The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) will likely add Maithili as a language option. The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has cleared a proposal for Maithili’s inclusion. This change will allow candidates to take the crucial teacher eligibility exam in their mother tongue.
BJP MP Gopal Thakur from Darbhanga confirmed the development, according to media reports. He stated the process is nearing its formal notification stage. Once formally notified, candidates whose mother tongue is Maithili can select it as an exam language.
About the CTET Examination
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts the CTET exam. This test certifies candidates to teach in Classes 1 to 8. Central government schools and other institutions accepting CTET scores require this certification. The exam features two papers: Paper I for primary classes (1 to 5) and Paper II for upper primary classes (6 to 8).
Current Language Options and Selection Process
Candidates must select two languages during CTET registration. Currently, the CBSE CTET is available in 20 languages. The addition of Maithili will expand these options.
| Current CTET Language Options | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Hindi | Assamese | Manipuri | Marathi |
| Bangla | Garo | Gujarati | Kannada | Khasi |
| Malayalam | Mizo | Nepali | Oriya | Punjabi |
| Sanskrit | Tamil | Telugu | Tibetan | Urdu |
CTET Exam Structure and Schedule
The CTET paper consists of 150 questions, each carrying one mark, totaling 150 marks. Exams are typically held in two shifts. For example, a previous CTET cycle on February 8 included a morning shift from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM and an afternoon shift from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
| Typical CTET Exam Details | |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 150 |
| Total Marks | 150 |
| Paper I (Classes 1-5) | Required for primary teachers |
| Paper II (Classes 6-8) | Required for upper primary teachers |
| Morning Shift (Example) | 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Afternoon Shift (Example) | 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM |
Next Steps for Candidates
Candidates should monitor the official CTET website, ctet.nic.in, for formal announcements regarding Maithili’s inclusion. Admit cards and specific exam schedules are also released on this portal.