Patiala schoolteacher develops virtual physics lab, earns national honour
Aug 22, 2026, 11.00 PM IST
Patiala: Transforming a shortage of laboratory equipment into an opportunity for innovation, a govt school physics lecturer from Patiala has won the National Award to Teachers 2026 for developing a zero-cost virtual physics lab that enables students to perform practical experiments digitally. Dinesh Kumar, 52, the only teacher from Punjab selected for the honour this year, will receive the award from President Droupadi Murmu on Teachers’ Day, Sept 5.
With 25 years of teaching experience, Kumar has spent the past decade at the historic 120-year-old Govt Victoria Girls Senior Secondary School. His selection followed a multi-stage evaluation process that culminated in scrutiny by the national jury. Of the 134 teachers who applied from Punjab, 60 were shortlisted at the district level. The state eventually nominated six candidates, with Kumar emerging as the sole awardee from Punjab.
One of his most notable innovations is a self-developed Virtual Physics Lab, which allows students to conduct interactive experiments on computers by simulating laboratory equipment.
The software enables students to practise handling instruments, understand concepts such as zero-error calculations, and accurately record observations and data. Kumar developed the programme after realising that malfunctioning or unavailable equipment was hampering practical learning.
“I built the virtual lab using computer programming so that a lack of physical apparatus or damaged equipment never hampers students’ practical learning. The entire software was developed at zero cost,” Kumar said.His background in both physics and computer science proved instrumental in creating the platform. He holds an MSc and PhD in Physics from Punjabi University, Patiala, besides an MSc and MPhil in Computer Science, and is also UGC-NET qualified.
“I felt the need for a virtual lab because many instruments were either unavailable or not functioning properly. I developed it in 2021-22 to overcome that obstacle. The learning outcomes improved significantly, and several students later secured merit positions in physics,” he said.
Kumar began his teaching career at private institutes in Samrala, Nabha and Khanna before joining govt service in 2001. He later served as a lecturer at Lang village in Patiala district before being posted to Govt Victoria Girls Senior Secondary School in 2016.
Apart from the virtual lab, he has developed more than 100 zero-cost teaching aids that simplify complex physics concepts through everyday examples. He has also authored nearly 40 research papers published in peer-reviewed national and international journals.
Despite being academically qualified to teach at the college level, Kumar chose to remain in school education.
“While opportunities in colleges were limited initially, I soon realised my true passion lies in teaching school students, especially girls and underprivileged children who need strong conceptual foundations,” he said.
Kumar currently teaches around 80 students of Classes XI and XII. In addition to regular classes, he conducts free morning and evening coaching sessions and remedial classes during summer vacations.
More than 60 of his former students have secured admission to premier medical, engineering, pharmacy and physiotherapy institutions, with many going on to become doctors and engineers. His students have also represented Punjab at national-level science seminars, quizzes and Olympiads.
Kumar had earlier received the Punjab State Teacher Award in 2020.
With 25 years of teaching experience, Kumar has spent the past decade at the historic 120-year-old Govt Victoria Girls Senior Secondary School. His selection followed a multi-stage evaluation process that culminated in scrutiny by the national jury. Of the 134 teachers who applied from Punjab, 60 were shortlisted at the district level. The state eventually nominated six candidates, with Kumar emerging as the sole awardee from Punjab.
One of his most notable innovations is a self-developed Virtual Physics Lab, which allows students to conduct interactive experiments on computers by simulating laboratory equipment.
The software enables students to practise handling instruments, understand concepts such as zero-error calculations, and accurately record observations and data. Kumar developed the programme after realising that malfunctioning or unavailable equipment was hampering practical learning.
“I built the virtual lab using computer programming so that a lack of physical apparatus or damaged equipment never hampers students’ practical learning. The entire software was developed at zero cost,” Kumar said.His background in both physics and computer science proved instrumental in creating the platform. He holds an MSc and PhD in Physics from Punjabi University, Patiala, besides an MSc and MPhil in Computer Science, and is also UGC-NET qualified.
“I felt the need for a virtual lab because many instruments were either unavailable or not functioning properly. I developed it in 2021-22 to overcome that obstacle. The learning outcomes improved significantly, and several students later secured merit positions in physics,” he said.
Kumar began his teaching career at private institutes in Samrala, Nabha and Khanna before joining govt service in 2001. He later served as a lecturer at Lang village in Patiala district before being posted to Govt Victoria Girls Senior Secondary School in 2016.
Apart from the virtual lab, he has developed more than 100 zero-cost teaching aids that simplify complex physics concepts through everyday examples. He has also authored nearly 40 research papers published in peer-reviewed national and international journals.
Despite being academically qualified to teach at the college level, Kumar chose to remain in school education.
“While opportunities in colleges were limited initially, I soon realised my true passion lies in teaching school students, especially girls and underprivileged children who need strong conceptual foundations,” he said.
Kumar currently teaches around 80 students of Classes XI and XII. In addition to regular classes, he conducts free morning and evening coaching sessions and remedial classes during summer vacations.
More than 60 of his former students have secured admission to premier medical, engineering, pharmacy and physiotherapy institutions, with many going on to become doctors and engineers. His students have also represented Punjab at national-level science seminars, quizzes and Olympiads.
Kumar had earlier received the Punjab State Teacher Award in 2020.