National Award to Teachers (For Excellence in Vocational Training and Entrepreneurship Development)

The objective of the National Award for Excellence in Vocational Training & Entrepreneurship Development is to honor excellence among Faculty, Trainers and master trainers in the long-term and short-term training spheres as well as entrepreneurship development, who have considerably excelled and achieved outstanding and meritorious performance outcomes, setting benchmarks for others to emulate.

Eligibility

The Awards are given in 5 different categories. Each category has its own eligibility criteria as below.

Category I & III:  Best Skill Trainers and Master Trainers - Long-Term Training

The award is open to all the trainers of ITIs under Skill Trainer category and NSTIs/ IToTs under the Master Trainers category satisfying the following conditions:

• Should be engaged as a trainer / master trainer on regular basis,
• Should have at least five years full-time experience at CTS and/or CITS as applicable,
• Should not be above 55 years of age as on the last date of receiving application for the awards,
• Trainers who have already been awarded under any category of the Kaushalacharya Award/ National Award for Excellence in Vocational Training & Entrepreneurship Development in previous years should not be nominated,

 

Category II & IV:  Best Skill Trainers and Master Trainers - Short Term Training

The award is open to all trainers and master trainers engaged in the short-term skilling ecosystem, satisfying the following conditions:

• Should be engaged as a trainer / master trainer on regular basis,
• Should be under 55 years of age as on the last date of receiving application for the awards,
• Registered Trainers on Skill India Digital Hub from any Government Institution with valid certification, at least up to October 2025, should be delivering/have delivered Training in Short Term Training program.
• Certified Trainers/Master Trainer from an Awarding Body with valid certification, at least up to October 2025, should be delivering/have delivered Training in Short Term Training program,
• Trainers who have already been awarded under any category of the Kaushalacharya Award/National Award for Excellence in Vocational Training & Entrepreneurship Development in previous years should not be nominated.
• Candidates are allowed to apply under one category only.

 

Category V: Excellence in Entrepreneurship Development

• Should be a regular faculty member engaged in teaching entrepreneurship development programmes / courses in University/College/Institution recognized by UGC/AICTE/institutes established and declared by the Act of Parliament,
• Person engaged on regular basis in implementation of entrepreneurship development programmes in Central or State Government Institutions, including autonomous institutions,
• Should have at least five years of full-time experience,
• Should not be above 55 years of age as on last date of receiving application for the Awards,
• Trainers who have already been awarded under any category of the Kaushalacharya Award/ National Award for Excellence in Vocational Training & Entrepreneurship Development in previous years should not be nominated.

 

Decoration

Each awardee shall be presented with the following.

• A Medal
• A Certificate
• Cash Prize of Rs 50,000/-

 

No. of Awardees

A total of sixteen awards will be conferred each year.  There shall be five award categories as per the details below:

Category I: Best Skill Trainers – Long Term Training (09 Awards)

• Sub Category (i): Best Skill Trainer in top 5 trades under CTS in ITIs  - 05
• Sub Category (ii): Best Skill Trainer in remaining engineering trades - 01
• Sub Category (iii): Best Skill Trainer in remaining non-engineering trades  -  01
• Sub Category (iv): Best Skill Trainer Divyang trades  - 01
• Sub Category (v): Best Skill Trainer New Age Courses - 01

Category II: Best Skill Trainers – Short Term Training (03 Awards)

Category III: Best Master Trainers - Long Term Training (02 Awards)   

• Sub Category (i): Best Master Trainer in Engineering trades  - 01
• Sub Category (ii):Best Master Trainer in Non-Engineering trades - 01

Category IV: Best Master Trainers - Short Term Training (01 Award)

Category V: Excellence in Entrepreneurship Development (01 Award)

 

Who can nominate ?

• Self-Nomination (Singular Basis).
• Earlier nominee/nomination is eligible for re-nomination. However, trainers who have already been awarded under any category of the Kaushalacharya Award/National Award for Excellence in Vocational Training & Entrepreneurship Development in previous years should not be nominated.
• Members of the search-cum-screening committees may also take suo-moto cognizance of an outstanding faculty member and may nominate exemplary trainers.
• For individual category, the nomination procedure is described in the guidelines.

 

Selection Process

• Preliminary Search cum Screening Committee for initial shortlisting of candidates.
• Committee of ‘Jury’ for final section of awardees from the shortlisted candidates.

 

Ceremony Details

Ceremony will be held on September 5, 2025 at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi