Northern Regional National Conclave-2026 Begins in Agra to Empower Teachers

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel stated on Tuesday that teachers shape countless personalities and the entire nation, emphasizing that educators must move away from rote learning and develop basic understanding through psychological methods. Her remarks came during the inaugural session of the two-day northern regional 'National Conclave-2026' held at the Jay Prakash Narayan Auditorium of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University in Khandari, Agra.

Organized jointly by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, the conclave aims to train over one crore in-service teachers across nine northern states and union territories, as well as nationwide, under the National Education Policy (NEP-2020) frameworks known as 'PUSHTI' (NPST) and 'MITRA' (NMM) to make them future-ready.

Inauguration and Dignitaries

• Lamp Lighting: Governor Anandiben Patel inaugurated the event by lighting a ceremonial lamp.
• Key Attendees: Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyaya, NCTE Chairperson Prof. Pankaj Arora, Sanskrit Promotion Foundation Director Prof. Chand Kiran Saluja, and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ashu Rani were present on stage.
• Messages: Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary delivered a video message, while Union Minister of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel attended as a special guest.
• Welcome Tradition: Guests were welcomed with unique 3D-printed statues of Goddess Saraswati prepared using 3D printer technology by the university's IET and Institute of Fine Arts, replacing traditional bouquets.

Before the inauguration, the Governor inspected the 'Hunar Haat' exhibition set up by the Fine Arts Institute and Home Science Department, appreciating and purchasing student-created artifacts including silk thread bracelets, earthen lamps, and mandala art paintings.

Discussions on Education and Technology

State Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyaya stated that the new education policy is based on Swami Vivekananda's philosophy, integrating education with Indian culture, values, self-reliance, and modern technology. He noted that Uttar Pradesh currently has six UGC Grade-1 and seven NAAC A++ grade universities.

NCTE Chairperson Prof. Pankaj Arora shared national educational statistics, noting India has 14.67 lakh schools, 1.03 crore teachers, and 25 crore students. He explained that 'PUSHTI' strengthens professional standards for teachers, while 'MITRA' promotes mentoring and peer collaboration, with all nine participating states granted the flexibility to implement these systems according to their local language and culture. University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ashu Rani highlighted that hosting the conclave coincides with the university's centenary year (1927–2027).

Technical Sessions and App Demonstration

Technical sessions on the first day focused on the practical application of the 'MITRA' portal:

• Prof. Chand Kiran Saluja explained the guiding principles and framework.
• Dr. Gyanendra Kumar elaborated on institutional utility.
• A team including Dr. Parul Singh, Saurabh Singh, and Mukund Kumar Jha demonstrated the digital portal and mobile app's workflow, registration, and technical features on a large screen.
• Prof. Rajni Ranjan Singh and Sunil Bajaj addressed participant queries during an interactive session.
• Dr. Ashish Srivastava and Manish Singh's team provided hands-on training on the onboarding process.

*Note: Readers can verify original announcements and detailed implementation guidelines through official portals of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) or Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra.*