The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the official notification for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026. The CTET February 2026 session registration process will be conducted online via the official CTET website, ctet.nic.in, from November 27, 2025, to December 18, 2025. The CTET exam is a mandatory eligibility test for candidates aspiring to become teachers for Classes 1 to 8 in central government schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and other institutions that recognise the CTET certificate.
The CTET 2026 exam is set to be conducted on February 8, 2026. The test will be conducted in twenty languages in 132 cities all over the country. The CTET 2026 notification includes key information such as the eligibility criteria, application process, exam dates, syllabus, and exam pattern. The application process is fully online, and candidates should keep track of the deadlines to avoid missing the opportunity.
CTET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before applying for the CTET 2026 exam, candidates need to carefully go through the detailed CTET 2026 eligibility criteria. The CTET 2026 eligibility rules are as follows:
- For Paper 1 (Classes 1 to 5):
- Passed or appearing in Senior Secondary (12th) with at least 50% marks and completed or pursuing 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
- Or at least 45% in Senior Secondary with D.El.Ed as per NCTE norms.
- Or 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) with 50% marks.
- Or Graduation with 50% marks and B.Ed.
- For Paper 2 (Classes 6 to 8):
- Graduation plus 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).
- Or Graduation with 50% marks plus 1-year B.Ed.
- Or 4-year B.El.Ed or B.A/B.Sc.Ed with 50% marks after Senior Secondary.
- Or Graduation with 50% marks plus B.Ed (Special Education).
- Minimum age: 17 years, no upper age limit.
- No prior teaching experience required.
- Candidates must be Indian citizens or meet specified nationality criteria.
Candidates must match the above given eligibility criteria in order to apply and appear for the CTET 2026 February exam.
CTET 2026 Exam Pattern
Candidates can note the key features of the CTET 2026 exam pattern as given in the table below:
| Feature | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper Based) |
| Total Questions | 150 (per paper) |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes (per paper) |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for correct answer, 0 for incorrect/ unattempted |
| Language | English or Hindi |
Candidates are advised to prepare well using the official syllabus and previous years’ question papers to enhance their chances of success in this national-level eligibility test.
CTET 2026 Application Fee
The CTET 2026 application fee varies based on the paper and candidate category. Refer to the following table to know about the application fee:
| Category | Paper I or Paper II (Single) | Both Papers (Paper I & II) |
|---|---|---|
| General/OBC | ₹1,000 | ₹1,200 |
| SC/ST/PwD | ₹500 | ₹600 |
Payment for CTET 2026 can be made online using credit/debit cards, net banking, or other specified modes.
Clearing the CTET 2026 exam is essential for those seeking teaching positions in government and private schools across India, adhering to mandated regulations that require a certain proportion of teachers to be CTET qualified.
