Breaking Barriers: Maharashtra Allows 5% Mark Relaxation in CTET for EWS Aspirants

Pune, 11th June 2023: Maharashtra state government has extended a five percent relaxation in qualifying marks for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Initially, this relaxation was only applicable to the state-conducted TET, but it has now been extended to the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) as well. Candidates from the EWS category appearing for the CTET will now benefit from this decision.

The educational and professional qualifications for teachers in primary, upper primary, middle, and higher secondary schools and junior colleges in the state have been defined. As per the new regulations, a five percent mark relaxation in qualifying marks has been granted to candidates from various categories, including the EWS category, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, and disabled candidates. However, there was ambiguity regarding the applicability of this relaxation to the CTET, as the state government’s decision did not explicitly mention it.

Several organizations and representatives raised concerns about the lack of clarity, prompting the Education Department to provide clarification. The department clarified that the exemption in qualifying marks is applicable to any Teacher Eligibility Test conducted by the Central Government, State Government, or authorized agencies as defined in the Maharashtra Private Schools Employees (Conditions of Service) Rules 1981.

For the past two months, EWS candidates in the state have been advocating for a five percent relaxation in the CTET. The circular issued by the Education Department to implement this relaxation brings relief to thousands of EWS candidates in Maharashtra. Santosh Magar, Founder President of the Students Association, applauded Maharashtra for being the first state to provide such concessions to the EWS category in teacher eligibility examinations.