Munish Sood
Mandi
A vocational training instructor from Himachal Pradesh has earned national recognition for his contribution to skill development, with Jagmohan Sharma, Fitter Instructor at Government Industrial Training Institute (Grade-A), Mandi, selected for the National Teachers’ Award 2026.
Sharma has been selected in the category of “Excellence in Vocational Training & Entrepreneurship Development”, placing his work among the country’s recognised contributions to vocational education and skill-based training.
The announcement is particularly significant for Mandi’s technical education sector, as the award acknowledges the role of vocational instructors in preparing young people with industry-oriented skills and encouraging them towards entrepreneurship.
Sharma’s selection also adds to his recent record of recognition. He was honoured with the Himachal Pradesh State Teacher Award in 2025 by the Governor of the state. His selection for the national award a year later marks another major milestone in his career as a vocational educator.
The achievement has been welcomed at Government ITI Mandi, where Principal Engineer Ajesh Kumar and members of the teaching and non-teaching staff congratulated Sharma. The institute termed the recognition a matter of pride for the institution as well as Himachal Pradesh.
Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani and Director of Technical Education, Vocational and Industrial Training, Rohit Rathore, also extended their congratulations to Sharma on his selection.
The National Teachers’ Award 2026 will be formally presented at a ceremony scheduled for September 5 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The award includes a medal, certificate of merit and a cash prize of ₹50,000.
Sharma’s selection brings the spotlight on the importance of vocational education in creating a skilled workforce and expanding opportunities for young people beyond conventional academic pathways. For Government ITI Mandi, the national honour represents recognition of its contribution to technical and vocational training in the state.
