Bhubaneswar: The Odisha School & Mass Education Department has extended the deadline for in-service teachers to clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) from two years to three years.
According to an official notification issued on June 20, 2026, the last date for acquiring the TET qualification has now been extended to August 31, 2028.
This decision comes in the wake of a Supreme Court order dated May 29, 2026, in the Review Petition arising from the case State of U.P. vs. Anjuman Ishaat-E-Taleem Trust & Others. The Apex Court modified its earlier directive and granted an additional one-year relaxation for in-service teachers to complete the TET qualification.
The notification, issued by Additional Secretary Jadumani Mahala, directs the Director of Elementary Education to inform all concerned authorities and stakeholders about the revised timeline. Copies have also been forwarded to all District Education Officers (DEOs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) for strict compliance.
The department has emphasized that the matter should be given top priority to ensure full implementation of the Supreme Court’s directions.
This extension is expected to provide significant relief to thousands of working teachers across Odisha who were required to clear the TET within the earlier deadline.
“The Hon’ble Supreme Court, in the aforesaid review proceedings, has modified the timeline stipulated in paragraph 217 of the judgment in Anjuman Ishaar-E Taleem Trust & Others and has extended the period available to in-service teachers for acquiring the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) qualification from two (2) years to tree (3) years. Accordingly, the last date for acquiring the requisite TET qualification has been extended from 31.08.2027 to 31.08.2028”, read the notification issued by the School and Mass Education Department.
