Abstract

The ITEP is a transformative reform in India's teacher education arena, integral to the vision of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 of creating teachers who are reflective, competent and caring. In this paper, we examine the central contribution of research and innovation to enhancing ITEP in quality, relevance and sustainability. It emphasizes how research serves to promote evidence-based teaching strategies, curriculum design and policy decision making, while innovation promotes new levels of pedagogical engagement via technology use, practical learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. The study highlights the importance of institutional research culture, communities of practice and innovation hubs in teacher education institutions for supporting on- going professional development. By basing on effective models and identifying problems, this paper argues for a research-embedded and innovation-guided framework in cultivating future-oriented teachers who can meet the changing needs of 21st-century learners.