Delhi CM Honours 118 Teachers, Announces Rs 19,148 Cr Education Budget

Speaking at the event on the occasion of Teachers' Day, the Chief Minister said educators are the strong foundation of society. She said the recognition for the 118 educators was not merely an honour for their achievements, but for the dedication, patience and faith through which they shape children's futures every day.

"They do not merely impart textbook knowledge to students, but also instil values, skills, confidence, a sense of duty and the right direction in life. A teacher's influence does not remain limited to an individual student, but contributes to shaping an entire generation," she said.

CM Gupta said the Delhi government was committed to ensuring every child receives quality education that builds knowledge, skills, values and confidence. As part of this commitment, a budget allocation of Rs 19,148 crore has been made for education in FY 2026-27, with schools being prepared for the future through technology and smart teaching resources.

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood, MP Bansuri Swaraj, MLAs Abhay Verma, Neeraj Basoya and Chandan Kumar Chaudhary, Education Department Director Ankita Anand, senior officials, and teachers, principals, vice-principals and students from various schools attended the event.

A total of 118 teachers were honoured across categories, including 20 Heads of Schools, 69 teachers from DoE and MCD schools, and teachers from three CM Shri Schools, along with librarians, special educators and sports teachers recognised for notable contributions. NCC cadets presented a guard of honour, followed by a welcome song from music teachers, with children in traditional attire welcoming guests.

What CM Shri Schools actually are: These are a network of 75 government schools launched under Delhi's Rs 100 crore initiative, modelled on the Centre's PM-SHRI scheme and aligned with the National Education Policy 2020. Inaugurated in February 2026, they feature AI-enabled libraries, AR/VR-equipped smart classrooms, robotics laboratories, biometric attendance systems, and are designed as solar-powered, zero-waste campuses. The Delhi government has since approved a further Rs 265 crore for additional infrastructure at these schools, including sports facilities, auditoriums and accessibility features for students with special needs. The initiative drew over 50,000 admission applications within its first week of opening — a sign of the demand these schools have generated among parents.

CM Gupta said 170 modern language labs are being established across Delhi's schools — 70 in CM Shri Schools and 100 in other government schools — to strengthen language and communication skills. Alongside this, initiatives such as Neev, Rashtraneeti and NIPUN Sankalp are being used to build entrepreneurship, innovation, problem-solving, democratic values, and foundational literacy and numeracy among students.