Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) 2025 - Application Information - Bihar School Examination Board (Bihar)

Introduction

This notice provides essential information for candidates interested in appearing for the Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test (STET), 2025, and filling out the application forms. The examination is being organized by the Bihar School Examination Board, as per directives issued by the Director, Secondary Education, Education Department, Bihar, vide letter no. 09/मु०-05/2025 (अंश) 473 dated 01.09.2025.

1. Examination Structure

The eligibility test questions will be multiple-choice (MCQ) based.
Each question will carry 1 mark.
There will be no negative marking.

2. Examination Subjects

The STET 2025 will be conducted for two papers:

Paper-I (Secondary): For secondary level classes.
Paper-II (Higher Secondary): For higher secondary level classes.

Appendix-1: Paper-I (Secondary)

Educational / Professional Qualifications

Minimum 50% marks in Graduation or Post-Graduation (or equivalent) in a specified subject/subject group from a recognized university AND a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree from an institution recognized by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
OR Minimum 45% marks in Graduation or Post-Graduation (or equivalent) in a specified subject/subject group AND a B.Ed. degree from an NCTE-recognized institution, as per the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations 2002 (dated 13.11.2002) and 2007 (dated 10.12.2007).
OR A four-year B.A.Ed./B.Sc.Ed. degree in a specified subject/subject group from an NCTE-recognized institution.

Specialized Subjects and Qualifications for Paper-I

Physical Education (Code 113):
- Graduation with Physical Education as an elective subject with 50% marks.
- OR Graduation with Physical Education as an elective subject with 45% marks AND participation in National/State/Inter-University sports/athletic competitions recognized by the Association of Indian Universities or Indian Olympic Association.
- OR Graduation with 45% marks AND participation in National/State/Inter-University sports/athletic competitions.
- OR For deputed serving teachers (trained physical education teachers/coaches): Graduation with 45% marks AND a minimum of 3 years of teaching experience as per NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations 2009.
- OR Graduation in Physical Education with 45% marks.
- OR Graduation with Physical Education as an elective subject with a minimum of 40% marks.
- OR Graduation with participation in School/Inter-Collegiate sports/games OR possession of an NCC ('C' certificate) as per NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations 2007 (dated 10.12.2007).
- OR A three-year Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed.) degree (or equivalent).
- OR Graduation representing the State/University in sports/games/athletics.
- OR Graduation with first, second, or third place in Inter-Collegiate sports/games competitions OR possession of an NCC ('C' certificate) OR completion of a basic course in adventurous sports.
- OR Graduation with a one-year training program in Sports Science, Sports Management, Sports Coaching, Yoga, Olympic Education, Sports Journalism, etc., as per NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations 2002 (dated 13.11.2002) AND a one-year B.P.Ed. or equivalent degree from an NCTE-recognized institution.
Music Subject (Code 114): Minimum 50% marks in Graduation in Music Education or an equivalent qualification from a recognized university/board/institution.
Fine Arts (Code 115): Minimum 50% marks in Graduation in Fine Arts or an equivalent qualification from a recognized university/board/institution.
Dance Subject (Code 116): Minimum 50% marks in Graduation in Dance Education or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution/university.
Special School Teacher:
- (a) Minimum 50% marks in Graduation from a recognized university.
- (b) AND a B.Ed. in Special Education from a Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)-recognized institution with a valid CRR No. from RCI.
- OR a B.Ed. with an RCI-recognized certificate/diploma in special education equivalent to B.Ed. (Special Education) AND a valid CRR No. from RCI.
- (c) AND 6 months of teaching training in the cross-disability field. (A proviso allows for relaxation if the training has not yet started, requiring completion within 2 years of appointment).
- Note: Candidates may choose any one subject/group based on their Graduation subject.

Subject Groups for Paper-I

Mathematics: Graduation with Mathematics and any two subjects from Physics/Electronics/Computer Science/Chemistry/Statistics OR an Engineering Graduation with a specialization in Mathematics. BCA qualification is considered for Computer Science at the Graduation level.
Science: Graduation with Zoology (Animal Science), Botany (Plant Science), and Chemistry OR an Engineering Graduation with a specialization in Science. Biotechnology and Microbiology are also included.
Social Science: Graduation with History, Geography, Economics, and Political Science as subsidiary/honours subjects, with History or Geography being compulsory. Ancient History is considered equivalent to History.
Language Related Subjects: For Secondary school teachers, it is mandatory to have the language as an Honours/Subsidiary subject at the Graduation level.

Clarification for Paper-I

The decision of the NCTE will be final regarding the recognition of degrees or their equivalency.
Separate examinations will be held for Music, Dance, and Fine Arts subjects under Paper-I.
Only Paper-I will be conducted for Physical Education, with eligibility determined as per Appendix-1, clause 2.

Appendix-2: Paper-II (Higher Secondary)

Educational / Professional Qualifications

Minimum 50% marks in Post-Graduation in a specified subject from a recognized university AND a B.Ed. degree from an NCTE-recognized institution.
OR Minimum 45% marks in Post-Graduation (or equivalent) AND a B.Ed. degree from an NCTE-recognized institution, as per the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations 2002 (dated 13.11.2002) and 2007 (dated 10.12.2007).
OR Minimum 50% marks in Post-Graduation (or equivalent) in a specified subject from a recognized university AND a B.A.Ed./B.Sc.Ed. degree from an NCTE-recognized institution.
OR Minimum 55% marks (or equivalent grade) in Post-Graduation in a specified subject AND a three-year integrated B.Ed.-M.Ed. degree.

Specialized Subjects and Qualifications for Paper-II

Commerce (Code 225):
- Minimum 50% marks in Post-Graduation in Commerce from a recognized university. Candidates with Post-Graduation in Commerce can apply for all three commerce subjects: Entrepreneurship (EPS), Accountancy, and Business Studies. AND General professional qualification (B.Ed. etc.) as per general subjects.
- OR Minimum 50% marks in a recognized university/institution degree in the following subject group: DOEACC 'A' Level AND Post-Graduation in any subject.
- OR B.E. (Computer Science/IT) or B.Tech. (Computer Science/IT) or equivalent degree from a recognized university/AICTE-recognized institution or Government of India recognized institution/university.
- OR B.E. or B.Tech. in any stream from a recognized university/AICTE-recognized institution AND a Post Graduate Diploma in Computer.
- OR Post-Graduation in Computer Science/MCA or an equivalent degree from a recognized university.
- OR Graduation in Computer Science/BCA or an equivalent degree from a recognized university AND Post-Graduation in any subject.
- OR A Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science AND Post-Graduation in any subject.
- OR DOEACC 'B' Level AND Post-Graduation in any subject from a recognized university.
- OR DOEACC 'C' Level from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology AND Graduation from a recognized university.
- OR A three-year MCA course (6 semesters).
- Note: B.Ed. qualification is not mandatory for Computer Science candidates.
Agriculture (Code 227): Minimum 50% marks in Post-Graduation in Agriculture/Horticulture with any one subject from Agronomy/Plant Breeding & Genetics/Entomology/Plant Pathology/Seed Science & Technology/Soil Science/Horticulture from a recognized university/institution.
- Note: The decision of the administrative department will be final in case of any dispute regarding recognized institutions.
Music (Code 228): Minimum 50% marks in Post-Graduation in Music Education or an equivalent qualification from a recognized university or board/institution.
- Note: The decision of the administrative department will be final in case of any dispute regarding recognized institutions.

Subject Groups at Post-Graduate Level

Physics: Physics/Electronics/Applied Physics/Nuclear Physics
Chemistry: Chemistry/Biochemistry
Economics: Economics/Applied Economics/Business Economics
Commerce: Master's Degree in Commerce. However, holders of M.Com in Applied/Business Economics will not be eligible.
Botany/Zoology: Botany/Zoology/Life Science/Bio Science/Genetics/Micro Biology/Biotechnology/Molecular Biology/Plant Physiology.
Mathematics: Mathematics/Applied Mathematics

Clarification for Paper-II

The decision of the NCTE will be final regarding the recognition of degrees or their equivalency.
Multi Media & Technology is not taught in Bihar state schools; therefore, no examination will be held for this subject under Paper-II.
For the Commerce faculty, the Commerce examination will be conducted under Paper-II.

3. Syllabus

Paper-I (Secondary): The syllabus will be based on the Graduation level curriculum of state universities.
Paper-II (Higher Secondary): The syllabus will be based on the Graduation (Honours) level curriculum of state universities.

4. Question Paper Pattern

100 marks will be allotted for the specified subject matter.
50 marks will be allotted for Teaching Art and Other Abilities.
The total marks for the examination will be 150.

5. Eligibility Criteria

(a) Applicants must be citizens of India.
(b) Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria as per the Bihar State School Teacher (Appointment, Transfer, Disciplinary Action & Service Conditions) Rules (as amended) 2023.
(c) Educational and professional qualifications for Paper-I (Secondary) and Paper-II (Higher Secondary) must conform to Appendix-1 and Appendix-2, and various departmental notifications issued between 19.05.2023 and 21.06.2023.
(d) Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Extremely Backward Class (EBC), Backward Class (BC), and Divyang (differently-abled) candidates who are original residents of Bihar will receive a 5% relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks for educational/professional qualifications.

6. Age Limit and Relaxation

(a) For STET 2025, the minimum age limit for all candidates is 21 years as of 01.08.2025.
(b) The maximum age limit as of 01.08.2025, as per the General Administration Department, Bihar Government, is as follows:
- Unreserved (Male): 37 years
- Unreserved (Female): 40 years
- Backward Class (BC)/Extremely Backward Class (EBC) (Male/Female): 40 years
- Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST) (Male/Female): 42 years
(c) Divyang candidates will receive a 10-year age relaxation as per GAD notification dated 22.01.2021.
(d) Ex-servicemen will receive relaxation equivalent to 3 years plus their service period, provided their actual age does not exceed 57 years at the time of application, as per GAD circular dated 02.04.2013.
(e) There will be no age relaxation for trained candidates in STET 2025, as STET has been conducted annually in 2023 and 2024.

7. Qualifying Marks

As per GAD Resolution No. 2374 dated 16.07.2007, the minimum qualifying marks for STET 2025 are:

General: 50% marks
Backward Class (BC): 45.5% marks
Extremely Backward Class (EBC): 42.5% marks
Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST): 40% marks
Divyang (Differently-abled): 40% marks
Female: 40% marks

Note: Reservation benefits are applicable only to candidates who are permanent residents of Bihar. The reservation policy states that candidates residing outside Bihar are not eligible for reservation benefits.

8. Relaxations for Non-Bihar Residents

Relaxations in maximum age, minimum qualifying marks, and examination fees are exclusively for permanent residents of Bihar. Non-Bihar candidates (both male and female) will be treated as General category (male) for fee calculation.

9. Certificates

(a) A pass certificate will be issued to all qualified candidates in Paper-I and Paper-II of STET 2025.
(b) The validity of the STET 2025 pass certificate will be for life, as per departmental order no. 11/वि1-34/2009-893 dated 22.06.2021.

10. Examination Fee

Category	One Paper (Paper-I or Paper-II)	Both Papers (Paper-I and Paper-II)
General/EWS/BC/EBC	Rs. 960/-	Rs. 1440/-
SC/ST/Divyang	Rs. 760/-	Rs. 1140/-

11. Normalization

(a) For Computer Based Test (CBT) examinations conducted in multiple shifts/dates, the Normalization method will be applied to account for varying difficulty levels across shifts.
(b) The Normalized Score will be the final score used for determining qualification. Raw scores (marks obtained from correct answers) will not be considered.
(c) For example, if a General category candidate scores 76 out of 150 (50.6%) as a Raw Score, but their Normalized Score is 74.90 (49.9%), they will be declared failed as the qualifying mark is 75 (50%).
(d) Although there is no negative marking, a higher number of incorrect answers may negatively impact the Normalized Score during the normalization process.

12. Examination Duration

The CBT STET 2025 will have a duration of 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes).

13. Online Application and Fee Submission Dates

Online application forms and examination fees will be accepted from 11.09.2025 afternoon until 19.09.2025.

14. How to Apply

Candidates must apply online through the official websites: https://secondary.biharboardonline.com/. Click on the "Online Apply: STET EXAM, 2025" link. Applicants should ensure they have a functional email ID and mobile number, which must be kept safe until the final result is published.

15. Detailed Method for Filling the Application Form

(i) The application process consists of three steps: (A) Registration, (B) Form Filling, and (C) Payment.
(ii) Registration: On the registration page, fill in the required information and click 'Generate OTP'. After entering the OTP, complete the registration. User ID and Password will be sent via SMS.
(iii) Form Filling: Log in with your User ID and Password. Some fields will be pre-filled from registration. Fill in your personal and academic details.
(iv) Photo and Signature Upload: Upload a scanned color photograph (80kb-200kb, 3.5cm x 4.5cm) and scanned signature (50kb-200kb).
(v) Photograph Specifications: The photograph must be recent, in color, with a white or light background, and clearly show the candidate's eyes and face.
(vi) The photograph should not include any cap, head covering, or black glasses.
(vii) Fee Payment: After filling the application form, click 'Select Online Payment' and choose a Payment Gateway. Payment can be made via Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/UPI. No other payment methods will be accepted.

16. Document Upload

Candidates must upload self-attested copies of the following documents:

a) Matric (10th) Certificate and Marksheet (for Date of Birth).
b) Inter (12th) Certificate and Marksheet.
c) Graduation Certificate and Marksheet.
d) Post-Graduation Certificate and Marksheet.
e) B.Ed. Certificate and Marksheet.
f) Other educational qualifications (if any).
g) Domicile Certificate issued by a competent authority.
h) Caste Certificate (for SC/ST) issued by a competent authority.
i) Latest Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (for EBC/BC) issued by a competent authority. (Note: For married women claiming reservation, the caste/non-creamy layer certificate must be issued in their father's name and address, not their husband's.)
j) Valid Divyang (differently-abled) Certificate in the prescribed format, issued by a competent authority.
k) Ex-servicemen Certificate to avail age relaxation benefits.
l) After filling in the details, click the "Preview" button to review the online application form. Ensure all information is accurate.

General Instructions and Important Notes

1. Candidates must keep their User ID and Password secure for future reference. Do not send these to the committee office.
1. All candidates are advised to carefully check their online application form after submission. If any errors are found, corrections can be made using the User ID and Password before the final date for online application submission. No modifications will be allowed after the original admit card is issued. Only online applications will be accepted; applications via other modes will not be entertained.
1. The online application form must be filled by the candidate personally. Incomplete or multiple applications from a single candidate will be rejected/cancelled.
1. If any information or uploaded documents are found to be false, the application will be rejected, and the result will be cancelled.
1. The use of CAPITAL LETTERS for the declaration and signature on the application form is prohibited.
1. For any queries or information regarding this examination, candidates can contact the helpline number +917353921118 or email stethelpdesk2025@gmail.com.
1. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official websites https://secondary.biharboardonline.com/ for all updates.
1. Candidates are strongly advised to fill all details accurately when completing the online application form.
1. Admit cards will be issued based on the details provided in the online application form. No modifications will be accepted after the original admit card is issued.
1. If the attached documents or educational/professional qualifications do not meet the criteria specified in the advertisement, the candidature may be cancelled at any stage.
1. Candidates are responsible for filling incorrect information, and their candidature may be cancelled at any stage.
1. No claims for correction will be entertained after the final submission of the online application form for STET 2025. Therefore, candidates should fill their application form carefully.
1. Applications will be rejected if the examination fee is not paid or if the application is incomplete/incorrect as per the prescribed procedure. The entire responsibility for such rejection lies with the concerned candidate.
1. After depositing the application fee, candidates must download a hard copy of their application form and keep it safely. If any incorrect information is found in the filled online application form, the candidate's eligibility will be cancelled.
1. If at any stage, from the application process to the publication of results, or even after, it is found that a candidate was ineligible for this examination, their candidature and result will be cancelled.
1. Guidelines for accurate details in the application form:
- i. Candidates are advised to fill all details accurately in the online application form.
- ii. Admit cards will be issued based on the details provided by the applicants in the online application.
- iii. Candidates are advised to first download and carefully fill the application form with a pen, and then enter those details online. This process is solely for ensuring accurate online entry. The physical copy of the downloaded application form does not need to be sent to the committee office and will not be accepted.
- iv. Candidates filling their online application forms through a cyber cafe are advised to personally oversee the entry of details on the computer screen and ensure all information is correct and error-free before submission. No requests for correction will be accepted after submission.
- v. EWS (Economically Weaker Section) candidates must select the "General" category on the portal, not "EBC" (Extremely Backward Class), as selecting the wrong category is incorrect.
- vi. The reservation category selected in the online application form will determine the examination result. Entering an incorrect reservation category may affect the result, and the entire responsibility lies with the candidate.
- vii. Admit cards will not be issued to applicants who fail to submit the prescribed fee within the stipulated period.
- viii. The admit card will be issued based on the details provided in the online application form. No modifications will be entertained after the original admit card is issued.

33. Final Decision

In case of any discrepancy in this notification, the decision/order of the Education Department will be final.