The TGBIE has announced a significant and welcome update for Arts-stream students: for the upcoming Intermediate Public Examinations (IPE) scheduled in March 2026, first-year Arts/Humanities students in Telangana can apply to appear without regular college attendance. This option is aimed at “private” or “exempt” candidates who may wish to enter the intermediate level but are unable to follow the conventional college-attendance route.
Here’s a detailed overview of what this means, who’s eligible, key dates, fees, and the steps you’ll need to follow.
Table of Contents
🗓 Key Dates
Last date to apply without late fee: 17 November 2025.
Last date to apply with late fee: 29 November 2025.
📝 What is This Exemption Option?
Normally, first-year intermediate students enrol in a college and attend regular classes. Under this new scheme by TGBIE:
Arts/Humanities students who do not wish to attend college regularly can apply as “exempt” or “private” candidates.
They will pay an exemption fee (instead of enrolling in college) and still be eligible to appear for the IPE March 2026 exams.
These candidates will follow the same syllabus as regular students and must meet the same examination requirements (including practicals/internal assessments where applicable).
✅ Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
The main eligibility requirements for this exemption route are as follows:
The candidate should have passed the SSC (or equivalent) and then waited at least one year before appearing for the first-year Intermediate exam.
If the gap since SSC is two years or more, the candidate may appear for both first and second year Intermediate together.
If the SSC or equivalent was completed from a board outside Telangana, the candidate must obtain an Eligibility Certificate from TGBIE and upload it at the time of application.
Candidates who failed 2nd year or are shifting from Science to Arts/Humanities (or within Humanities) must apply for “attendance exemption” or other required permissions.
💰 Fees & Crucial Notes
The exemption fee to appear as a private candidate is ₹500.
There will be no offline/post submissions: Applications must be submitted online only via the official portal.
Applications that are incomplete, or missing mandatory uploaded documents (SSC pass certificate, Transfer Certificate, Migration/Eligibility certificate if applicable) will be summarily rejected without further correspondence.
🔍 Documents to Be Uploaded
To complete the online application you will need:
Scanned copy of SSC pass certificate.
Transfer Certificate (TC) from previous institution/school.
Migration Certificate or Eligibility Certificate (especially if SSC from outside Telangana).
(For those changing streams or seeking attendance exemption) relevant documents as per instructions.
🧭 How to Apply: Step-by-Step
Go to the official portal: e.g., tgbie.cgg.gov.in / or the registered online application link.
Fill in your personal details, SSC details, choice of stream (Arts/Humanities), and select the “exempt/private candidate” option.
Upload the required scanned documents (SSC pass, TC, migration/eligibility as applicable).
Pay the exemption fee (₹500) online. (If you miss the regular deadline, you can apply with late fee up to 29 Nov).
Submit the application and save/print the acknowledgement or application receipt for future reference.
Monitor the portal for further updates: e.g., exam schedule, admit card issuance, etc.
📌 Important Things to Remember
Even though you’re applying as a “without college attendance” candidate, you’ll still be following the same syllabus as regular students.
Internal assessments and practicals (for subjects like English) will still apply to exempt candidates.
Missed deadlines mean you’ll have to apply with the higher late fee or may lose the option for the March 2026 session.
Ensure all documents are correct and uploaded properly. Mistakes or missing documents will lead to rejection.
If you passed SSC from outside Telangana, make sure you have the eligibility certificate before completing the application, as that is mandatory.
🎯 Why This Option Matters
This scheme gives flexibility to Arts/Humanities students who for some reason cannot or prefer not to enrol in a regular college for first year.
It opens the door to intermediate education without the requirement of physical attendance, which might help working students, those from rural areas or non-traditional learners.
It aligns with the trend of giving students more choice and accessibility in board-level examinations.
🧮 Final Word
If you are an Arts/Humanities student in Telangana who completed SSC and either chose not to enrol in regular college or faced constraints around college attendance, this exemption route via TGBIE for the IPE March 2026 is an excellent option. Make sure you register online before 17 November 2025, upload all documents correctly, pay the fee, and stay alert to deadlines and updates. Missed deadlines or incomplete applications will mean you either pay more via late fee or wait for the next session.
