The process of teacher education in India has been in a constant flux and has been continually evolving in response to emerging educational philosophies, socio-cultural environment and political changes, along with the changing national priorities. It is essential to be familiar with its historical development in order to understand the foundations of the present-day teacher education and the changes that are still being implemented in the profession for its optimal development. This conceptual paper looks at the evolution and development of teacher education in India from the Vedic period till the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the major historical phases, educational commissions, policies and reform movements which have shaped teacher education development over the years. The historical evolution of teacher education is explored chronologically, and every stage is analyses to gain insights into the contribution of each stage to the professionalization, institutionalization and improvement of teacher education in India. The review shows that teacher education in India has gradually developed from the informal Guru-Shishya tradition of the Vedic period into a more structured and professionally regulated system supported by national policies and institutional frameworks. The ancient and medieval periods played an important role in shaping the philosophical and ethical foundations of teacher preparation, while the colonial period brought a significant shift towards formal teacher training institutions and more systematic professional preparation. After Independence, successive commissions, policies and reforms significantly strengthened teacher education by emphasizing curriculum reform, practice teaching, institutional development, professional standards, continuous professional development and quality assurance. The review further highlights those recent reforms, particularly NEP 2020, seek to develop competent, reflective and professionally empowered teachers through multidisciplinary, integrated and practice-oriented teacher education. The paper concludes that the historical evolution of teacher education reflects a gradual shift from traditional approaches to a comprehensive professional system. It also suggests that understanding this historical trajectory is essential for informing future teacher education policies and strengthening the quality of teacher preparation in India.