• Updated on 27 Oct, 2025 by Ankita Banerjee
CTET 2026 Notification has been released as a short notice on the official website, ctet.nic.in, announcing that the 21st edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test will be held on February 8, 2026. The detailed notification for CTET 2026, which will be released shortly by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), will include important information such as the exam syllabus, languages, eligibility criteria, application fee, exam centres, and key dates. Candidates are advised to go through the official notification carefully to ensure they do not miss any important details regarding the exam. The CTET 2026 notification PDF will be made available for download, and the application form for the February 2026 session will be released along with it on the official website.
Table of Contents
CTET 2026 Notification Available Details
After the release of CTET 2026 notification, candidates will be able to check the details below in the notification.
- Application process: The online application form will be made available along with the notification.
- CTET exam date 2026: The dates regarding the application form, exam, admit card and result will be mentioned in the notification PDF.
- CTET eligibility criteria: The latest eligibility criteria for Paper 1 and Paper 2 will be stated in a detailed manner.
- CTET exam pattern: The structure of the question paper for both papers will be described in the PDF.
- CTET syllabus: The subject-wise syllabus will be mentioned along with the topic-wise weightage.
- CTET qualifying marks
- Applicability
- Validity of CTET certificate
- CTET exam centres list
- CTET Admit card
- Procedure for the conduct of the exam
- Examination fee
- Verification of eligibility
- Rechecking or reevaluation
- CTET Certificate and marksheet
- Display of recorded responses
- Display of answer key for challenges
- Test practice centres
CTET 2026 Notification: Important Dates
The CTET 2026 exam will be conducted on February 8, 2026. Interested candidates can check the tentative dates for CTET 2026 examination in the table below:
CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026
CTET 2026 Eligibility has two parts: Paper 1 is for teaching Classes 1 to 5, and Paper 2 is for Classes 6 to 8.
For Paper 1
- Candidates must have passed Class 12 (Senior Secondary) with at least 50% marks.
- They should also have a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed), a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed), or a Diploma in Education.
- Those in the final year of these programs can also apply.
For Paper 2
- Candidates need to be graduates in any discipline, with at least 50% marks.
- They should have a B.Ed, a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, or a 4-year B.El.Ed/B.Sc.Ed/B.A.Ed degree.
- Final year students in these courses are eligible.
Other Eligibility Criteria
- The minimum age is 17 or 18 years, depending on the source; there is no upper age limit.
- Indian citizenship is required.
- Postgraduates with 55% marks and an integrated B.Ed-M.Ed degree may also apply.
CTET 2026 Application Process
Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for the CTET 2026 exam can follow the steps below to fill out the online Application Form for CTET 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 2026 Application Fee
The application fee for different categories in CTET 2026 exam is mentioned in the table below.
CTET 2026 Exam Pattern
Candidates can check CTET 2026 Exam Pattern for Paper 1 and Paper 2 exams in the table below. There will be a total of 150 questions asked in CTET exam.
CTET 2026 Teacher Salary
Candidates who will qualify CTET 2026 exam can apply for teaching jobs for classes 1 to 8 in Central Government Schools as NVS/KVS, and other Schools, etc. The basic salary of a teacher is between INR 9300 to 34800. Candidates can check the salary breakdown in the table below.
CTET 2026 Exam Centre
CTET 2026 exam will be conducted in the following cities. Candidates have to choose 4 exam centres while filling out the application form. Candidates can check the CTET 2025 Exam Centers in the table below:
CTET 2026 Certificate Validity
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) certificate will now be valid for a lifetime instead of the earlier limit of 7 years. This change has been applied retrospectively from 2011, as announced by the Education Minister. Candidates whose certificates had expired under the previous rule can get them reissued without any expiry date. The responsibility for revalidating or reissuing such TET certificates lies with the respective States and Union Territories. Previously, the CTET certificate was considered valid only for 7 years from the date of issuance.
CTET 2026 Notification 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 2026 notification be released?
The official CTET 2026 notification is expected to be released soon, likely in October 2026. It will be available on the official website ctet.nic.in, as an information bulletin. The notification will include important details like application dates, eligibility criteria, exam dates, syllabus, and other instructions for candidates.
Who can apply for CTET 2026?
Candidates who meet the educational qualifications can apply. For Paper 1 (Classes 1 to 5), candidates should have passed Class 12 with at least 50% marks and have completed or be pursuing a teacher training course like D.El.Ed or B.Ed. For Paper 2 (Classes 6 to 8), a graduate degree with a B.Ed or equivalent is required. Final year students can also apply.
How can I apply for CTET 2026?
Applications will be submitted online on the official CTET website (ctet.nic.in). Candidates need to register by filling in their details, upload photos and signature, pay the fee online, and submit 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.
What is the exam syllabus for CTET 2026?
The CTET syllabus covers topics related to child development, pedagogy, language I and language II, mathematics, environmental studies for paper 1, and additional subjects for paper 2 like science and social studies. The syllabus is designed to test teaching skills and subject knowledge.
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.
How much is the application fee for CTET 2026?
The application fee varies by category and number of papers chosen. Generally, it's around INR 1000 for general candidates and less for reserved categories per paper. The exact fee details will be available in the official notification.
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 I 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.