PM Modi Urges Teachers to Address Drug Addiction and Screen Time During National Awards Interaction

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with 82 National Teachers Award winners at his residence on Friday, urging educators to look beyond academic performance and monitor students for signs of drug addiction and excessive screen time. The awardees included 48 school teachers, 21 faculty members from higher education and polytechnics, and 13 skill trainers. Modi emphasized that teachers should observe behavioral changes in children, particularly in metropolitan cities and big universities where drug use can be harder to spot. He suggested that screen addiction could be naturally reduced by engaging students in sports, physical games, and creative activities, and he encouraged teachers to discuss screen habits with parents.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted the evolving role of teachers due to the decline of the traditional joint family structure. He called on educators to preserve the innocence of childhood, nurture curiosity, and instill the dignity of labour by connecting students with real world skills outside the classroom. President Droupadi Murmu also marked National Teachers Day 2026 with an article titled Shaping Minds; Building the Future, in which she described the role of teachers as a sacred responsibility to inspire students to be good human beings and uphold the motto of nation first.

Reports of the event varied in focus based on political lean. Center lean outlets focused primarily on the Prime Minister's policy directives regarding student welfare and the National Education Policy. Center right lean outlets provided more detail on the personal interactions, including lighthearted banter where the Prime Minister used the Gen Z term aura and asked a teacher for tips on public speaking.