The Tamil Nadu government has slashed the qualifying marks for the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) by 5 percentage points, a move expected to benefit thousands of aspiring teachers across the State, official sources said on Thursday. The government order was issued on January 28 by the School Education Department in a bid to align Tamil Naduâs eligibility norms with practices in several other states.Under the revised norms, the qualifying score for the TET â mandatory for appointment as Secondary Grade Teachers and Graduate Teachers (classes 1â8) in government and aided schools â has been lowered for reserved categories. General category candidates still need 60 per cent (90 out of 150 marks) to qualify. However, candidates belonging to BC, BC-Muslim, MBC, DNC and Persons with Disabilities now need 50 per cent (75 marks) and SC/ST candidates require 40 per cent (60 marks). The changes will also apply retrospectively to the TET held in November 2025, officials noted.
Education officials said the adjustment in qualifying marks is expected to improve access to teaching careers for a wider pool of candidates, particularly those from under-represented groups. By adopting a model similar to those of states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha, the government aims to strengthen the teaching workforce in schools while maintaining standards. Further details on implementation and counselling support for candidates have yet to be released.