Uttarakhand’s Education Department has finalized a new transfer policy for teachers, which is set to be presented before the state cabinet for approval. According to the proposed rules, teachers whose students perform poorly in board exams for two consecutive years (Classes 10 and 12) will be mandatorily transferred to hill regions.
The policy, prepared separately from the existing 2017 Transfer Act, divides the state into plain and hill areas instead of the earlier “easy” and “hard” categories. Transfers will be based on a point system, with scores determined by service in different zones.
The policy also allows one-time cadre change during a teacher’s career, provided the individual has completed at least three years of service in their current cadre. Female teachers will be given a one-time opportunity for transfer to their spouse’s workplace or home district after marriage.
Transfers will be conducted online through a dedicated software system, ensuring transparency. Teachers will be eligible for transfers between hill and plain areas only if they accumulate at least 16 points. Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Bageshwar, and Uttarkashi are designated as high-altitude districts, while select regions of Tehri, Rudraprayag, Almora, Champawat, Nainital, Pauri, and Dehradun fall under the low-altitude category.
The annual transfer cycle will begin on January 1 and conclude by March 31 each year. The department has clarified that postings after transfer should not be considered a teacher’s fundamental right, and any implementation issues will be addressed case-by-case.
