PSU AND STATE GOVERNMENT JOBS

Kendriya / Navodaya Vidyalaya Teacher

Teaches in central government KVS or NVS schools with transferable posts across India.

Any stream; pick the subject you want to teach After a degree Government job

Facts checked 29/10/2026

Is this for me?

People in this work enjoy

Explaining ideas until a child finally understands
A stable central government job with a steady routine and school holidays
Meeting students and colleagues from many states and cultures

It may not suit you if you dislike

You can be posted or transferred far from home, even to another state
Many years of study and exams before the job: degree, B.Ed, CTET, then a competitive exam
Recruitment drives are irregular and competition is tough. Navodaya work can mean living on campus

Class 11–12 subjects: For Primary Teacher (PRT): Class 12 in any stream with at least 50% marks, then a 2-year D.El.Ed or 4-year B.El.Ed. For TGT (Classes 6–10) and PGT (Classes 11–12): a degree or master's in the subject you will teach, usually with at least 50% marks. Your Class 11–12 subjects should match the subject you want to teach later.
First degree: PRT: D.El.Ed (2 years) or B.El.Ed (4 years) after Class 12, or a graduation plus B.Ed. TGT: bachelor's degree in the subject plus B.Ed (or a 4-year integrated degree with B.Ed). PGT: master's degree in the subject plus B.Ed.
Entrance exams: CTET (CBSE) for PRT (Paper I) and TGT (Paper II). Then the KVS/NVS recruitment exam, which CBSE ran for both in the 2025–26 cycle (Notification 01/2025).
Licence or registration: A CTET pass certificate from CBSE is a must for PRT and TGT posts. It only makes you eligible. It does not give you a job.

Open to every streamAny stream; pick the subject you want to teach.Check your subjects against every career

What the work is like

Teaching Classes 1–12 in your subject, planning lessons, checking notebooks, running exams and school activities, and taking part in school events. In Navodaya schools (residential) you also look after students outside class hours. You can be posted or transferred to any state.

A day in the work
You reach school early for assembly and take four to six periods. Between classes you check notebooks, prepare lessons and mark tests. After lunch you may handle a club, sports period or a house duty. In a Navodaya school you may also supervise the hostel, evening study and meals. In both, you may be asked to help with exam duty or cultural events.

The path, step by step

Step 1 · Class 11–12Choose the subject you want to teach and score well in it, because KVS/NVS asks for about 50% marks at each level. If you want to be a primary teacher, you can go straight to D.El.Ed or B.El.Ed after Class 12. For TGT or PGT you need a degree first.
Step 2 · 3–5 years after Class 12Finish a degree in your subject, then a 2-year B.Ed from an NCTE-recognised institution. A 4-year integrated degree with B.Ed is also accepted. For PGT, add a master's degree in the subject. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 3 · CTETPass CTET Paper I (for PRT) or Paper II (for TGT) conducted by CBSE. The certificate is reported to be valid for life. The next CTET date was reported as 12–13 December 2026, so check ctet.nic.in. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 4 · Apply and Tier 1Apply online when KVS/NVS announce vacancies. In the 2025 cycle, CBSE ran one joint recruitment for both and applications opened on 14 November 2025. Age is counted on a cut-off date. The limits were 30 years for PRT, 35 for TGT and 40 for PGT, with relaxations for reserved categories and others. Tier 1 of that cycle was reported to be held on 10–11 January 2026. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 5 · Tier 2 and interview or skill testShortlisted candidates take Tier 2 (reported for 27–31 March 2026), then an interview or skill test depending on the post. The final merit list is made from these stages. Check each notification for the exact marks and rules. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 6 · Documents and medicalShortlisted candidates go through document verification and a medical check. After that you get a posting. KVS and NVS decide the station, and you can be sent to any state. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 7 · Probation and laterNew teachers work on probation first and can be transferred during service. Later you can grow into PGT, Vice-Principal and Principal posts through promotion or direct recruitment. (reported — check with the official body)

Ways in

Primary Teacher (PRT)Class 12 (50%) + D.El.Ed or B.El.Ed, or graduation + B.Ed, then CTET Paper I and the KVS recruitment exam. The upper age limit is 30 years (reported for the 2025 cycle).
Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT)Degree in the subject + B.Ed (or a 4-year integrated degree), then CTET Paper II and the KVS/NVS exam. The upper age limit is 35 years (reported for the 2025 cycle).
Post Graduate Teacher (PGT)Master's in the subject + B.Ed, then the KVS/NVS exam. The upper age limit is 40 years (reported for the 2025 cycle). PGTs teach Classes 11–12.

Your real chances

I could not find an official count of applicants for the 2025 drive. In a 2026 Lok Sabha reply (reported), the Education Ministry said 8,618 teaching posts in Kendriya Vidyalayas and 5,083 in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas were vacant. The 2025 joint drive was reported to cover about 15,762 teaching and non-teaching posts across KVS and NVS. Posts are limited and many people apply, so expect strong competition.

Source: Telangana Today (PTI): over 13,000 teaching posts vacant in KVs and JNVs ↗

Time and money

Stage	Time	Government college or body	Private college	Help available
Class 11–12 (choose subject; PRT may go straight to D.El.Ed/B.El.Ed)	2 years	Your school's fees	Your school's fees	—
Degree and B.Ed (PRT: D.El.Ed 2 yrs or B.El.Ed 4 yrs; TGT/PGT: degree + 2-yr B.Ed, PGT adds master's)	2–6 years	Check the college's fee page	Check the college's fee page	Check the college's fee page
CTET (Paper I for PRT, Paper II for TGT)	1 day exam	₹1,000 one paper; ₹1,200 both (General/OBC, reported)	—	₹500 / ₹600 for SC/ST/PwD (reported)
KVS/NVS recruitment exam (Tier 1, Tier 2, interview or skill test)	Several months (reported Jan–Mar 2026 cycle)	₹1,500 application fee for PGT/TGT (reported; check the notification)	—	Check the notice for fee waivers
Documents, medical check and posting; probation	Probation period (check notification)	Paid: salary, not a stipend. PRT basic ₹35,400 (reported)	—	—

Total timeAbout 4–8 years after Class 12, depending on route and whether a master's is needed

Total costExam fees are about ₹1,000–1,500 each (reported); B.Ed and D.El.Ed fees depend on the college, so check its fee page.

Good to knowBig recruitment drives are not yearly, so the wait for a vacancy can be long; CTET certificate only makes you eligible, not hired.

Fees from: CBSE: KVS and NVS Recruitment Notification 01/2025. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

What people earn

Official pay

Central government pay under the 7th CPC (reported): PRT at Pay Level 6 (₹35,400 basic), TGT at Level 7 (₹44,900 basic) and PGT at Level 8 (₹47,600 basic), plus allowances. (reported: I could not read the pay table in the official PDF. Check the pay-level section of the CBSE notification.)

Source: CBSE: KVS and NVS Recruitment Notification 01/2025 ↗

Pay follows central government pay levels, so it is the same everywhere for the same post. Allowances such as house rent depend on the city. Income grows with years of service and promotions, and PGTs and Principals earn more than primary teachers.

Myth and fact

Myth: ~~If I pass CTET, I will get a job in a Kendriya or Navodaya Vidyalaya.~~

Fact: CTET only makes you eligible to apply. You still have to clear the KVS/NVS recruitment exam and interview, and your final rank decides whether you are selected.

For girls and students with disabilities

The 2025 notification lists posts by category (UR, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST) and also lists vacancies for candidates with disabilities (locomotor, visual, hearing and others). Age relaxations apply for reserved categories and PwBD candidates as per government rules, and some sources report extra relaxation for women on teaching posts (reported; check the notification).

Try it now

Class 7–9Teach one topic you like to a younger cousin or neighbour each week, and ask them to explain it back to you. This shows you if you enjoy teaching.
Class 10–12Help younger students in your school with a subject, or join NSS or a community teaching drive. MY Bharat (for ages 15+) lists free volunteering options.Open link ↗
College or afterExplore the free Diksha lessons and SWAYAM courses on teaching and learning. Notice how good teachers structure a lesson.Open link ↗

Good to know

KVS and NVS are different bodies. Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS) are mainly day schools. Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS) are residential schools for talented rural children. In the 2025–26 cycle CBSE ran one joint recruitment for both.
Big recruitment drives do not come every year. A Lok Sabha reply in 2026 said filling vacancies is a continuous process, and contract teachers are also hired for short periods. Watch the CBSE, KVS and NVS websites for new notices.
Rules, age limits, vacancy numbers and subject lists change with each notification. Read the latest official notification before you plan.
If you want a teaching job but not an all-India transfer, look at state TET-based government teaching jobs and CBSE or private schools too.

Sources: CBSE: KVS and NVS Recruitment Notification 01/2025 (detailed notification, 13 Nov 2025) · CBSE: KVS and NVS Public Notice, 26 Nov 2025 · Telangana Today (PTI): over 13,000 teaching posts vacant in KVs and JNVs (Lok Sabha reply, 2026) — reported