Lok Sabha Question No. 1606 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Guidelines of National Council for Teacher Education
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Lalji Verma

## 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 of two 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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