The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the 21st edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) on February 8, 2026 (Sunday). The test will be held in 20 languages across 132 cities throughout India, for both Paper-I and Paper-II. The qualifying CTET certificate, valid indefinitely, is a mandatory prerequisite for teaching posts in central government schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and schools administered by union territories.
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test is a national-level examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to establish rigorous standards for the recruitment of teachers in India. Introduced in accordance with guidelines set by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, CTET aims to determine the merit and competence of aspiring teachers for appointment in Classes I to VIII across government and recognised schools nationwide.
CTET 2026: Eligibility Criteria
CTET eligibility is defined by the National Council for Teacher Education and covers Paper-I and Paper-II, with revisions added recently.
Nationality
- Candidates must be citizens of India to apply.
Age Limit
- The minimum age to register is 18 years. There is no upper age limit for CTET.
Educational Qualifications for Paper-I (Classes I-V)
- Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (DElEd)
- Senior Secondary with at least 45% marks and passed/appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (NCTE regulations)
- Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in the final year of the 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (BElEd)
- Graduated and passed/appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
Educational Qualifications for Paper-II (Classes VI-VIII)
- Graduation with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in 1-year BEd
- Graduation with at least 45% marks and passed/appearing in 1-year BEd (NCTE norms)
- Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in the final year of the 4-year BElEd
- Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in the final year of BA/BSc.Ed or BA.Ed/BSc.Ed
- Post-graduation with at least 55% marks and completed an integrated 3-year BEd-MEd (newly added eligibility).
It is important to read the CTET eligibility criteria carefully before applying for the CTET exam to avoid any disqualification at a later stage.
CTET Exam Pattern 2026
CTET comprises two papers. Both are conducted in offline mode as multiple-choice tests, with no negative marking.
Paper-I (for Classes I to V)
- 150 MCQs, each carrying 1 mark
- Sections: Child Development & Pedagogy (30), Language I (30), Language II (30), Mathematics (30), Environmental Studies (30)
- Duration: 2.5 hours
Paper-II (for Classes VI to VIII)
- 150 MCQs, each carrying 1 mark
- Sections: Child Development & Pedagogy (30), Language I (30), Language II (30), Mathematics & Science (60) or Social Studies/Social Science (60)
- Candidates choose between Mathematics & Science or Social Studies/Social Science section
- Duration: 2.5 hours
There is no penalty for wrong answers in either paper.
A detailed Information Bulletin for CTET 2026 covering syllabus, eligibility, fee, languages, and exam cities will soon be released on the official CTET website (ctet.nic.in). Candidates are advised to download and read the bulletin carefully before applying online.
