STET 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit & Qualification

STET 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit & Qualification

Written By Aliya Khan

Updated on – 03 Jan, 2026

The Bihar STET 2026 eligibility criteria outline the basic requirements for candidates aspiring to teach at secondary and higher secondary levels in schools across Bihar. These guidelines confirm that applicants meet the required academic qualifications, age limits, and nationality standards to appear for the State Teacher Eligibility Test. Fulfilling all eligibility conditions is essential, as non compliance can lead to automatic disqualification during the application scrutiny process.

STET 2026 Eligibilty Criteria: Nationality Requirement

  • Applicants must be Indian citizens to be eligible for Bihar STET 2026.

  • The nationality condition is applicable to all categories without exception.

  • This requirement aligns with state norms for government and public sector teaching positions.

  • Candidates are required to present valid proof of Indian citizenship during document verification.

  • Commonly accepted documents include Aadhaar card, voter ID, or other government-issued identity proofs.

STET 2026 Eligibilty Criteria: Minimum Age Limit

  • Candidates must have completed at least 21 years of age as of August 1, 2026.

  • The age cutoff date is set by the Bihar School Examination Board.

  • The minimum age requirement ensures candidates possess adequate maturity for secondary-level teaching responsibilities.

  • There is no relaxation or exemption provided for the minimum age criterion.

STET 2026 Eligibilty Criteria: Maximum Age Limits by Category

Age relaxation differs based on gender and reservation category to ensure fair representation in teaching recruitment.

CategoryMaximum Age (as on 01.08.2026)
Unreserved Male37 years
Unreserved Female40 years
Backward Class (BC)40 years
Extremely Backward Class (EBC)40 years
Scheduled Caste (SC)42 years
Scheduled Tribe (ST)42 years

Additional age relaxations may be applicable for in service teachers or under certain government schemes. Candidates must confirm eligibility through the official notification. Applicants exceeding the prescribed age limit will be considered ineligible unless they qualify for a valid exemption.

STET 2026 Eligibilty Criteria: Educational Qualifications


Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant discipline with at least 50 percent aggregate marks from a recognized university. A B.Ed. degree is mandatory for most teaching subjects. For reserved categories such as SC, ST, and OBC, the minimum qualifying marks may be relaxed to 45 percent in certain cases, as per NCTE norms.

Paper 1 Eligibility (Secondary Level: Classes 9 to 10)


Paper 1 is intended for candidates aiming to teach at the secondary level.

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50 percent marks along with a B.Ed. degree
• Graduation in the relevant teaching subject such as Hindi, Mathematics, or Science followed by a B.Ed.
• Integrated B.A. B.Ed. or B.Sc. B.Ed. programs approved by NCTE are considered valid
• Postgraduate degrees are advantageous for language and arts subjects
• Candidates appearing in the final year of their B.Ed. program are eligible to apply provisionally

Paper 2 Eligibility (Higher Secondary Level: Classes 11 to 12)


Paper 2 is designed for senior secondary teaching positions requiring advanced subject knowledge.

• Master’s degree in the relevant subject with at least 50 percent marks along with a B.Ed. degree
• Applicable subjects include English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany
• Integrated M.Ed. programs are accepted as per prescribed norms
• Technical and vocational subjects may follow slightly different eligibility rules, focusing on practical relevance to the school curriculum.

STET 2026 Eligibilty Criteria: Computer Science Requirements

Applicants in Computer Science must meet specific eligibility standards because of the technical nature of the subject. The acceptable qualifications include:

  • A Master’s degree in Computer Science or an equivalent qualification with at least 50 percent marks

  • B.E. or B.Tech. in Computer Science or Information Technology from an AICTE-recognized institution

  • DOEACC “A” Level diploma or a postgraduate diploma in Computer Applications

  • A B.Ed. degree is mandatory along with any of the above qualifications

These requirements highlight Bihar’s focus on promoting technologically proficient educators in schools.

STET 2026 Eligibilty Criteria: Reservation Benefits

Bihar STET 2026 follows the reservation norms prescribed by the Bihar state government.

  • SC/ST candidates are given a 5 percent relaxation in educational qualification marks with a minimum of 45 percent required. They also receive up to 5 years of age relaxation.

  • OBC, BC, and EBC candidates are eligible for similar relaxation in qualifying marks. The upper age limit for these categories generally ranges between 40 and 42 years as per rules.

  • PwD candidates receive additional age relaxation of 10 to 15 years along with a 5 percent concession in qualifying marks.

  • EWS candidates are provided a 10 percent reservation quota but must meet the general category age criteria.

All reservation benefits are applicable only if candidates produce valid, state-issued certificates at the time of verification.

STET 2026 Eligibilty Criteria: Physical Fitness Standards

  • No major physical tests are conducted during STET

  • Candidates must self-declare fitness for teaching responsibilities

  • Vision, hearing, and general health requirements apply during school appointments

  • PwD candidates are eligible as per RPwD Act provisions

STET 2026 Provisional Eligibilty Criteria

  • Final-year students of B.Ed. or graduation courses are eligible on a provisional basis

  • Results must be declared before the document verification stage

  • Submission of final passing proof is mandatory

  • This provision supports ongoing academic schedules

STET 2026 Eligibilty Criteria: Disqualifications

  • Submission of forged or incorrect documents leads to rejection

  • Exceeding the prescribed age limit results in disqualification

  • Failure to meet minimum qualifying marks is a common cause of rejection

  • Multiple applications are not permitted

  • Candidates previously debarred in any TET exam are ineligible

  • BSEB follows a strict verification and scrutiny process

STET 2026 Eligibilty Criteria: Verification Process

  • Documents are verified in multiple stages

  • Initial screening is conducted after application submission

  • Verification continues during admit card issuance

  • Final checks are completed at the merit list stage

  • Any rejection clearly states the violated eligibility condition

  • Appeals are processed as per official board guidelines.

Comparison with Other STET and TET Exams

Bihar STET follows the national teacher eligibility framework while adapting its structure to meet state specific academic requirements. It places greater focus on secondary and higher secondary teaching roles compared to other TET exams.

FeatureBihar STET 2026TS TET (Telangana)General CTET
Age Criteria21 to 37 or 42 years18 to 40 yearsNo upper age limit
Minimum Qualifying Marks50 percent, 45 percent for reserved categories50 percent, 45 percent for reserved categories50 percent, 45 percent for reserved categories
Exam LevelsSecondary and Higher SecondaryPrimary and Upper PrimaryPrimary and Elementary
Subject FocusSpecialized subjects such as Computer ScienceGeneral subject categoriesBroad subject coverage
Core EmphasisHigher secondary teaching eligibilityPrimary education eligibilityFoundational and elementary education

Bihar STET distinctly prioritizes higher secondary education, unlike other TET exams that mainly concentrate on primary level teaching qualifications.

College Predictor

Know Your Odds Of Admission

Search Now