Teachers from various states have started arriving in Delhi for a massive protest scheduled for April 4, 2026, at Ramlila Maidan. The Teachers Federation of India (TFI) is leading this movement against the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) requirement. The Delhi Government has already granted permission for this gathering, which is expected to see participation from nearly 20 lakh affected teachers across the country who are worried about their job security.
Why are teachers protesting against the TET rule?
The protest is a direct response to the Supreme Court order issued on September 1, 2025, which made TET compulsory for all teaching staff. This rule specifically affects those who were appointed before the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009. According to the current guidelines, teachers who do not clear the TET by September 1, 2027, could face termination or a freeze on their annual salary increments. This has created a sense of urgency among the teaching community to seek a legal or parliamentary solution.
Major updates and participation details
Teachers from several districts in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have already finalized their strategies and started their journey to the national capital. The TFI leadership is demanding a parliamentary amendment to protect the jobs of senior teachers who have been serving for years without this qualification. The following data shows the primary areas from where teachers are joining the protest.
| State | Involved Districts |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Siddharthnagar, Shahjahanpur, Gonda, Basti, Maharajganj |
| Chhattisgarh | Jashpur |
| Organizations | TFI, Uttar Pradesh Prathmik Shikshak Sangh |
National leaders like Sanjay Singh and Dinesh Chandra Sharma have called this rule an injustice to those recruited before 2009. They are urging the central government to intervene through a legislative change to provide relief from the court order. Radhe Raman Tripathi has appealed to all teachers to reach Delhi in large numbers to ensure their voices are heard by the administration.
