Bhubaneswar, 13 March (H.S.): Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on Friday underscored the pivotal role of teachers in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat, stating that educators are central to shaping the nation’s future.
Addressing the National Conclave 2026 on Capacity Building of Stakeholders for the nationwide rollout of the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) and the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM) at IIT Bhubaneswar, the Governor said the quality of classrooms will determine the strength of India’s workforce, democracy, and society.
He called for collective efforts to strengthen the teaching profession and urged stakeholders to ensure classrooms foster curiosity, innovation, and holistic development. Highlighting India’s Guru–Shishya tradition, he emphasized the importance of nurturing values and character alongside academic learning.
The Governor noted that rapid technological advancements, including artificial intelligence and digital transformation, require the education system to equip students with future-ready skills. Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he described it as a transformative roadmap for reforming the country’s education system and appreciated the efforts toward its implementation.
He highlighted that the NPST, developed by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), defines professional standards and career pathways for teachers, while the NMM aims to create a structured mentoring ecosystem to support educators nationwide. He also commended IIT Bhubaneswar for hosting the conclave.
Among others, NCTE Chairperson Pankaj Arora and IIT Bhubaneswar Director Shreepad Karmalkar addressed the gathering. A letter from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was read out, and a video message from Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary was presented.
The event also featured a briefing on the conclave by NCTE Academic Advisor D.K. Chaturvedi. V. Pandu Ranga, Dean (Continuing Education), IIT Bhubaneswar, delivered the welcome address, and Venugopal Arumuru, Coordinator, proposed the vote of thanks.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
