The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued a major order to implement the Teachers Eligibility Test across the Union Territory. The move follows directions of the Supreme Court of India and makes TET qualification compulsory for most teachers.
According to Government Order No. 82-JK (Edu) of 2026 dated 23-02-2026 �, the School Education Department has officially designated the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education and State School Standards Authority as the Nodal Agency for conducting TET in J&K.
What triggered this decision
The order refers to the Supreme Court judgment dated 01.09.2025 in Civil Appeal No. 1385/2025 titled Anjuman Ishat-E-Taleem Trust vs State of Maharashtra and others. On page 1 of the order, the court clearly held that the provisions of the RTE Act must be complied with by all schools except minority institutions until further decision.
The court ruled that in-service teachers, regardless of length of service, are required to qualify TET to continue in service. However, it carved out a limited exception.
Who is exempted
As mentioned on pages 1 and 4 of the order:
• Teachers who have less than five years of service left before retirement can continue without qualifying TET.
• But if such teachers seek promotion, they must qualify TET.
For others:
• Teachers recruited before enactment of the RTE Act and having more than five years left must qualify TET within two years.
• If they fail to qualify within the allowed period, they may have to leave service or face compulsory retirement with admissible benefits.
Applicability to government and private schools
The legal opinion recorded on pages 3 to 5 makes it clear:
• The Supreme Court judgment is binding across India, including the Union Territory of J&K.
• TET is mandatory for teachers in both government and private schools.
• Even registered and unregistered private institutions must comply.
• Minority institutions are temporarily exempt until a larger Bench decides the matter.
Action Plan for J&K
On page 2, the government outlines a structured action plan:
• JKBOSE has been designated as the examination conducting agency.
• Online application forms will be accepted through a dedicated software module integrated with JKBOSE website.
• Exam centres will be set up at district headquarters and twin capitals Srinagar and Jammu.
• Invigilation will include lecturers from School Education Department and Assistant Professors from Higher Education Department.
• Security will include gazetted observers, jammers, and police support under Section 163 of BNSS.
• The syllabus will follow NCTE CTET guidelines with minor contextual modifications.
Timeline
The examination process must be completed within two years, as directed by the Supreme Court. The order also directs JKBOSE to:
• Operationalize the TET framework immediately
• Notify a detailed schedule
• Coordinate with NIC and concerned departments for technical and security arrangements
• Submit a comprehensive action plan to the School Education Department at the earliest
Why this matters
This decision directly impacts thousands of in-service teachers across Jammu and Kashmir. Teachers who have not qualified TET must now prepare within the two-year window to secure their service and promotional prospects.
The order signals strict enforcement of RTE norms and uniform teacher eligibility standards across the Union Territory.
This development marks a significant policy shift in teacher regulation and professional accountability in J&K’s education system.
