YSRCP urges Centre to exempt senior teachers from TET mandate
Synopsis
YSRCP has taken its fight for senior teachers to the Centre, meeting Education Minister Prahlad Joshi to demand TET exemption for those with 20-30 years of service. With around one lakh Andhra Pradesh teachers affected and a 2028 deadline looming, the party is threatening a Private Member's Bill if the government does not act — putting pressure on both the NDA at the Centre and the Naidu government in the state.
Key Takeaways
A YSRCP delegation met Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi in New Delhi on 13 August to seek TET exemption for senior in-service teachers.
The party demands relief for teachers who joined service before 2011 and have completed 20 to 30 years of service.
Approximately one lakh teachers in Andhra Pradesh and lakhs more nationwide are reportedly affected by the mandatory TET ruling.
YSRCP has called for amendment of Section 23 of the Right to Education Act and a review of the Supreme Court judgment.
The party plans to raise the issue in Parliament and may introduce a Private Member's Bill ; the TET qualification deadline is 31 August 2028 .
Jagan Mohan Reddy had last month urged CM N.
Chandrababu Naidu to press the Centre for an exemption.
A delegation of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders met Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi in New Delhi on Thursday, 13 August, urging the Centre to exempt senior in-service teachers from the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) requirement and amend the Right to Education (RTE) Act accordingly. The delegation argued that forcing teachers with two to three decades of service to clear a mandatory eligibility test at age 50 and above is both unfair and a violation of their basic rights.
Who Was in the Delegation
The YSRCP team comprised Members of Parliament Golla Baburao, P.V. Midhun Reddy, Y.S. Avinash Reddy, and Maddila Gurumoorthy, along with MLCs M.V. Ramachandra Reddy, Parvatha Reddy Chandrasekhar Reddy, and Kalpalatha Reddy. Speaking to the media after the meeting, the leaders said approximately one lakh teachers in Andhra Pradesh and lakhs more across the country are directly affected by the Supreme Court ruling making TET qualification mandatory.
Key Demands Placed Before the Centre
The delegation called on the Centre to review the Supreme Court judgment that made TET clearance compulsory and to amend Section 23 of the Right to Education Act. They specifically sought relief for teachers who joined service before 2011 and have completed 20 to 30 years of service. The leaders also questioned why the Andhra Pradesh state government had not filed a review petition before the Supreme Court, and why the NDA government had not yet moved to amend the relevant provision of the RTE Act.
Concerns Over Examination Format
YSRCP leaders argued that requiring senior teachers to sit an online examination covering all subjects — rather than the specific subject they teach — is inherently unjust. They proposed that if a test is unavoidable, it should be conducted in offline mode and restricted to the teacher's own subject area. While the deadline for TET qualification stands at 31 August 2028, the leaders said teachers are already experiencing significant anxiety over job security and promotion prospects.
Legislative and Legal Action Planned
YSRCP announced it would raise the matter in Parliament, introduce a Private Member's Bill if required, and pursue both legal and legislative avenues on behalf of the affected teachers. The party also demanded that the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly pass a resolution seeking exemption from the TET rule. This comes after YSRCP president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy last month urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to pressure the Centre to exempt teachers appointed before 2011, calling the state government's inaction on the issue a disservice to thousands of educators.
Broader Context
The TET mandate, rooted in the Right to Education Act and upheld by the Supreme Court, was designed to ensure a minimum standard of teacher competency across India. However, critics argue that applying it retrospectively to long-serving teachers conflates recruitment quality standards with the demonstrated performance of experienced educators. This is not the first time political parties have flagged the issue — several states have previously sought Centre-level relief, with limited success. The 31 August 2028 deadline gives affected teachers some runway, but without a policy or legal resolution, uncertainty is likely to persist.
Point of View
Championing one lakh aggrieved teachers is an effective pressure tool against both the Naidu government and the Centre. But the substantive question deserves a serious answer: does a blanket TET mandate make sense for teachers who have been in classrooms for three decades? The Supreme Court's ruling was forward-looking in intent; its retrospective bite on experienced educators was arguably an unintended consequence. The Centre's silence on amending Section 23 of the RTE Act, despite repeated representations from multiple states, suggests either legislative inertia or a reluctance to be seen diluting teacher quality standards — even where those standards were never designed to apply retroactively.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TET exemption demand made by YSRCP?
YSRCP is demanding that the Centre exempt senior in-service teachers — particularly those who joined before 2011 and have 20 to 30 years of service — from the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test. The party argues it is unreasonable to require teachers aged 50 and above to clear an eligibility test they were never required to pass when they were recruited.
How many teachers are affected by the mandatory TET rule?
According to YSRCP leaders, around one lakh teachers in Andhra Pradesh alone are affected, with lakhs more impacted across other states. The Supreme Court ruling making TET qualification mandatory applies to all in-service teachers who have not yet cleared the test.
What is the deadline for teachers to clear the TET?
Teachers have until 31 August 2028 to qualify in the TET. However, YSRCP says the looming deadline is already causing anxiety among senior teachers over job security and promotion prospects, even though time remains.
What changes to the law is YSRCP seeking?
YSRCP is urging the Centre to amend Section 23 of the Right to Education Act, which underpins the TET mandate, and to seek a review of the Supreme Court judgment that made TET clearance compulsory. The party also wants the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly to pass a resolution supporting the exemption.
What action has YSRCP threatened if the Centre does not act?
YSRCP has said it will raise the issue in Parliament and introduce a Private Member's Bill if necessary, while also pursuing legal avenues. The party has additionally questioned why the Andhra Pradesh state government has not filed a review petition before the Supreme Court.
