TNTET 2025 begins today: belts, shoes, digital watches banned at exam centres
Synopsis
Over 2.3 lakh candidates are sitting the Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test today under some of the tightest security measures the TRB has enforced — belts, shoes, and even digital watches are banned at the door. With 835 centres active and senior education officials deployed as district monitors, the state is making a pointed statement about exam integrity ahead of a major government school recruitment cycle.
Key Takeaways
The Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test (TNTET) began on Saturday, 5 July 2025 , conducted over two days by the Tamil Nadu Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) .
Paper I (secondary grade teachers) is held at 222 centres with 61,386 candidates registered.
Paper II (graduate teacher posts) is held at 613 centres with 1,67,743 candidates registered.
Banned items include belts, shoes, high heels, digital watches, mobile phones, and all electronic communication devices.
Candidates must report between 8.30 am and 9.30 am IST ; late entry is not permitted under any circumstances.
Any candidate found with prohibited items or engaging in malpractice faces immediate disqualification .
The Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test (TNTET) commenced on Saturday, 5 July 2025 across the state, with the Tamil Nadu Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) enforcing a strict dress code and sweeping security protocols at all examination centres. Candidates have been barred from carrying belts, shoes, high-heeled footwear, digital watches, mobile phones, and all electronic communication devices into the examination halls.
Exam Scale and Centre Details
Paper I, designed for candidates seeking appointment as secondary grade teachers, is being held at 222 examination centres statewide, with 61,386 candidates registered to appear. Paper II, for graduate teacher posts, spans 613 centres across Tamil Nadu, drawing 1,67,743 registered candidates. Together, the two-day examination is among the largest teacher recruitment exercises in the state's calendar.
What Candidates Are Prohibited From Carrying
The TRB has issued a comprehensive list of banned items. Belts, shoes, high heels, digital watches, mobile phones, microphones, and all electronic or communication gadgets are strictly prohibited inside examination rooms. The restrictions are specifically aimed at curbing the use of unfair means and safeguarding the integrity of the selection process.
Reporting Time and Entry Rules
Candidates have been directed to report at their allotted centres between 8.30 am and 9.30 am IST. The TRB has made clear that no candidate arriving after 9.30 am will be permitted entry under any circumstances. Officials have urged all candidates to review the examination guidelines carefully before arriving.
Monitoring and Oversight Arrangements
To ensure smooth conduct, the Board has designated senior officials — holding the ranks of Director, Joint Director, and Deputy Director of School Education — as District Monitoring Officers across all districts. These officers are tasked with overseeing centre arrangements and ensuring strict adherence to prescribed guidelines.
Consequences for Malpractice
The TRB has warned that any candidate found in possession of prohibited items or engaging in misconduct during the examination will face immediate disqualification. With nearly 2.3 lakh candidates appearing across both papers, authorities have underscored that zero tolerance for malpractice will be enforced throughout the two-day window. Results and subsequent recruitment steps are expected to follow once the examination concludes.
Point of View
Shoes, and digital watches signals how seriously Tamil Nadu is treating exam integrity — but it also raises a practical question about whether infrastructure at all 835 centres is equipped to enforce these checks uniformly, particularly at the 613 Paper II venues spread across districts. Large-scale teacher recruitment exams have historically been flashpoints for malpractice allegations in several states; Tamil Nadu's deployment of Director-rank officials as district monitors is a notable escalation of oversight. The real measure of these protocols will be in post-exam scrutiny — whether disqualification warnings translate into actual enforcement action, or remain a deterrent on paper.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does TNTET 2025 start and how many days will it be held?
The Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test 2025 began on Saturday, 5 July 2025, and is being conducted over two days. Paper I and Paper II are held on separate days across examination centres statewide.
What items are banned inside TNTET 2025 examination halls?
The Tamil Nadu Teachers Recruitment Board has prohibited belts, shoes, high-heeled footwear, digital watches, mobile phones, microphones, and all electronic or communication devices inside examination rooms. Candidates found with any of these items face immediate disqualification.
How many candidates are appearing for TNTET 2025?
A total of over 2.3 lakh candidates are registered — 61,386 for Paper I across 222 centres, and 1,67,743 for Paper II across 613 centres spread across Tamil Nadu.
What is the reporting time for TNTET 2025 candidates?
Candidates must report at their allotted examination centres between 8.30 am and 9.30 am IST. The TRB has stated that no candidate arriving after 9.30 am will be allowed entry under any circumstances.
Who is overseeing the conduct of TNTET 2025?
The Tamil Nadu Teachers Recruitment Board has appointed senior officials holding the ranks of Director, Joint Director, and Deputy Director of School Education as District Monitoring Officers. They are responsible for overseeing centre arrangements and ensuring compliance with all examination guidelines.
