MP TET 2026 Deadline Extended To September 18, Offline Exam Option For Teachers

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - The deadline for the inaugural Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers in the state has been extended until September 18, according to a notification released by the Employees Selection Board (ESB). The initial deadline had been set for this Friday, but the extension comes after discussions between the School Education Department and the ESB, which aimed to address the low response rate.

As of Thursday, only around 2,500 out of nearly 1.5 lakh eligible teachers had submitted their applications. In May 2026, the Supreme Court mandated that teachers appointed between 1998 and 2009 must clear the TET to maintain their qualifications. Deputy Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal has urged senior officers to visit distant districts within the framework of the Jan Vishwas Campaign.

Following the court's directive, the School Education Department submitted a proposal to the ESB to conduct the examination. The application process commenced on August 21, and teacher associations have advocated for the provision of an offline examination mode, citing concerns about the comfort level of in-service teachers with computer usage.

Meetings between representatives of the teacher associations and the School Education Minister, Uday Pratap Singh, and the Commissioner of Public Instruction, Abhishek Singh, have led to the decision to offer an offline option.

Moreover, teacher associations have expressed opposition to the Rs 1,000 examination fee, arguing that as the TET is being conducted in compliance with a Supreme Court order, the state government should cover the examination cost. However, a resolution on this fee relief demand has yet to be reached.