Landmark Ruling: Supreme Court Extends TET Requirement to Serving Teachers

Teachers Must Clear TET for Promotion, Supreme Court Declares

The Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) is a nationally mandated examination in India, introduced in 2011 under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act). It serves as a baseline qualification for aspiring teachers in government and select private schools, ensuring minimum standards of teaching quality across primary and upper primary levels. Administered by both central and state authorities, the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is conducted by CBSE, while individual states manage their respective State TETs.

Each year, approximately 14 lakh candidates appear for the CTET alone, which is held in over 110 cities and offered in 20 Indian languages. The test comprises two papers: Paper I for teaching Classes I to V, and Paper II for Classes VI to VIII. A minimum score of 60% is required to qualify, and the certificate is now valid for a lifetime. According to officials from the School and Mass Education Department, TET is a mandatory qualification for teaching Classes 1 to 8 in government and certain private institutions.

In a landmark ruling on 2 September 2025, the Supreme Court of India declared that clearing the TET is now compulsory not only for new teaching appointments but also for in-service teachers seeking promotion. The Court clarified that teachers appointed before the implementation of the RTE Act, and who have more than five years of service remaining, must qualify within a two-year window. Those unable to do so may opt for voluntary retirement or face compulsory retirement with terminal benefits.

The Court further stated that teachers nearing retirement, specifically those with less than five years of service left, would be exempt from the qualification requirement unless they seek promotion. Minority-run educational institutions, however, remain temporarily exempt from the ruling, pending a decision by a larger bench on whether the RTE Act applies to such schools. Responding to the judgment, Odisha’s School and Mass Education Minister, Nityananda Gond, affirmed that the state government would carefully examine the directive before implementing any changes. He emphasised that the interests of teachers would be considered and that the department would also review how other states are responding to the ruling. The minister acknowledged that many teachers in Odisha had been recruited before 2011, when no TET provision existed, and announced plans to organise special TET examinations to help in-service teachers meet the new requirement.

Meanwhile, several teachers’ organisations in Odisha have urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision. They argued that the TET mandate should apply only to recruits and not to those who were appointed before the introduction of the eligibility test, citing concerns over fairness and feasibility. This ruling marks a significant shift in India’s education policy, reinforcing the role of TET in maintaining consistent teaching standards and professional accountability. As states prepare to respond, the decision underscores the importance of qualified educators in delivering equitable and high-quality education across the country.

Editor’s Note

The Supreme Court’s ruling on 2 September 2025 marks a decisive moment in India’s education policy, one that places teaching quality at the centre of institutional accountability. By making the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory not only for new appointments but also for in-service teachers seeking promotion, the Court has reinforced a long-overdue principle: that professional standards in education must be upheld consistently, regardless of tenure. TET was introduced in 2011 under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, as a minimum qualification for teaching Classes 1 to 8. With over 14 lakh candidates appearing annually for the Central TET alone, the test has become a cornerstone of India’s teacher recruitment process. Yet, until now, thousands of in-service teachers, particularly those appointed before 2011, have remained outside its purview. This ruling corrects that gap, ensuring that all educators, regardless of when they entered the system, meet a uniform benchmark of competence. The Court's complex decision offers a two-year window for qualification, exempts those nearing retirement, and temporarily excludes minority-run institutions for further review. While these provisions demonstrate a measured approach, the central message is undeniable: teaching is a public trust, not merely a job. Given that millions of children in the country rely on government schools for foundational learning, the quality of teaching is paramount.

Skoobuzz emphasises that the Teachers’ Eligibility Test represents more than a qualifying examination; it is a critical instrument for advancing equity, strengthening credibility, and driving reform within the education system.