amil Nadu has taken a significant step seeking relief for teachers appointed before the implementation of the Teacher Eligibility Test requirement. School Education Minister A Rajmohan moved a special resolution in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly seeking a complete and permanent exemption from the Teacher Eligibility Test for teachers appointed before August 23, 2010.
The resolution focuses on teachers who entered government school service before the relevant cut-off date and have continued to work for many years. According to the minister, around 3.28 lakh teachers across Tamil Nadu are affected by the current mandatory TET requirement.
The issue has gained importance following the Supreme Court's position that TET is a mandatory minimum qualification under the Right to Education Act for teachers covered by the Act. The Union Government informed Parliament in April 2026 that the Supreme Court, in its September 1, 2025 judgment, had held TET to be one of the minimum qualifications prescribed under Section 23 of the Right to Education Act.
Against this background, Tamil Nadu has sought a separate and permanent exemption for teachers who were appointed before August 23, 2010. The state government has argued that many of these teachers have already served the education system for a considerable period and have acquired extensive professional experience.
Presenting the resolution, Minister A Rajmohan said that teachers appointed before August 23, 2010 should be completely exempted from the TET requirement. He also urged the Union Government to make the necessary amendment to the Right to Education Act to facilitate such an exemption.
The resolution further seeks to ensure that eligible teachers continue to receive their service-related benefits, including promotions, without being adversely affected by the TET requirement. The state government has maintained that teachers who have already served for 15 to 20 years should not face uncertainty over their jobs and career progression because of a qualification requirement introduced after their appointment.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly also urged the Union Government to take appropriate steps to provide a permanent exemption through amendments to the Right to Education Act and relevant guidelines of the National Council for Teacher Education.
The resolution received support from members across political parties. Reports stated that the resolution was passed unanimously through a voice vote in the Assembly. This indicates broad political support within the state legislature for seeking relief for teachers appointed before the specified cut-off date.
The issue of TET exemption for teachers appointed before the 2010 notification is not entirely new. Tamil Nadu's Teacher Recruitment Board documents have previously recognised provisions relating to appointments made before August 23, 2010. An official TRB notification states that teachers appointed with the prescribed qualifications on or after August 23, 2010 were required to take the TET, while certain appointments whose recruitment process had begun before the relevant NCTE notification were eligible for exemption.
The legal and administrative position has evolved over time. A Madras High Court judgment also discussed the NCTE notification dated August 23, 2010 and provisions relating to teachers appointed before that notification. The judgment noted that the original notification provided that teachers appointed before the date of the notification did not have to acquire the newly prescribed minimum qualifications, including TET, subject to the applicable provisions.
The present resolution therefore seeks to address the concerns of a large group of experienced teachers in the state by requesting a clear and permanent exemption. The government believes that such an exemption would provide greater job security and remove uncertainty regarding promotions and other service benefits.
For the teachers concerned, the issue is particularly significant because many have spent a substantial part of their professional lives working in schools. According to the minister's statement, a large number have completed between 15 and 20 years of uninterrupted service.
The resolution does not itself create a permanent exemption at the national level. Instead, it represents the Tamil Nadu Assembly's formal request to the Union Government to make the necessary legal changes. Any permanent exemption would therefore depend on the response of the Union Government and the relevant legal and regulatory process.
The demand also highlights the broader discussion surrounding the balance between maintaining teacher eligibility standards and protecting the service interests of experienced teachers already working in the education system.
The Tamil Nadu government's position is that teachers appointed before the introduction of the relevant TET requirement should receive protection from the subsequent qualification requirement. The state has therefore asked for appropriate amendments to the central legislation and related guidelines.
The development is expected to remain an important issue for government school teachers across Tamil Nadu. The final outcome will depend on the Union Government's consideration of the Assembly resolution and any subsequent changes to the applicable legal and regulatory framework.
For now, the key development is that the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has unanimously sought a permanent exemption from TET for teachers appointed before August 23, 2010. The state has also requested that their existing service benefits and promotional opportunities remain protected.
The resolution marks a formal step by Tamil Nadu to seek relief for experienced teachers while continuing the wider debate over TET requirements and teacher qualifications.