Parliament Question: Impact of Teacher Eligibility Test

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:- 212 ANSWERED ON-20/07/2026 Impact of Teacher Eligibility Test 212. Shri E Tukaram: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Central Government has assessed the impact of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) requirement on in-service teachers in the country including Karnataka who were appointed before the TET was made mandatory; (b) if so, the number of such teachers in the country, State/UT-wise including Karnataka; (c) whether the Central Government proposes to amend Section 23 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, to provide appropriate relief to teachers appointed before the TET requirement came into force, if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps taken or proposed by the Central Government to help such teachers qualify the TET before the prescribed deadline, including ensuring that TET examinations are conducted regularly; and (e) whether any transitional relief is under consideration and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (e): Education is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and the recruitment, service conditions and deployment of teachers fall within the administrative domain of the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Accordingly, the data regarding the number of in-service teachers, including those in the State of Karnataka, who were appointed prior to the introduction of the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), is maintained by the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, vide its judgment dated 01.09.2025, inter alia, held that the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is one of the minimum qualifications prescribed under Section 23 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and is mandatory for appointment as a teacher in schools covered under the Act. The order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court may be accessed at the following link: https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2018/36466/36466_2018_9_1501_63764_Judgement_01- Sep-2025 pdf.Subsequently, while disposing of the review petitions in the matter, vide judgment dated 29.05.2026 the Hon'ble Supreme Court extended the timeline for acquisition of TET qualification from 31.08.2027 to 31.08.2028. The judgment dated 29.05.2026 of the Hon'ble Supreme Court may be accessed at the following link: https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2025/53434/53434_2025_7_1501_71637_Judgement_29- May-2026.pdf The Hon'ble Supreme Court, in the judgment dated 29.05.2026, has further observed that the respective appropriate Governments/authorities should endeavour to conduct the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) periodically, preferably twice every year, with an interval of approximately six months between successive examinations, so as to afford eligible teachers a reasonable opportunity to comply with the prescribed minimum qualification. *****