Latest Update on CTET: Maithili Language to Be Included

For the aspirants, there is a major update which has arisen a wave of excitement amongst the CTET aspirants across Bihar and other Maithili speaking regions, for CTET which is now set to include Maithili as one of the language options in the examination. This is such an awaited update that marks a significant step toward making the CTET more inclusive and representative of India’s linguistic diversity.

What Is CTET and Why Language Matters?  

CTET is the Central Teacher Eligibility Test that is a national level examination conducted by CBSE, that is the Central Board of Secondary Education under the guidelines of the NCTE, that is the National Council for Teacher Education. 

This exam serves the purpose for selecting teachers in government and private schools across India, especially for teaching classes from Ist standard to VIIIth standard. To appear in the CTET examination, candidates must fulfil the eligibility criteria specified by the NCTE. 

Although qualifying the test does not automatically guarantee a job, rather it acts as a mandatory criterion for eligibility. Previously, CTET has allowed candidates to choose their language papers from a list of 20 options, including Hindi, English, and several regional languages such as Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Punjabi, and Telugu. 

Inclusion of Maithili  

BJP Member of Parliament, Dr. Gopal Ji Thakur, provided a critical update on January 15, in 2026, concerning the proposal to include Maithili language in CTET formally approved by education authorities. The statutory body responsible for setting standards for teacher eligibility examinations, this decision arises from a proposal accepted in an NCTE, National Council for Teacher Education meeting. Maithili will be among the languages candidates can choose to write their CTET examination once the official procedure is finished.

Why This Update Matters  

Maithili is not only one of the 22 scheduled languages of India but also holds deep cultural significance in regions like Mithilanchal which is mainly in Bihar and some of its parts in Jharkhand. It is spoken by millions of people and has a vibrant literary tradition. Including Maithili in CTET is more than a technical change since it is a symbolic acknowledgment of linguistic diversity and educational equity. The reasons about why this update is important includes:

• There will be better accessibility for local aspirants. As for many candidates from Maithili speaking families, prior CTET schemes meant taking the exam either in Hindi or English, which might be the languages they may not be comfortable with. This often puts them at a disadvantage. With Maithili included, aspirants can understand questions clearly, increase their performance levels, and compete more fairly.
• There will be stronger representation of regional languages. As India’s language landscape is way too vast and diverse. While the CTET offered multiple language options, Maithili’s exclusion was a noticeable gap, since it already appears in school curriculum and holds constitutional recognition. Its inclusion brings CTET’s language options more in line with India’s cultural and educational diversity.
• There will be preservation and promotion of Maithili. As beyond the exams and careers, this development plays a role in preserving regional linguistic heritage. Giving official status to Maithili in such a key national exam may encourage more students to study and maintain the language, helping it flourish in academic and professional spheres.

What Aspirants should do now?

Though at the NCTE level the proposal to include Maithili has been approved, the official execution may take time as the formal notices, updated information bulletins, and syllabus and exam format revisions will be published on the official CTET website shortly, probably before the upcoming scheduled CTET cycle after February 2026. 

On the official site, that is: ctet.nic.in, follow updates on language choices and watch for CTET announcements. Stay currently updated via local education news and social media outlets where lawmakers and education administrators often provide updates. Start preparing in Maithili if it becomes accessible, especially concentrating on language based comprehension and pedagogy chapters.

Language Policy and Education  

Furthermore, the inclusion of Maithili reflects a larger educational change that values multilingualism. Encouragement of regional languages and mother tongue teaching wherever feasible is stressed in India's NEP, the New Education Policy 2020. While the Central Teacher Eligibility Test runs under its own rules, revisions of this kind connect with the more general aims of NEP. Students, instructors, and local authorities who see the decision as a step toward leveling the playing field for teacher candidates from linguistically varied backgrounds have greeted it with pleasure.

By incorporating Maithili into CTET, Indian educational authorities are recognizing not just the practical needs of teacher aspirants but also celebrating India’s linguistic richness. This update promises to make the Central Teacher Eligibility Test more inclusive, equitable, and culturally responsive than ever before.

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