Gujarat Raises Pre-PTC Admission Age Limit to 30, Adds EWS and Disability Quotas

The revised framework also introduces reservations for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and persons with disabilities, with the changes aimed at widening access to professional training for pre-primary teachers.

The reforms have been introduced under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, with Education Minister Pradyuman Vaja and Minister of State for Education Rivaba Jadeja overseeing the education portfolio, officials said.

Under the new rules, each class will have 62 seats, representing a 25 per cent increase over the earlier capacity of 50. Of these, 17 seats will be reserved for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) under the 27 per cent quota, while four seats will be allocated to Scheduled Castes under the seven per cent quota and nine to Scheduled Tribes under the 15 per cent quota.

The Open Category will have 26 seats, while six seats will be reserved for EWS candidates under the 10 per cent quota. The rules also provide five per cent reservation for persons with disabilities in accordance with Section 32 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

The disability quota will be distributed among the prescribed categories of disabilities. Selection will be based on merit and the candidate's stated preference, subject to the condition that the disability does not prevent the applicant from carrying out duties associated with the teaching profession.

Applicants must have secured at least 50 per cent marks in Class 12 to be eligible for admission. The requirement applies to students who have completed Class 12 through the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board or other recognised boards in Gujarat and other states, including CBSE and ICSE.

Candidates belonging to the SC, ST, SEBC and EWS categories, as well as persons with disabilities, will receive a five per cent relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks.

The maximum age limit has been increased from 24 to 30 years, with eligibility determined as of July 1 of the relevant academic year. Candidates from the SC, ST, SEBC and EWS categories and persons with disabilities will receive an additional five-year relaxation in the upper age limit.

The revised framework also provides greater flexibility in selecting the medium of instruction. Candidates can apply to an institution offering a medium in which they studied either in Class 10 or Class 12. If seats remain vacant in a particular medium, applicants who studied another language in both Class 10 and Class 12 may also seek admission in another medium based on their preference.

The government said the changes would create more opportunities for candidates seeking professional training in pre-primary education and help expand the pool of trained personnel available to the sector.