Several principals and teachers from Vidarbha have been selected for the prestigious Dr J P Naik Ideal State Teacher Award for the academic years 2024-25 and 2025-26, according to a Government Resolution issued by the Higher and Technical Education Department on Wednesday. The State Government has announced a total of 37 awards for the two academic years.

 

The awards recognise principals and teachers who have made significant contributions to higher education, technical education and arts education in Maharashtra. For 2024-25, Dr Devendra Shrikrishnrao Bhongade, Principal of Antyodaya College, Deogram, Narkhed, Nagpur district, and Dr Raju Govindrao Munghate of Govindrao Munghate Arts and Science College, Kurkheda, district Gadchiroli have been selected in the principal category under Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University and Gondwana University respectively. In the teacher category, Dr Mangesh Govindrao Acharya, also from Antyodaya College, Deogram, Narkhed, has been selected for the award under RTM Nagpur University. Another Vidarbha recipient is Dr Shriram Govinda Gahane of Adarsh Arts and Commerce College, Wadsa, Gadchiroli, who has been selected under Gondwana University. In the same category Dr Pramod Bhimrao Garode, B S Patil Mahavidyalaya, Paratwada, Amravati and Prof Parag Bhaskar Joshi of Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Ramtek also figured. For 2025-26, Vidarbha has again secured representation among the awardees. Dr Prashant Vighe of Bharatiya Mahavidyalaya, Amravati, has been selected for the award in the teacher category under Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University.

 

Dr Sanjay B. Gore of Sharad Pawar College, Gadchandur, Chandrapur district, has also been selected for the award under Gondwana University. In Principal Category Dr Janardan M Kakde of Dr Khatri College, Tukum, Chandrapur figured in the list. In the technical education category, Dr Ashish Manohar Mhalle of Government College of Engineering, Amravati, has been selected for the award, with the award being shared. Dr Narendra Purushottam Shinkar of Government Polytechnic, Amravati, has been selected in the category covering teachers from government and autonomous polytechnic institutes and diploma-level pharmacy institutions. The awardees were selected following scrutiny of proposals at the Directorate and university levels. The eligible proposals were subsequently examined by the Central Scrutiny Committee. Proposals securing less than 50 marks were excluded from consideration, following which the remaining eligible candidates were placed before the State-level Selection Committee headed by the Higher and Technical Education Minister. The State-level committee finalised the selections at its meetings held on April 13 and August 18, 2026. Vidarbha awardees at a glance

2024-25
 
Dr Devendra Shrikrishnrao Bhongade – Principal, Antyodaya College, Deogram, Narkhed, Nagpur
Dr Mangesh Govindrao Acharya – Antyodaya College, Deogram, Narkhed, Nagpur
Dr Raju Govindrao Munghate – Govindrao Munghate Arts and Science College, Kurkheda, Gadchiroli
Dr Shriram Govinda Gahane – Adarsh Arts and Commerce College, Wadsa, Gadchiroli
Dr Pramod Bhimrao Garode – B.S. Patil College, Paratwada, Amravati
Prof Parag Bhaskar Joshi - Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Ramtek
2025-26
Dr Prashant Vighe – Bharatiya Mahavidyalaya, Amravati
Dr Sanjay B. Gore – Sharad Pawar College, Gadchandur, Chandrapur
Dr Ashish Manohar Mahalle – Government College of Engineering, Amravati
Dr Narendra Purushottam Shinkar – Government Polytechnic, Amravati
Dr Janardan Kakde - Dr Khatri Mahavidyalaya, Tukum, Chandrapur