BSTC vs B.Ed · Difference, eligibility and salary
Which is better BSTC or B Ed (B.Ed)? For classes 1 to 5, BSTC (D.El.Ed) is the only valid training, because the Supreme Court held on 11 August 2023 that B.Ed is not a qualification for primary teachers. For classes 6 and above, B.Ed after graduation is the usual route. This page compares eligibility, time, the court ruling, jobs and pay in one place.
कक्षा 1 से 5 के लिए डी.एल.एड. (बीएसटीसी) ही मान्य है, क्योंकि सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने 11 अगस्त 2023 को बी.एड. को प्राथमिक शिक्षक की योग्यता नहीं माना।
- BSTC: classes 1 to 5
- B.Ed: classes 6 and above
- SC ruling, 11 Aug 2023
- Pay level L-10
Which is better, BSTC or B.Ed? Quick answer
Quick answer
Want to teach classes 1 to 5? Do BSTC (D.El.Ed). Want classes 6 and above? Graduate first, then B.Ed. Do not take B.Ed hoping for a primary post: the Supreme Court has ruled against it.
BSTC bed difference: comparison table
| Point | BSTC (D.El.Ed) | B.Ed |
|---|---|---|
| Course | D.El.Ed (BSTC), two years | B.Ed, two years |
| Entry qualification | Class 12 with 50% (45% for listed categories) | Graduate or postgraduate with 50% (45% reserved) in the stream rules of PTET |
| Age limit (2026) | 28 years on the exam date | None printed in the PTET notification we read |
| Entrance exam | Pre D.El.Ed (BSTC), 200 MCQs, 600 marks | PTET, 200 MCQs, 600 marks |
| Form fee (2026) | ₹450 or ₹500 | ₹500 |
| Classes you can teach | Primary, classes 1 to 5 | Above primary, by teaching subject |
| Primary post (Level 1) | Valid | Not valid (Supreme Court, 11 Aug 2023) |
| Upper primary post (Level 2) | Valid with graduation, as reported | Valid with graduation, as reported |
| Time from Class 12 | 2 years | About 5 years (3 for degree + 2) |
| Degree or diploma | Diploma (see BSTC degree ya diploma) | Degree (professional) |
Supreme Court ruling on B.Ed and primary posts
On 11 August 2023, in Devesh Sharma v. Union of India (11 August 2023), the Supreme Court upheld the Rajasthan High Court and quashed NCTE’s notification of 28 June 2018, which had allowed B.Ed holders to teach classes 1 to 5. The Court held that B.Ed is not an eligible qualification for primary teachers and that D.El.Ed is the prescribed one, citing the quality-education mandate of the Right to Education Act.
A later order of 28 August 2024 (2024 INSC 656 (28 August 2024)) dealt with B.Ed teachers appointed afterwards. A NIOS six-month bridge course was set up for B.Ed teachers who were already appointed to primary posts before 11 August 2023 (NIOS bridge course page). It is not meant for candidates who apply in the future.
Read the original
We summarise from the judgment links and reports. Courts can issue new orders, so read the latest recruitment advertisement for the exact qualification.
Posts and pay: Level 1, Level 2 and higher
| Post | Qualification | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Grade-III Teacher, Level 1 (classes 1 to 5) | Senior secondary 50% with D.El.Ed and the eligibility test | L-10: ₹23,700 fixed on probation, then basic ₹33,800 |
| Grade-III Teacher, Level 2 (classes 6 to 8) | Graduation with D.El.Ed, or graduation (50%) with B.Ed (as reported) | Also L-10 |
| Senior Teacher / Grade II (secondary) | Needs graduation and B.Ed or higher | Aggregators say L-11, ₹26,500 on probation and ₹37,800 basic; we did not verify it officially |
Pay figures are from the sources in BSTC ke baad kya kare and exclude allowances.
Time and money of each route
BSTC is shorter: two years after Class 12, and you can join a government school from age 18 if you clear the recruitment. B.Ed adds two years after a three-year degree. We did not find an official fee list for either course, so we do not compare cost. See BSTC fees.
How to choose between BSTC and B.Ed
| Your goal | Choose |
|---|---|
| I want to teach primary classes | BSTC |
| I am in Class 12 and want a quick start | BSTC |
| I am a graduate and want classes 6 to 8 | Either route as reported; check the advertisement |
| I want secondary classes | Graduation, then B.Ed through PTET |
| I already have B.Ed but want a primary post | You still need D.El.Ed for Level 1; age and Class 12 rules apply |
NEP 2020 and the future of both courses
NEP 2020 says that by 2030 the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a four-year integrated B.Ed. It is a policy plan and not yet a change in the Rajasthan notifications we read. Until the rules are changed by NCTE and the state, the current rules apply. See BSTC degree ya diploma.
Six real-life scenarios
| Situation | Route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Class 12 pass, age 18, wants to teach classes 1 to 5 | BSTC | Only D.El.Ed is valid for Level 1 |
| BA graduate, age 24, wants primary classes | BSTC (Class 12 marks and age allowed) | Age 28 limit is key |
| BA graduate, age 30, wants primary classes | Check age relaxation for your category | No other route found |
| BSc graduate wants classes 6 to 8 | B.Ed or D.El.Ed (as reported); read advertisement | Graduation is needed for Level 2 |
| B.Ed holder wants a Level 1 post | D.El.Ed is needed | B.Ed not valid for classes 1 to 5 |
| Wants to teach classes 9 to 12 | Graduation, B.Ed and the matching recruitment | D.El.Ed alone does not qualify |
Years from Class 12 to a qualification
| Route | Years | Result |
|---|---|---|
| BSTC | 2 | Diploma; primary classes |
| Graduation (BA, BSc, BCom) | 3 | Needed before B.Ed |
| B.Ed after graduation | 2 | Degree; classes above primary |
| Total for graduation + B.Ed | 5 | Our arithmetic (3 + 2) |
| Total for BSTC then graduation by open mode | 2 plus part-time study | Depends on the college and the open-mode degree |
Mistakes students make while comparing
- Choosing B.Ed because it looks “higher” and then finding it is not valid for Level 1
- Ignoring the age limit of 28 for BSTC
- Assuming old news about the 2018 NCTE notification is still true
- Paying a coaching centre for a “B.Ed to primary teacher bridge” that the Supreme Court record says is not meant for new applicants
- Believing pay differs by course at the start. Grade-III posts are at L-10 whichever route you take
The NIOS bridge course in plain words
After the 2023 judgment, some B.Ed teachers already working in primary posts faced loss of jobs. A six-month NIOS bridge course was set up so that those who were appointed before 11 August 2023 could continue after completing it. As summarised in reports of the court record, it cannot be used by future applicants or for the eligibility test. If an agent tells you that you can become a primary teacher by taking a bridge course after B.Ed, ask for the court order and the advertisement that says so.
The B.Ed route to Level 2
Reports on the RSSB Level 2 advertisement say graduates with 50 per cent marks can apply with B.Ed, and that graduation with D.El.Ed also works. That makes B.Ed useful for classes 6 to 8, and also for secondary classes where D.El.Ed does not apply. The advertisement is the final authority. See BSTC ke baad kya kare for the pay.
BSTC vs B.Ed FAQs
Which is better: BSTC or B.Ed?
For primary classes 1 to 5, only the D.El.Ed (BSTC) counts, because the Supreme Court held on 11 August 2023 that B.Ed is not a valid qualification for primary teachers. For classes 6 and above, B.Ed (with graduation) is the usual route. So the better one depends on the classes you want to teach.
BSTC ya B.Ed konsa better hai?
अगर आपको कक्षा 1 से 5 में पढ़ाना है तो डी.एल.एड. (बीएसटीसी) ही मान्य है। कक्षा 6 से ऊपर के लिए स्नातक के बाद बी.एड. चाहिए। इसलिए पहले तय करें कि किस कक्षा के शिक्षक बनना है।
What is the BSTC bed difference in eligibility?
BSTC needs Class 12 with 50% (45% for listed categories) and age up to 28. B.Ed needs a bachelor’s or master’s degree with 50% (45% reserved) and usually the PTET entrance. See BSTC eligibility 2026 and BSTC vs PTET.
Is B.Ed valid for primary teacher in Rajasthan?
No, for Level 1 (classes 1 to 5). The Supreme Court judgment of 11 August 2023 in Devesh Sharma v. Union of India quashed the NCTE notification that had allowed B.Ed holders, and said D.El.Ed is the prescribed qualification. Reports on REET Level 1 say the same.
Can a B.Ed holder teach classes 6 to 8?
Reports on the RSSB Level 2 advertisement say graduates with 50% and B.Ed can apply for Level 2 (classes 6 to 8), and that graduation plus D.El.Ed also works. Check the exact text in the advertisement.
Is the salary of BSTC and B.Ed teachers the same?
Reports place both Level 1 and Level 2 Grade-III posts at L-10, so the starting pay is the same for the two. B.Ed also opens higher grades, but we did not verify their pay in an official source. See BSTC ke baad kya kare.
What did the Supreme Court say about B.Ed in 2024?
A later order of 28 August 2024 (2024 INSC 656) dealt with B.Ed teachers appointed after the 2023 cut-off date. In summaries, it did not create a new route for them. Read the order itself for the exact words.
Is there a bridge course for B.Ed holders?
A six-month NIOS bridge course exists, but it is for B.Ed teachers who were appointed to primary posts before 11 August 2023, to protect their jobs. It is not a route for future applicants (as summarised from the court record; see the NIOS bridge course page).
Which is faster, BSTC or B.Ed?
BSTC takes two years after Class 12. B.Ed takes two years after a degree, so the path is about five years from Class 12 (3 plus 2). That is our arithmetic.
Will NEP change BSTC and B.Ed?
NEP 2020 says that by 2030 the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a four-year integrated B.Ed. This is a policy goal. The 2026 Rajasthan notification still uses D.El.Ed after Class 12, so nothing has changed for the current cycles.
Last verified: 3 November 2026
Edited by Anil Kumar. Every date, number and name on this page was read in the official notice or in a news report named under “Sources” below, and key facts were matched with a second source. Where we could not confirm something we say so instead of guessing. ParinamSetu is an independent site, not a government website: see our Editorial Policy and Disclaimer.
Sources and how we checked
We name our sources so you can check them yourself. Links go only to official websites; news reports are listed by publisher, headline and date.
- Supreme Court of India: Devesh Sharma v. Union of India, Civil Appeal No. 5068 of 2023, decided 11 August 2023, and the order of 28 August 2024 (2024 INSC 656).
- NIOS bridge course page and the Supreme Court order of 8 October 2025 as summarised in reports (LiveLaw).
- VMOU Pre D.El.Ed 2026 general directions and PTET 2026 notification.
- RSSB advertisement 09/2025 and aggregator pay-matrix pages (reported, not verified officially).
- National Education Policy 2020, teacher education chapter (PIB copy).
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