young learners.
PM Modi Highlights Teachers’ Wider Role in Children’s Lives
In his interaction with the award-winning educators, PM Modi stressed that teachers cannot limit their responsibilities to completing the syllabus. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, he encouraged teachers to become more closely connected with their students and understand changes in their behaviour, interests and everyday lives.
The Prime Minister said that meaningful change in children requires teachers to become part of their lives rather than functioning only within the boundaries of classroom instruction. He also called on educators to identify abilities that may not necessarily be reflected in examination results and to encourage students to explore their creativity and individual talents.
The message assumes particular significance at a time when children are growing up surrounded by digital devices and rapidly changing forms of entertainment and communication. While technology can support learning, excessive or unbalanced screen use can compete with activities that are important for a child’s overall development.
Call to Address Excessive Screen Time
One of the key issues raised by PM Modi during the interaction was excessive screen use among children. He urged teachers to help address the problem by encouraging students to spend more time on sports, physical games and creative activities.
The Prime Minister’s Office said Modi called for excessive screen time to be addressed through activities that encourage children to remain physically active and creatively engaged.
The emphasis was not simply on restricting technology but on creating meaningful alternatives for children. Sports and physical games can provide opportunities for movement, teamwork and social interaction, while creative activities can encourage children to explore their interests and express themselves outside conventional academic settings.
This approach also places teachers in the position of mentors who can help students develop healthier and more balanced routines. Schools, classrooms and teachers can become important spaces where children discover interests beyond digital entertainment.
‘Preserve Childhood’ as an Important Message
A central theme of the Prime Minister’s interaction was the need to preserve childhood. Modi encouraged teachers to ensure that the child within every student remains alive and that educators themselves retain a sense of curiosity and connection with children.
The Prime Minister’s remarks reflected the idea that education should not be confined to marks, examinations and textbooks. Children also need opportunities to question, experiment, play, create and develop social and emotional skills.
PM Modi urged educators to go beyond academic instruction and nurture natural curiosity. The message suggests that teachers have an important role in creating an environment where children can learn without losing the joy and spontaneity associated with childhood.
Teachers Asked to Identify Changes in Student Behaviour
The Prime Minister also encouraged teachers to pay attention to behavioural changes among students. Academic performance, he indicated, is only one part of understanding a child.
Changes in participation, interaction, interests or everyday behaviour can sometimes indicate that a student needs additional attention or guidance. By maintaining closer relationships with students, teachers may be better positioned to understand their concerns and support them appropriately.
This broader mentoring role becomes especially relevant as children encounter challenges that extend beyond conventional classroom education. Digital dependence, social pressures and changing patterns of interaction can influence students’ lives in ways that may not immediately appear in academic results.
Focus on Creativity and Innovative Learning
The interaction also highlighted innovative teaching practices being adopted by National Teachers’ Award winners. Modi discussed ways in which educators are making lessons more engaging and connecting classroom learning with real-life experiences.
One teacher told the Prime Minister about teaching students how to conduct interviews. Modi responded humorously, suggesting that students might even begin interviewing their parents at home about everyday matters. The teacher replied that the activity had become so popular that children at her school were jokingly aspiring to become reporters.
The exchange illustrated how unconventional classroom activities can encourage curiosity and communication skills. Rather than treating learning as something confined to textbooks, such methods can allow students to explore subjects through observation, questioning and practical engagement.
For teachers, the challenge is therefore not only to deliver information but also to make students interested in learning itself.
National Teachers’ Awards 2026 Recognise 48 Educators
The Prime Minister’s interaction came as part of the Teachers’ Day celebrations and the National Teachers’ Awards 2026. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, is scheduled to confer the National Teachers’ Awards on 48 school teachers at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on September 5.
The awards are organised by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education. According to the official award programme, the initiative recognises teachers whose commitment has contributed to improving the quality of school education and enriching the lives of students. The selection process involves online applications, multiple levels of scrutiny and an independent national jury.
The teachers selected for the honour represent different approaches to education, including innovative classroom practices and efforts to connect academic concepts with students’ real-world experiences.
Teachers’ Day and the Legacy of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Teachers’ Day is observed across India on September 5 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, philosopher, academic and former President of India.
The tradition dates back to Radhakrishnan’s presidency. When his students and admirers wanted to celebrate his birthday, he reportedly suggested that the occasion instead be dedicated to teachers. September 5 subsequently became an annual occasion to recognise the contribution of educators to society.
PM Modi also referred to this legacy while sharing the interaction with the National Teachers’ Award winners. He said Teachers’ Day is an occasion to appreciate the strong contribution of teachers to society and to pay homage to Dr Radhakrishnan.
The significance of the day therefore extends beyond ceremonies and awards. It provides an opportunity to examine the changing responsibilities of educators and the role schools play in preparing children for a rapidly evolving society.
Balancing Technology With Human Interaction
The discussion about screen use comes against the backdrop of increasing technology in education and everyday life. Digital tools can provide access to information, educational resources and interactive learning experiences. However, the Prime Minister’s message emphasised the importance of balance.
Rather than viewing technology solely as a problem, the broader educational challenge is to ensure that digital engagement does not replace activities essential to children’s development. Physical play, face-to-face communication, creative pursuits and classroom interaction remain important components of a well-rounded educational experience.
This is why Modi’s call for sports, physical games and creative activities carries significance beyond screen-time concerns. Such activities can offer children alternative ways to learn, interact and develop their interests.
Education Beyond Marks and Textbooks
Another important aspect of the Prime Minister’s message was the need to look beyond conventional measures of achievement. A child’s abilities may not always be reflected through examinations alone.
Teachers interact with students regularly and can observe their strengths in areas such as communication, creativity, leadership, problem-solving, teamwork and practical skills. Identifying these abilities can help students develop confidence and discover areas in which they may excel.
The National Teachers’ Award winners themselves demonstrate the value of innovative approaches. Their recognition reflects the broader objective of encouraging educators who make a meaningful difference in classrooms and in students’ lives.
Teachers as Mentors and Role Models
PM Modi’s interaction ultimately presented teachers as more than instructors. His message placed educators in the role of mentors, guides and role models who can influence children’s habits, interests and attitudes.
The Prime Minister encouraged teachers to connect with students and understand their lives beyond the syllabus. Such engagement can help create a stronger relationship between teachers and learners, making education more responsive to individual needs.
The approach also reinforces the idea that education is a shared responsibility. Teachers can guide students, while families and communities also have important roles in supporting healthy routines, encouraging outdoor activities and creating environments where children can develop their interests.
A Broader Vision for Children’s Development
The Teachers’ Day interaction highlighted a broader vision of education—one in which academic knowledge is combined with curiosity, creativity, physical activity and social development.
PM Modi’s appeal to award-winning teachers to help children move away from excessive screen use was therefore part of a larger message about preserving childhood and ensuring holistic development. His remarks urged educators to notice behavioural changes, discover hidden talents and make learning more engaging.
As India observes Teachers’ Day 2026, the discussion places renewed attention on the evolving responsibilities of teachers. In an environment where technology is increasingly integrated into children’s lives, educators are being asked to help students maintain a healthy balance between digital engagement and real-world experiences.
The message from the PM Modi was clear: the role of a teacher extends well beyond completing lessons. By connecting with students, encouraging curiosity, promoting physical and creative activities and helping children navigate contemporary challenges, teachers can contribute not only to academic success but also to the development of confident, curious and well-rounded individuals.
On Teachers’ Day, the recognition of 48 educators through the National Teachers’ Awards serves as a reminder of this wider contribution. The occasion celebrates teachers not merely for what they teach in classrooms, but for the lasting influence they can have on the lives and futures of their students.
