**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha, addressing the applicability of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for teachers appointed before 2011. The Ministry of Education clarifies that passing the TET is one of the essential qualifications for appointment as a teacher as per the RTE Act, 2009 and NCTE notification dated 23rd August, 2010. In-service teachers with more than five years of service have two years from the judgment date of 01.09.2025 to qualify TET.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **TET Requirement:**
* Passing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is one of the essential qualifications for appointment as a teacher (Classes I to VIII), as per the RTE Act, 2009 and NCTE notification dated 23rd August, 2010.
* The Supreme Court judgment dated 01.09.2025 holds that TET is mandatory for teacher appointments.
* **In-Service Teachers:**
* Teachers recruited before the RTE Act with more than five years of service remaining have two years from 01.09.2025 to qualify the TET.
* Teachers with less than five years remaining can continue until superannuation without TET, but they are ineligible for promotion without qualifying the TET.
* **Appointment and Promotion:**
* Qualification of the TET is mandatory for all persons aspiring for appointment as teachers.
* Qualification of the TET is mandatory for in-service teachers seeking appointment by way of promotion.
**Impact Analysis**
**Teachers Appointed Before 2011**
* **Impact:**
* Teachers with more than five years of service remaining must qualify TET within two years to continue in service.
* Teachers with less than five years of service can continue until superannuation without TET, but they will not be eligible for promotion without qualifying the TET.
* **Action Required:**
* Teachers with more than five years of service must prepare for and pass the TET within the specified timeframe.
* Teachers aspiring for promotion must qualify the TET.
**All Aspiring Teachers**
* **Impact:**
* TET qualification is mandatory for all persons aspiring to be appointed as teachers.
* **Action Required:**
* All aspiring teachers must qualify the TET.
Key Entities Referenced
Teacher Eligibility Test (TET): A mandatory qualification for teachers as determined by the RTE Act and the Supreme Court.
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009: A key law mandating free and compulsory education for children in India and regulating teacher qualifications.
National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE): The regulator that, according to the RTE Act, lays down the minimum qualifications for teachers.
Supreme Court of India: Highest judicial body whose rulings have confirmed the mandatory nature of TET for teacher appointments and promotions.
Ministry of Education: The Government ministry responsible for education policy and literacy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:- 1606
ANSWERED ON-09/02/2026
Guidelines of National Council for Teacher Education
†1606. Shri Lalji Verma:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that many teachers appointed before 2011 as per the guidelines of
National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) are still facing uncertainty and administrative
hurdles related to Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) in the country, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware of the fact that teachers appointed before 2011 were
appointed under the rules and procedures applicable at the time when TET was not mandatory
in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to issue a clear uniform national policy to completely
exempt all teachers duly appointed before 2011 from TET, so as to ensure that no injustice is
done to them, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government is likely to ensure that the services, promotions and other rights
of teachers appointed before 2011 are not adversely affected due to lack of TET, if so, the
details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e): In accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 23 of the Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the National Council for
Teacher Education (NCTE), vide Gazette Notification dated 23rd August, 2010, laid down the
minimum qualifications for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher for Classes I to
VIII. As per the notification, passing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is one of the essential
qualifications for appointment as a teacher.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, vide its judgment dated 01.09.2025, held that TET is one
of the minimum qualifications prescribed under Section 23 of the Act and is mandatory for
appointment as a teacher in schools covered under the Act.
In respect of in-service teachers recruited prior to the enactment of the RTE Act, the Hon’ble
Court has, in exercise of its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India, held that
teachers having more than five years of service remaining may qualify TET within a period oftwo years from the date of the judgment in order to continue in service. Teachers having less
than five years of service remaining as on the date of the judgment have been permitted to
continue in service till attaining the age of superannuation without qualifying the TET;
however, such teachers are not eligible for promotion unless they qualify the TET.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court has further directed that qualification of the TET is mandatory for
all persons aspiring for appointment as teachers, as well as for in-service teachers seeking
appointment by way of promotion, in accordance with the statutory framework under the RTE
Act.
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