Bhopal: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) requirement for in-service teachers, affecting more than 1.5 lakh teachers in Madhya Pradesh and thousands of others across the country.
Dismissing review petitions against its earlier ruling, the apex court said the quality of education and the academic interests of children could not be compromised. The court observed that clearing TET was necessary to maintain minimum teaching standards in schools.
The bench clarified that the order would apply across India and not only to Madhya Pradesh. States that had exempted serving teachers from qualifying TET would now be required to implement the directive.
Granting partial relief, the court extended the deadline for clearing TET from two years to three years. Eligible teachers will now have until August 31, 2028, to qualify.
“The interest of children is paramount,” the court observed while noting that the ruling could impact a large number of serving teachers. It added that additional time was being granted to avoid disruption in school education.
The Supreme Court also directed states to conduct TET examinations at least twice a year to provide adequate opportunities for teachers to qualify. The court said no further extension would be granted beyond the revised deadline.
The ruling came in connection with the Anjuman Ishat-e-Taleem Trust case. In an earlier order dated September 1, 2025, the court had directed in-service teachers to clear TET within two years.
The court further observed that TET was linked to the Right to Education Act, 2009, and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) guidelines issued in 2010.
Following the verdict, the Madhya Pradesh School Education Department is reportedly preparing to conduct a special TET examination, likely in July or August 2026.
Teacher organisations also criticised the decision and, according to media reports, may explore further legal remedies.
