Supreme Court Makes TET Mandatory for All Teachers, In-Service Staff Also Covered

The Supreme Court of India in a recent judgment has made Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for all school teachers in India. In-service teachers appointed before the RTE Act will get two years to clear TET or face retirement.

The Supreme Court in a recent judgement has clarified that passing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is now compulsory for all teachers. The order applies not only to fresh recruits but also to teachers already serving in schools across India.

The SC Bench also underlined that TET is the minimum qualification required to ensure teaching standards nationwide. With this SC ruling, even in-service teachers who were previously exempt will now have to qualify the exam.

However, giving relaxation to existing teachers, the court has allowed a window of two years to appear and clear TET, ensuring that the transition does not disrupt ongoing classes. Education experts believe the move will bring uniformity in recruitment and improve learning outcomes.

TET was introduced in 2011, saw patchy enforcement, with many in-service teachers allowed to continue without clearing the exam. Monday’s SC ruling closes that loophole and signals a shift toward stricter quality norms in classrooms.The TET exam is conducted by both central and state education bodies for teaching posts in government and private schools. The test assesses candidates on child development, pedagogy, subject knowledge and general awareness, making it a key filter for quality in classrooms.