Lok Sabha Question No. 5011 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri E T Mohammed Basheer, Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar, Shri Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:- 5011

ANSWERED ON-23/03/2026

## Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)

## 5011. Shri E T Mohammed Basheer:

Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar:

Shri Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the steps taken by the Government to improve the living standard of teachers working in schools;

(b)  whether  it  has  come  to  the  notice  of  the  Government  that  a  large  number  of  teachers appointed, prior to the introduction of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) or qualify the TET under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, are facing denial of service  approval,  job  security,  salary,  promotions  and  other  service  benefits  due  to  the subsequent insistence on TET qualification, if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government  acknowledges  that  these  teachers  were  appointed  strictly  in accordance with the qualifications and rules prevailing at the time of their appointment and that retrospective enforcement of TET norms has resulted in discrimination and prolonged litigation and if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  any  proposal  is  under  the  consideration  of  the  Government  to  remove  the mandatory requirement of qualifying the TET for teachers already in service or grant a onetime  permanent  exemption  from  TET  for  such  teachers  who  were  appointed  prior  to  the implementation of the said policy and if so, the time by which a decision in this regard is likely to be taken by the Government and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the timeline fixed for issuing clear directions to States to regularise their service and release all pending salary and benefits?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a)  to  (e):  The  National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020  emphasises  enhancing  the  status, working conditions and professional development of teachers, recognising them as central to education reforms.

The  Central  Government,  through  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Samagra  Shiksha, provides  financial  assistance  to  States/UTs  for  salary  support  (as  per  norms),  in-service training, teacher capacity building and strengthening of academic support institutions such as SCERTs and DIETs, thereby contributing to improved professional conditions of teachers.

Under Samagra Shiksha, support is also provided for continuous professional development of teachers  through  programmes  such  as  NISHTHA,  which  enhances  teachers'  competencies, classroom  effectiveness  and  career  progression.  Further,  the  Government  has  issued  the National  Professional  Standards  for  Teachers  (NPST),  which  provide  a  framework  for professional growth, career progression and recognition of teachers. The National Mission for Mentoring (NMM) has also been envisaged to provide continuous personal and professional support to teachers, thereby improving their professional engagement and effectiveness.

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, has 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. 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.

Education is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and the recruitment, service conditions  and  deployment  of  teachers  come  under  the  purview  of  the  concerned  State Government/UT Administrations. States/UTs are regularly advised to ensure timely recruitment,  rational  deployment,  transparent  service  conditions  and  career  progression pathways for teachers, and the progress in this regard is reviewed through periodic meetings. Support under Samagra Shiksha is also provided for school infrastructure such as classrooms, sanitation  facilities,  drinking  water  and  digital  resources,  thereby  improving  the  overall working environment of teachers.

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