Surat, September 19, 2026: Somnath Mukherjee, PGT – Geography at AMNS International School, has been selected among the Top 5 national finalists in the Geography category at the inaugural India’s Best Teachers’ Awards 2026, jointly presented by the Shiv Nadar Foundation and Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
The awards recognise educators teaching Grades 9-12 for innovative pedagogy and impactful classroom practices. From more than 10,000 registrations across 32 States and Union Territories, 79 educators progressed to the national finalist stage. Mukherjee was the only teacher from Surat city among the five Geography finalists.
His pedagogical portfolio featured field-based learning initiatives across the Tapi Estuary and Hazira industrial corridor, along with the use of mobile GIS cartography to bring geography learning beyond the classroom. His work also led to an invitation to publish a research paper with the Royal Geographical Society, London.
At the Grand Finale held recently at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR, Mukherjee received institutional memorabilia and an Oxford-Saïd fellowship kit.
The recognition highlights the school’s focus on academic excellence and its efforts to encourage innovative and field-based approaches to learning. It also reflects the role of experiential learning in helping students connect classroom concepts with real-world geographical and industrial environments.
Sunita Matoo, Principal, AMNS International School, Surat, said, “This recognition reflects the dedication and excellence of our faculty and reinforces our commitment to delivering the highest standards of education.”
About ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India)
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) is a joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel, two of the world’s leading steel manufacturing organisations. A leading integrated flat carbon steel producer in India, the company has a crude steel capacity of 9 million tonnes per annum, along with state-of-the-art downstream facilities. It produces a diversified range of flat steel products, including value-added steel, and has a pellet capacity of 20 million tonnes.
The company is also setting up an 8.2 million tonnes per annum integrated steel plant in Andhra Pradesh. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India currently stands as the only integrated steel company in the country to have received the Green Steel Certificate from the Ministry of Steel.
