Tamil Nadu Govt to Conduct Three Special TET Exams 2026

• Tamil Nadu plans three special TETs in 2026: Jan, Jul, Dec.
• Mandatory for I-VIII teachers; exempts near-retirees; aids 2 lakh.
• First exam Jan 24–25; Class XI public exams scrapped for internal assessments.

Tamil Nadu School Education Department has planned to conduct three special Teachers' Eligibility Tests (TET) in 2026. The exams are set to be held in January, July, and December. The department plans to conduct these tests to ensure that the teaching staff of classes I to VIII in government and government-aided schools are up to the mark of national eligibility standards.

This move is in compliance with the Supreme Court directive that requires TET to be cleared within two years for job retention and promotions.Those teachers who are within five years of their retirement are not required to take the test.

The decision which has been formalized through a government has been taken with the intention of providing several opportunities to the teachers without interfering with their jobs thus facilitating the welfare of around two lakh teachers. After 2026, the government will look into the results to decide about future tests and whether additional rounds will be held in 2027.

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The first TET stage (Paper I and II) will be held on January 24–25, 2026. Notices regarding July and December exams will be issued later. The Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) will be responsible for the smooth conduct of the examination through his team, and the State Council for Educational Research and Training and DIETs will provide the necessary training. A senior education official said, "The TRB was given the directive to facilitate the smooth conduct of all three TET exams in 2026."

As part of a policy overhaul, Tamil Nadu has decided to do away with Class XI public exams starting from this academic year in line with the State Education Policy. This measure is aimed at reducing the pressure on students and at the same time promoting a more flexible style of learning. The Class XI exams introduced in 2018 for syllabus coverage before Class XII will now be replaced entirely by internal assessments. This change marks a significant shift in the secondary education evaluation system.