The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), in collaboration with the National Institute of Technology Calicut, organised the National Conclave 2026 for Southern States and Union Territories on the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) and the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM) at the NIT Calicut campus.

The conclave was formally inaugurated by His Excellency Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Hon’ble Governor of Kerala, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. On the inaugural day, His Excellency also launched the official website of the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM).

In his inaugural address, the Hon’ble Governor highlighted the pivotal role of teachers in nation-building and appreciated the initiatives undertaken by NCTE to institutionalise professional standards and structured mentoring frameworks in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He noted that the implementation of NPST and NMM would significantly enhance teacher quality, professional accountability, and continuous professional development across the education system.

Addressing the gathering, Professor Pankaj Arora, Hon’ble Chairperson, NCTE, emphasised capacity building of stakeholders as a key prerequisite for the effective nationwide implementation of NPST and NMM. He stated that these initiatives are envisioned in line with the transformative goals of NEP 2020 and reaffirm India’s commitment towards achieving Viksit Bharat @2047.

Professor Prasad Krishna, Director, NIT Calicut, congratulated NCTE for conceptualising the National Professional Standards for Teachers in complete alignment with the reforms and vision outlined under NEP 2020, aimed at strengthening the quality of school education in Bharat.

The conclave focused on capacity building, orientation, and institutional handholding of officials from State Directorates of School Education, State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) of Excellence, and State/UT Nodal Officers. Principals and teachers from Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), and CBSE-affiliated schools also participated in live demonstrations and hands-on registration sessions on the NPST and NMM portals.

The programme featured technical sessions on the NPST conceptual framework, implementation strategies, live portal demonstrations, self-assessment modules, expert presentations, group deliberations, and structured feedback mechanisms to support effective execution at the State and Union Territory levels.

Senior officials and key stakeholders from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands participated in the conclave.

The National Conclave 2026 is expected to strengthen institutional readiness for the rollout of NPST and NMM, facilitate the development of State and UT-level Key Resource Persons (KRPs), and generate actionable insights for advancing systemic reforms in teacher education.

Through flagship initiatives such as NPST and NMM, NCTE continues to play a pivotal role in the planned and coordinated development of teacher education, in alignment with the objectives and spirit of the National Education Policy 2020.