OTET - Notification, Eligibility, Syllabus, Cut Off

OTET — the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test — is conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, Cuttack. It is a qualifying test for appointment as a teacher for classes I to VIII in the State Government, aided and unaided schools of Odisha. It is held in two papers:

• Paper I (Category A) — for those who intend to teach classes I to V.
• Paper II (Category B) — for those who intend to teach classes VI to VIII.

A candidate who intends to teach at both levels sits both papers. Candidates who qualify may also apply again for improvement.

OTET 2026 update

The OTET 2026 examination was held on 5 July 2026 (rescheduled from 28 June 2026) — Paper I from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. and Paper II from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. The answer key was released on the Board's examination portal with a window to submit objections, and the OTET 2026 result was declared on 2 September 2026 on bseoexams.org.

Key facts

• Conducting body: Board of Secondary Education, Odisha, Cuttack.
• Papers: Paper I (classes I–V) and Paper II (classes VI–VIII).
• Mode: 150 multiple-choice questions per paper, 150 marks, over 2 hours 30 minutes.
• Website: bseodisha.nic.in; the application and result portal is bseoexams.org.

Qualifying marks

OTET qualifies you to apply — it does not appoint you

Qualifying OTET establishes eligibility for teacher recruitment in Odisha; it does not by itself confer a right to appointment, which is made through a separate process.

OTET Eligibility

OTET eligibility follows the NCTE framework. The qualification you need depends on the paper (category) you sit. Only teacher-training courses recognised by the NCTE — or, for special education, by the Rehabilitation Council of India — are accepted. Candidates in the final year of the prescribed training course before the date of the advertisement may also apply.

Category A (Paper I) — to teach classes I to V

Any one of the following:

• Higher Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (C.T. / D.El.Ed.); or at least 45% with a 2-year D.El.Ed. under the NCTE 2002 regulations; or
• Higher Secondary with at least 50% marks and a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.); or a 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education); or
• Graduation with a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education; or Graduation with at least 50% marks and a B.Ed.; or
• Post Graduation with at least 55% marks and a 3-year integrated B.Ed.-M.Ed. (a B.Ed. holder appointed for classes I–V must complete a 6-month NCTE bridge course within two years).

Category B (Paper II) — to teach classes VI to VIII

Any one of the following:

• Graduation and a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (C.T. / D.El.Ed.); or
• At least 50% in Graduation or Post Graduation and a B.Ed.; or Graduation with at least 45% and a 1-year B.Ed. under the NCTE regulations; or
• Higher Secondary with at least 50% marks and a 4-year B.El.Ed., or a 4-year B.A./B.Sc.Ed.; or
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and a 1-year or 2-year B.Ed. (Special Education); or Post Graduation with at least 55% marks and a 3-year integrated B.Ed.-M.Ed.

Relaxation

A relaxation of 5% marks in the minimum qualifying marks at the Higher Secondary or graduation level, as applicable, is allowed to SC, ST, SEBC and PwD candidates. Confirm your own combination of degree and training qualification against the OTET 2026 notification before applying.

OTET Application Form

The OTET 2026 application was submitted online through the Board of Secondary Education, Odisha examination portal — bseoexams.org, linked from bseodisha.nic.in. Only online applications are accepted; the fee is paid online as specified in the OTET 2026 notification.

How to apply

1. Read the OTET 2026 notification, eligibility and syllabus on bseodisha.nic.in.
2. Register on the examination portal and choose the paper(s) — Paper I (Category A), Paper II (Category B), or both — according to the level you intend to teach.
3. Choose your Language I from Odia, Urdu, Hindi, Telugu or Bengali; Language II is English.
4. Upload the photograph and signature in the prescribed format, pay the fee, and save the confirmation.

In-service teachers apply in the prescribed in-service format. The admit card, result and certificate are generated from the details entered in the application, so fill them carefully.