Tamil Nadu to hold TET thrice in 2026 after SC’s mandatory eligibility rule; relief for teachers

The Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) government of Tamil Nadu has announced that the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) will be conducted thrice a year, following the Supreme Court’s (SC) order, making TET mandatory for all teachers to retain their jobs.

The Tamil Nadu recruitment board has decided to conduct special teacher eligibility tests in January, July, and December 2026 for all government teachers across the state.

The special eligibility test for the month of January 2026 tentatively on January 24 for paper I and January 25 for paper 2, and the notification for this will be released in the last week of November 2025.

The state government had previously filed a petition challenging SC’s TET order. The school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said that enforcement would affect around 3.28 lakh teachers with more than five years of service and about 67,000 nearing retirement.

Also read ‘Insult to years of service’: West Bengal teachers oppose TET mandate, suggest alternate training

SC’s order on TET

SC recently ruled that passing the TET is compulsory for all teachers in government and government-aided schools teaching Classes 1 to 8. Those who do not clear the exam within two years will not be allowed to continue in service, except for teachers who have less than five years remaining until retirement.

Moreover, SC has clarified that TET is essential for promotions with no exemptions.

The school education minister also warned that enforcing SC’s order without modification could create a shortage of nearly four lakh teachers, which will severely impact the Right to Education for rural, hilly, and marginalised children dependent on government schools.

The TET notification regarding the special eligibility test to be conducted in the months of July and December 2026 will be released later.