Teaching Exams in India
Teaching exams in India are essential for those aspiring to pursue a career in education, whether at the school or university level.
Teaching is one of the most respected professions in India. Every year thousands of candidates prepare for government teaching exams to secure jobs in central and state government schools. Teaching jobs offer job security, good salary, work-life balance, and respect in society.
Candidates who want to become teachers in India must qualify for various teacher eligibility tests and recruitment exams conducted by central and state government authorities.
On this page, you will find complete information about major teaching exams in India, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and recruitment process.
Major Teaching Exams in India
India has several teaching exams conducted for recruitment of teachers in primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools.
Some of the most popular teaching exams in India include:
CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test)
State TET Exams
KVS Recruitment Exam
NVS Recruitment Exam
DSSSB Teacher Exam
UGC NET (for Assistant Professor)
Super TET
Army Public School Teacher Exam
These exams help candidates get teaching jobs in government schools, central schools, and state schools.
UGC NET / CSIR NET (For College/University Lecturer Roles)
UGC NET (University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test) is conducted for humanities, social sciences, commerce, and related subjects.
CSIR NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – NET) focuses on science subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Life Sciences, and Earth Sciences.
Qualifying these exams makes candidates eligible for the post of Assistant Professor and for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in universities and colleges across India.
The exam consists of two papers:
Paper I (General Teaching & Research Aptitude)
Paper II (Subject-Specific)
CTET Exam (Central Teacher Eligibility Test)
The CTET Exam is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). It is one of the most important teacher eligibility exams in India.
CTET Exam Details
Conducting Body: CBSE
Exam Frequency: Twice a year
Mode of Exam: Online
Level: National Level
CTET Papers
There are two papers in CTET:
Paper 1 – For Primary Teachers (Class 1 to 5)
Paper 2 – For Upper Primary Teachers (Class 6 to 8)
Candidates can appear for both papers if they want to teach classes 1 to 8.
CTET Eligibility
Primary Teacher (Class 1–5)
12th pass with minimum 50% marks
Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed)
Upper Primary Teacher (Class 6–8)
Graduation degree
B.Ed or equivalent teaching qualification
State Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)
Each state in India conducts its own Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for recruitment in government schools.
Examples of State TET exams include:
UPTET – Uttar Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test
REET – Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers
HTET – Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test
MAHA TET – Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test
TNTET – Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test
These exams allow candidates to apply for state government teaching jobs.
KVS Teacher Recruitment
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) conducts recruitment exams for teachers in Kendriya Vidyalaya schools across India.
KVS Teaching Posts
KVS recruits teachers for various posts such as:
PRT – Primary Teacher
TGT – Trained Graduate Teacher
PGT – Post Graduate Teacher
Librarian
Principal
Vice Principal
Eligibility
PRT – Graduation + D.El.Ed / B.Ed
TGT – Graduation + B.Ed
PGT – Post Graduation + B.Ed
Candidates must also qualify CTET for many KVS teaching posts.
NVS Teacher Recruitment
Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) conducts recruitment exams for teachers in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools across India.
NVS Teacher Posts
NVS recruits teachers for:
PGT (Post Graduate Teacher)
TGT (Trained Graduate Teacher)
PRT (Primary Teacher)
Miscellaneous Teachers (Art, Music, Physical Education)
NVS teaching jobs are highly popular because they offer good salary, accommodation, and government benefits.
DSSSB Teacher Recruitment
The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) conducts recruitment exams for teachers in Delhi government schools.
DSSSB Teacher Posts
DSSSB recruits teachers for:
Primary Teacher
TGT Teacher
PGT Teacher
Special Education Teacher
These jobs offer excellent salary and benefits under Delhi government rules.
Super TET Exam
The Super TET Exam is conducted by the Uttar Pradesh government for recruitment of teachers in government schools.
Candidates who qualify UPTET can appear for Super TET to get permanent teaching jobs in Uttar Pradesh.
Teaching Exam Eligibility in India
To become a government teacher in India, candidates usually need the following qualifications:
For Primary Teacher
12th pass with minimum marks
Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed)
CTET or State TET qualification
For Upper Primary Teacher
Graduation degree
B.Ed degree
CTET / State TET qualification
For PGT Teacher
Post Graduation in relevant subject
B.Ed degree
Teaching Exam Preparation Tips
If you want to clear teaching exams in India, follow these preparation strategies:
1. Understand the Syllabus
Check the official syllabus for CTET, TET, or KVS exams.
2. Study NCERT Books
Most teaching exams include questions based on NCERT syllabus from class 1 to 8.
3. Practice Previous Year Papers
Solving previous year question papers helps understand exam pattern and difficulty level.
4. Improve Teaching Aptitude
Teaching exams include Child Development and Pedagogy which is very important.
5. Take Mock Tests
Online mock tests improve speed and accuracy.
Latest Teaching Recruitment 2026
Every year many teaching vacancies are released by government organizations such as:
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)
Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS)
State Education Departments
Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB)
Candidates should regularly check latest teacher recruitment notifications to apply for these jobs.
Conclusion
Teaching exams in India provide great career opportunities for candidates who want to work in the education sector. Exams like CTET, TET, KVS, NVS, and DSSSB help candidates get government teaching jobs in schools across India.
If you are preparing for teaching exams in 2026, start your preparation early, focus on the syllabus, and practice regularly to improve your chances of success.