Manipur University Assistant Professor Dr. Pukhrambam Lilabati Devi has been selected for the National Award to Teachers 2026 for her contributions to teaching, research and promotion of Manipuri culture.
IMPHAL — Assistant Professor Dr. Pukhrambam Lilabati Devi of the Department of Dance and Music, Manipur University, has been selected for the National Award to Teachers 2026 by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Dr. Devi is among 21 teachers from higher educational institutions and polytechnics across the country selected for the national honour this year.
She is also one of only two awardees from the Northeast, the other being Prof. Ankuran Dutta of Gauhati University, Assam.
The award carries a certificate of merit, a cash prize of INR 50,000 and a silver medal. It will be presented at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on September 5, coinciding with Teachers’ Day.
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Dr. Devi is a teacher, researcher and practitioner of Indian classical dance, with an academic and artistic career spanning Manipuri dance and Bharatanatyam.
Her work has focused on pedagogy, research and performance, and she has around 15 years of experience in teaching, research and academic service.
Her outreach activities include international performances, academic presentations and cultural engagements in South Korea, Kazakhstan, Tunisia and Myanmar, through which she has contributed to promoting Manipuri culture internationally.
Dr. Devi holds a Master of Performing Arts (MPA) and a PhD in Dance from the University of Hyderabad. She also qualified the UGC-NET in Performing Arts (Dance) in December 2012.
Following her selection for the national award, Manipur University Vice-Chancellor (In-charge) Prof. RK Hemakumar Singh warmly received and felicitated Dr. Devi at the Vice-Chancellor’s office in Imphal on Monday.