• Updated on 21 Sept, 2026 by Paulami Chandra
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The CTET Notification 2026 for the September session was issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on May 11, 2026, containing important details about the examination, eligibility criteria, application procedure, fee structure, syllabus, and other exam-related instructions. Following the notification, the initial online application window remained open from May 11 to June 10, 2026, allowing eligible candidates to register for the 22nd edition of CTET. CBSE subsequently reopened the application portal from August 25 to September 1, 2026, giving another opportunity to eligible candidates who could not submit their forms during the earlier window. Candidates who had already completed their applications successfully in the first phase are not required to apply again.
The CTET Exam Dates 2026 have now been revised, with the 22nd edition of CTET scheduled for December 12 and 13, 2026, after the exam earlier planned for September 6, 2026, was postponed. The CBSE had reopened the CTET application window 2026 from August 25 to September 1, 2026. Following this, the correction window was made available from September 7 to 10, 2026. The CTET 2026 will be conducted in two shifts, with Paper 2 from 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and Paper 1 from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The CTET City Intimation Slip 2026 will be available around 15 days before the respective exam date. Eventually, the CTET Admit Card 2026 will be released around 4 days before the respective exam.
Table of Contents
CTET 2026 Notification Important Dates
CTET Notification 2026 includes important information regarding the CTET eligibility criteria, application process, exam pattern, syllabus, exam centres, language options, application fee, admit card, result, and other important dates. Interested candidates can check the important dates for the CTET 2026 examination in the table below:
CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026
CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026 has been prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education for candidates aspiring to appear for Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the examination. Candidates must fulfil the required educational qualifications, age limit, and teacher training criteria before filling out the CTET Application Form 2026. The eligibility conditions differ for candidates applying for primary-level and elementary-level teaching posts. Candidates can check the CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026 below:
| Criteria | Details |
| CTET 2026 Paper 1 Eligibility | Candidates must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) and completed or be pursuing a 2-year D.El.Ed, 4-year B.El.Ed, 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education), or a Graduation with a B.Ed qualification. |
| CTET 2026 Paper 2 Eligibility | Candidates must hold a Graduation degree with at least 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) along with D.El.Ed, B.Ed, or B.El.Ed qualification. Candidates pursuing the final year of B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed or integrated B.Ed courses are also eligible. |
| CTET 2026 Educational Qualification | Candidates must have completed or be pursuing a recognized teacher training course such as D.El.Ed, B.Ed, or B.El.Ed from a recognized institution. |
| CTET 2026 Nationality | Candidates applying for CTET 2026 must be citizens of India. |
| CTET 2026 Age Limit | The minimum age required is 18 years. There is no upper age limit for appearing in the CTET exam. |
CTET Application Process 2026
The CTET 2026 registration process is being carried out again through the online mode on the official CBSE website. The CTET 2026 application process was first conducted from May 11 to June 10, 2026, followed by a reopened registration window from August 25 to September 1, 2026, allowing eligible candidates to submit their applications during the extended phase. Candidates who have already submitted their applications successfully during the earlier window are not required to register again. Candidates can follow the step-by-step process provided below to fill out the CTET Application Process 2026:
- Go to the official CTET website: ctet.nic.in.
- Click on the 'Apply for CTET' link or 'Online Registration' button.
- If new, register yourself by providing basic details such as name, date of birth, and contact information.
- Fill in the application form with your personal details, education, exam center choice, and other required information.
- Upload your latest photograph and signature as per the guidelines.
- Pay the application fee online using a debit/credit card, net banking, or e-challan.
- After payment, submit the form and download/print the confirmation page for records.
CTET Application Fee 2026
CTET Application fee 2026 for different categories in the CTET 2026 exam is mentioned in the table below:
CTET Exam Pattern 2026
CTET Exam Pattern 2026 includes two papers conducted for different teaching levels. CTET Paper 1 is for candidates aspiring to teach Classes 1 to 5, while CTET Paper 2 is meant for candidates who wish to teach Classes 6 to 8. Both papers consist of 150 multiple-choice questions, carrying one mark each, with no negative marking in the examination. The duration of each paper is 2 hours and 30 minutes. Candidates can check the CTET Exam Pattern 2026 for Paper 1 and Paper 2 exams in the table below:
CTET Salary 2026
CTET Salary 2026 varies depending on the teaching post, school, and level of appointment after qualifying for the examination. Candidates who qualify for the exam become eligible to apply for teaching positions for Classes 1 to 8 in central government schools such as Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, along with other schools accepting CTET scores. The basic salary of a teacher generally ranges between INR 9,300 and INR 34,800, along with additional allowances and benefits.
CTET Exam Centre 2026
CTET Exam Centres 2026 are allotted across various cities in India by the Central Board of Secondary Education. Candidates applying for the CTET 2026 exam must select up to four preferred exam cities while filling out the CTET Application Form 2026. The CTET examination will be conducted in multiple exam centres across different states and union territories. Candidates can check the complete list of CTET Exam Centres 2026in the table below.
CTET Certificate Validity 2026
CTET Certificate Validity 2026 is lifetime for candidates who qualify for the examination. Earlier, the CTET certificate was valid for only seven years from the date of declaration of the result. However, the validity period was later extended to lifetime by the Government of India, and the decision was implemented retrospectively from 2011. Candidates whose certificates had expired under the old rule can also get their CTET certificates reissued without any expiry date, as per the guidelines issued by the authorities.
CTET Notification 2026 FAQs
What is CTET 2026?
CTET stands for Central Teacher Eligibility Test. It is a national-level exam conducted by CBSE. The exam checks eligibility for teachers who want to teach Classes 1 to 8 in government and private schools across India. CTET 2026 will be held to select qualified candidates for teaching jobs in central government schools like Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas.
When will the CTET Notification 2026 be released?
The CTET Notification 2026 for the September session was released by the Central Board of Secondary Education on May 11, 2026, along with the opening of the initial application window. The CTET 2026 application process was initially conducted from May 11 to June 10, 2026, after which CBSE reopened the application portal from August 25 to September 1, 2026, giving eligible candidates another opportunity to apply.
When can I apply for CTET 2026?
Candidates could apply for CTET 2026 during the reopened application window from August 25 to September 1, 2026. The initial application window had been open from May 11 to June 10, 2026. Candidates who had already submitted their applications successfully during the initial window were not required to apply again.
How can candidates apply for CTET 2026?
Applications can be submitted online on the official CTET website (ctet.nic.in). Candidates need to register by filling in their details, uploading photos and a signature, paying the fee online, and submitting the form. After submission, it is important to download and print the confirmation page for future reference.
What is the exam mode for CTET 2026?
CTET 2026 will be conducted as an offline exam. Candidates will answer multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on an OMR sheet using pen and paper. The duration of the exam is 2 hours and 30 minutes for each paper.
How many papers does CTET have?
CTET has two papers. Paper 1 is for teaching Classes 1 to 5, and Paper 2 is for teaching Classes 6 to 8. Candidates can choose to appear for either one or both papers depending on their eligibility and job preferences.
Is there any age limit for CTET 2026?
There is no upper age limit to appear for CTET. The minimum age requirement is generally 17 or 18 years. Candidates of any age can take the exam as long as they meet the educational qualifications.
What is the validity of the CTET certificate?
The CTET certificate issued after clearing the exam is valid for a lifetime. Earlier, the certificate was valid for 7 years, but now candidates get a lifetime validity certificate that can be used for teacher recruitment.
Is CTET form reopen?
Yes, the CTET 2026 application form was reopened from August 25 to September 1, 2026, allowing eligible candidates who had missed the initial deadline to submit their applications. The initial application window had been conducted from May 11 to June 10, 2026.
Is there negative marking in CTET 2026?
No, there is no negative marking in the CTET exam. Candidates get 1 mark for each correct answer and zero marks for wrong or unanswered questions, so it is better to attempt all questions carefully.
Is the CTET 2026 date changed?
Yes, the CTET 2026 exam date was changed. The 22nd edition of CTET was initially scheduled for September 6, 2026, with September 5 kept as an additional date if required. CBSE subsequently postponed the examination after reopening the application window for eligible candidates. As per the revised schedule, the CTET 2026 examination will now be conducted on December 12 and 13, 2026.
Can final year students apply for CTET 2026?
Yes, candidates who are in the final year of their teacher training course, such as D.El.Ed, B.Ed, or equivalent are allowed to apply for CTET 2026. They must produce proof of passing the final year exam before certificate issuance.
Where can candidates find the CTET 2026 admit card?
The admit card or hall ticket will be available for download on the official CTET website a few days before the exam. Candidates need to log in with their application number and date of birth to get their admit card.