BSTC vs PTET · Kaun better hai? Full comparison
Is BSTC and PTET same? No. BSTC (Pre D.El.Ed) is the entrance for the two-year primary-teacher diploma after Class 12; PTET is the entrance for the two-year B.Ed after graduation. Both papers have 200 MCQs for 600 marks, and in 2026 both were coordinated by VMOU Kota, but the eligibility, fee and career path are different. This table-based guide helps you decide.
बीएसटीसी 12वीं के बाद दो वर्षीय डी.एल.एड. के लिए है और पीटीईटी स्नातक के बाद दो वर्षीय बी.एड. के लिए। दोनों अलग परीक्षाएँ हैं।
- BSTC: after Class 12
- PTET: after graduation
- Both: 200 MCQs, 600 marks
- Different careers
Is BSTC and PTET same? Quick answer
Quick answer
BSTC and PTET are not the same. BSTC is for D.El.Ed (primary teacher diploma) after Class 12. PTET is for B.Ed after graduation. Choose BSTC for primary teaching; choose PTET for classes above primary.
BSTC PTET difference: full comparison table
| Point | BSTC (Pre D.El.Ed) | PTET (B.Ed entrance) |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Pre D.El.Ed (formerly BSTC) | Pre Teacher Education Test |
| Leads to | Two-year D.El.Ed (General or Sanskrit) | Two-year B.Ed |
| Who can apply | Class 12 pass (50%, or 45% for listed categories) | Graduate or postgraduate (50%, or 45% for reserved) in science, social science or humanities; engineering graduates need 55% (50%) with science and mathematics |
| Age limit | 28 years on the exam date, with relaxations | None printed in the notification we read |
| 2026 conducting agency | VMOU Kota (government letter of 25 Nov 2025) | VMOU Kota (government letter of 3 Feb 2026) |
| Application fee | ₹450 (one course), ₹500 (both) | ₹500 |
| 2026 form period | 2 Dec 2025 to 2 Apr 2026 (after extensions) | 20 Feb to 20 Mar 2026; exam tentatively on 14 June 2026 |
| Paper | 200 MCQs, 600 marks, 3 hours | 200 MCQs, 600 marks, 3 hours |
| Parts | Mental Ability 50; Rajasthan awareness 50; Teaching Aptitude 50; Language 50 (English 20, Hindi or Sanskrit 30) | Mental Ability 50; Teaching Attitude and Aptitude 50; General Awareness 50; Language Proficiency (Hindi or English) 50 |
| Marking | 3 marks per correct answer; no negative marking (reports) | 3 marks per correct answer; teaching-attitude questions scored 3, 2, 1 or 0; no negative-marking rule printed |
| Medium | Bilingual paper (Hindi and English) | Choose Hindi or English; the language section has its own rule |
| Teaches | Primary classes (see BSTC vs B.Ed) | Upper classes, by subject; not valid for primary posts after the Supreme Court ruling |
Sources: VMOU Pre D.El.Ed 2026 general directions and VMOU PTET 2026 notification (18 February 2026). For the PTET site, see ptetvmoukota2026.in.
Eligibility: the main difference
The first gate is education. BSTC opens after Class 12. PTET opens only after a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Final-year graduation students can apply for PTET if their result comes before the last date of counselling registration and they have the required marks. For the BSTC rules, see BSTC eligibility 2026.
PTET also has teaching-subject rules: your teaching subject must be one you studied for two years in graduation. For example, commerce graduates cannot choose economics. These rules are in the PTET notification, so read them before applying.
Exam pattern: very similar, not identical
Both exams have 200 MCQs, 3 hours and 600 marks. The difference is in the parts. BSTC has Rajasthan awareness and language of 50 questions (English 20, Hindi or Sanskrit 30). PTET has a General Awareness part (current affairs, Indian history and culture, natural resources, personalities, environment and knowledge about Rajasthan) and a Language Proficiency part in Hindi or English. The PTET teaching-attitude questions are scored 3, 2, 1 or 0 depending on how good the chosen option is. For the BSTC details, see BSTC exam pattern.
Career difference
| Course | Where it leads | Time |
|---|---|---|
| BSTC (D.El.Ed) | Primary classes 1 to 5; Grade-III Level 1; L-10 pay | Two years after Class 12 |
| PTET (B.Ed) | Classes above primary by subject; not valid for primary posts after the Supreme Court ruling of 11 August 2023 | Three-year degree first, then two years |
| Both together | Possible only in sequence for most students; read BSTC aur B.Ed sath me | — |
Read the legal point in BSTC vs B.Ed. The pay is in BSTC ke baad kya kare.
BSTC or PTET: which should you choose?
| Your situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| I have passed Class 12 and want to teach classes 1 to 5 | BSTC |
| I am a graduate under 28 and want to teach classes 1 to 5 | BSTC (age and Class 12 marks permitting) |
| I am a graduate and want to teach upper classes | PTET, then B.Ed |
| I want to teach primary but I am over 28 | Check age relaxation for your category; no other route is verified |
Common mix-ups
- “PTET is the new name of BSTC.” No. The new name of BSTC is Pre D.El.Ed.
- “I can apply for PTET after Class 12.” No; it needs a degree.
- “The same admit card works for both.” No; they are separate exams on separate sites.
- “B.Ed is higher, so it qualifies for primary posts.” Not after the Supreme Court ruling.
PTET 2026 in short (from the notification)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Notification | No. VMOU/PTET/2026/49, dated 18 February 2026 |
| Government letter | No. प. 10(3) शिक्षा-4/2016-00224 (Rajkaj Ref. 20298563), 3 February 2026 |
| Application period | 20 February to 20 March 2026 |
| Exam date | Tentatively 14 June 2026 (Sunday) |
| Application fee | ₹500, not refundable |
| Website | ptetvmoukota2026.in |
| Helpdesk | 9116828238; [email protected] |
If you plan for the next cycle, check the new notification. These details are only for 2026.
PTET documents compared with BSTC
| Item | BSTC | PTET |
|---|---|---|
| Marksheets | Class 10 and 12 | Class 10, 12, graduation (first, second and final year) and postgraduation |
| Category | Caste certificate | Caste certificate |
| Domicile | Needed for reservation | Domicile or special domicile certificate |
| Other | Sub-category certificates | Disability, ex-serviceman, widow or divorced, EWS and APAAR or ABC ID |
| Printed form | Hard copy of the application | Printed application form |
PTET asks you to keep self-attested copies and submit them after counselling when you take admission in the allotted college. BSTC asks the same, as in BSTC form kaise bhare.
The sequence for a student who wants both
- After Class 12Apply for BSTC if you want primary classes and are within the age limit.
- During or after BSTCFinish graduation (open mode if the college allows).
- After graduationApply for PTET for the B.Ed. Check the teaching-subject rules, because your teaching subject must be a subject you studied for two years.
- Before recruitmentRead the advertisement to see which qualification each post needs.
The simple lesson: they are steps on the same ladder, not rivals. See BSTC aur B.Ed sath me for what UGC allows if you want to run two at once.
Selection and counselling: similar, but separate
Both exams are followed by online counselling in which candidates choose colleges, and the university allots seats by rank and choice. The PTET notification says that candidates who join counselling are allotted colleges on the basis of the choices they fill, and that the result and selection status are shown on the PTET website. The BSTC steps are in BSTC counselling 2026. The universities are not responsible for admissions below the approved seats once the process is complete, and no institute can admit students outside the process.
A four-step way to decide
- Look at your highest qualificationClass 12 only: BSTC is the only one open to you. Graduate: both are possible.
- Look at the classes you wantClasses 1 to 5: D.El.Ed. Classes above primary: B.Ed.
- Look at your ageFor BSTC the limit is 28 on the exam date. The PTET notice we read prints no age limit.
- Look at the timeBSTC takes two years from Class 12. PTET needs a degree first, then two years.
What we could not find for PTET
- The number of B.Ed seats in 2026 and the number of candidates who appeared. We did not find a verified figure, so we do not compare competition with BSTC.
- An official PTET cut-off list. We did not look for one in this guide.
- Whether integrated courses are included, as one summary claimed.
- The 2027 dates for either exam.
BSTC vs PTET FAQs
Is BSTC and PTET same?
No. BSTC (Pre D.El.Ed) is the entrance exam for the two-year D.El.Ed, a primary-teacher diploma that you can join after Class 12. PTET is the Pre Teacher Education Test for the two-year B.Ed, which needs a bachelor’s degree. In 2026 both were coordinated by VMOU Kota and both have 200 MCQs for 600 marks, which is why people mix them up.
BSTC or PTET: which is better?
It depends on your qualification and the classes you want to teach. After Class 12, BSTC is the only one you can apply to. After graduation, PTET leads to B.Ed, but the Supreme Court has held that B.Ed is not a valid qualification for primary classes 1 to 5. See BSTC vs B.Ed.
What is the BSTC PTET difference in eligibility?
BSTC: Class 12 with 50% (45% for listed categories), age up to 28. PTET: bachelor’s or master’s degree with 50% (45% for reserved categories) in science, social science or humanities, or an engineering degree with science and mathematics specialisation with 55% (50%). The PTET notification we read does not print an age limit.
Is the PTET exam pattern the same as BSTC?
Almost. Both have 200 MCQs, 3 hours and 600 marks, with four parts of 50 questions each in PTET (Mental Ability, Teaching Attitude and Aptitude, General Awareness, Language Proficiency) and four parts in BSTC (Mental Ability, Rajasthan awareness, Teaching Aptitude and Language).
What is the PTET fee compared to BSTC?
PTET 2026: ₹500. BSTC 2026: ₹450 for one course or ₹500 for both.
Can I apply for both BSTC and PTET?
They are separate exams with separate forms and fees, and the notifications we read do not say you cannot sit in both. But doing both courses at once is a different question; see BSTC aur B.Ed sath me.
Who conducts PTET?
In 2026, VMOU Kota was named coordinating agency by a Rajasthan government letter dated 3 February 2026 for the 2-year B.Ed entrance. The notification was issued on 18 February 2026.
Which is easier, BSTC or PTET?
We have no official data on difficulty. The papers have the same size and marks. See BSTC tough hai ya easy for the BSTC numbers.
Is PTET for integrated B.Ed too?
The 2026 notification we read is only for the 2-year B.Ed. One summary online said integrated courses are included; we could not confirm that in the notification, so we do not claim it.
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.
- VMOU PTET 2026 notification (Notification-1/2026, 18 February 2026): eligibility, fee, dates, pattern.
- VMOU Pre D.El.Ed 2026 general directions and syllabus.
- Supreme Court of India, Devesh Sharma v. Union of India, 11 August 2023.
Found a mistake or a newer official notice? Tell us through the Corrections Policy page and we will check and fix it. You can also contact us.