The Higher Education Department of the Government of Odisha has announced a major shift in the admission process for the 4-Year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP).
Starting from the academic session 2026-27, admissions will be conducted exclusively through the National Common Entrance Test (NCET) 2026, organised by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The decision aligns Odisha with the national framework set by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The NTA issued its public notice on February 12, 2026, opening online applications for NCET-2026, which will remain available until March 10, 2026. The computer-based test (CBT) is tentatively scheduled for April 17, 2026.
In Odisha, the ITEP will be offered across five state public universities and eight government colleges, with a total sanctioned intake of 1,300 seats. Candidates who clear the NCET will receive percentile-based scorecards from the NTA and must then apply through the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal, entering their scores and preferred institutions. Final merit lists will be prepared strictly on the basis of NCET percentiles.
The 4-Year ITEP is a dual-major undergraduate degree that combines general studies in Arts, Science, or Commerce with professional teacher training. Designed to produce future-ready educators, the programme emphasises strong foundations in subject content, pedagogy, and practical teaching experience.
Notably, admissions to other teacher education courses in the state — including the 2-Year B.Ed., M.Ed., and B.H.Ed. programmes — will continue through the existing SAMS process, requiring candidates to appear for the entrance examination conducted by the State Selection Board (SSB), Odisha.
This move is expected to bring greater transparency and uniformity to teacher education admissions in Odisha while aligning the state with prestigious national institutions offering the ITEP, including IITs, NITs, Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs), and other central and state universities. Aspiring teachers are advised to apply promptly through the official NTA portal before the March 10 deadline.
