UPTET 2026 special exam: Allahabad HC rejects Shiksha Mitra eligibility plea

The Allahabad High Court two days ago dismissed petitions from Shiksha Mitras seeking inclusion in the special Uttar Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test (UPTET) 2026 exam. The ruling, delivered by a single-judge bench of Justice Manju Rani Chauhan in Prayagraj, stated that Shiksha Mitras cannot claim eligibility for this specific special session as their legal status differs from government teachers.

The court upheld the government’s decision that the Special TET is a transitional scheme for certain in-service teachers who became subject to the TET requirement after their appointment, following a Supreme Court order on September 1, 2025, making TET mandatory for all serving teachers by August 31, 2028. The decision affects many Shiksha Mitras, some of whom have served in primary-level schools for over 26 years.

Court’s Rationale for Exclusion

The Allahabad High Court clarified that the Special TET is a transitional scheme for certain in-service teachers and does not automatically cover Shiksha Mitras. The court stated that the legal status of Shiksha Mitras is different from that of teachers employed in government service. Justice Manju Rani Chauhan remarked that the Indian Constitution does not oblige the state to eliminate reasonable distinctions based on valid and statutory purposes.

The court further stated that Shiksha Mitras cannot claim entry to the Special TET simply because they are eligible for the general TET. The government order of September 2, 2026, instructed the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission Prayagraj to conduct the Special TET specifically for teachers who have not yet passed TET or CTET.

Background of the Special TET

The Special TET was introduced by the State Education Service Selection Commission for teachers and Shiksha Mitras working in council-run schools who had not passed either TET or CTET. This special examination was announced following protests from teachers’ organizations after the Supreme Court’s mandate for all serving teachers to pass the TET by August 31, 2028. Teachers who have already passed TET or CTET are not required to take this examination.

The regular TET was held on July 2, 3, and 4, 2026, with 19,94,661 applicants, and its result was declared on August 26, 2026. The Special TET aims to provide an opportunity for in-service teachers to meet the mandatory eligibility criteria. The examination will carry 150 marks, consist of objective questions, and last two and a half hours, with no negative marking.

Shiksha Mitras’ Plea and Future Steps

The petition seeking inclusion in the Special TET-2026 exam was filed in September 2025 by 220 Shiksha Mitras, including Wasim Ahmed. Advocate Jain Abbas represented the Shiksha Mitras in the petition. The court reserved its judgment after the hearing was completed on September 24, 2026.

Following the court’s dismissal of their plea, Wasim Ahmed expressed disappointment, stating, “This decision is sad. We will go to the next court, to the double bench. We are fully confident that we will get relief there.” He added that Shiksha Mitras have been serving for 26 years and questioned why they are being excluded when teachers from private, aided, and contractual special educators were included.

Special TET 2026 Schedule

The State Education Service Selection Commission issued the notification for the Special TET on September 3, 2026. Following this, the online registration, OTR, and application process for the examination commenced on September 5, 2026. Candidates have until October 4, 2026, to pay the application fee.

The deadline for making any corrections to the submitted application forms is October 8, 2026. The Special TET examination itself is scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026. The examination will consist of 150 objective questions, with a duration of two and a half hours, and will not include negative marking.

Further reading

• AP EdCET registration: dates and steps to apply
• UPTET: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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