The CBSE CTET 2026 exam (22nd Edition) is scheduled to be held on 6 September 2026 in offline (OMR-based) mode across 132 cities. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has opened the online application window from 11 May 2026 to 10 June 2026. Candidates aspiring to teach Classes I–VIII can apply for Paper I, Paper II, or both. With lifetime validity and no negative marking, CTET 2026 is a vital qualification for teaching positions in KVS, NVS, and other central government schools.
| 6 September EXAM DATE | 10 June LAST DATE |
| 150 QUESTIONS/PAPER | Lifetime VALIDITY |
🔔 Applications Open: CTET 2026 online application started 11 May 2026. Last date to apply and pay fee is 10 June 2026 (11:59 PM). Correction window: 15–18 June 2026.
Table of Contents
- 1 CTET 2026 – Quick Overview
- 2 CTET 2026 Notification – Overview
- 3 CTET Paper I vs Paper II – Which Should You Apply For?
- 4 CTET 2026 Exam Schedule
- 5 CTET 2026 Exam Pattern
- 6 CTET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
- 7 CTET 2026 Application Fee
- 8 CTET 2026 Important Dates
- 9 Languages Available for CTET 2026
- 10 How to Apply for CTET 2026 – Step by Step
- 11 CTET Certificate Validity
- 12 Important Links
- 13 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- 13.1 When will the CTET 2026 exam be conducted?
- 13.2 What is the last date to apply for CTET 2026?
- 13.3 What is the qualifying mark for CTET 2026?
- 13.4 What is the validity of the CTET 2026 certificate?
- 13.5 Is there negative marking in CTET 2026?
- 13.6 Can I choose my exam city for CTET 20
- 13.7 Should I apply for Paper I, Paper II, or both?
- 13.8 What is the application fee for CTET 2026?
- 13.9 Is Assamese available as a language in CTET 2026?
CTET 2026 – Quick Overview
| Exam Name | Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) |
| Edition | 22nd Edition |
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Papers | Paper I (Classes I–V) & Paper II (Classes VI–VIII) |
| Exam Date | 6 September 2026 (Sunday) |
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes per paper |
| Total Questions | 150 MCQs per paper (1 mark each) |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Qualifying Marks | 60% or above (90 out of 150) |
| Validity | Lifetime (for all categories) |
| Languages Available | 27 Languages |
| Exam Cities | 132 Cities across India |
| Apply Start Date | 11 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 10 June 2026 |
| Correction Window | 15 – 18 June 2026 |
CTET 2026 Notification – Overview
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the CTET Notification 2026 for the 22nd edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test. The exam will be held on 6 September 2026 (Sunday) in offline (OMR-based) mode across 132 cities in India and in 27 languages. Online applications are open from 11 May to 10 June 2026.
CTET is a mandatory eligibility test for candidates who wish to become teachers for Classes I to VIII in Central Government schools (KVS, NVS, Army Schools, etc.) and many state government schools. A CTET certificate is now valid for a lifetime for all categories, making this a one-time investment for your teaching career.
✅ Key Highlight: CTET 2026 certificate validity is LIFETIME for all categories — General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD. There is also no limit on the number of attempts, so you can appear as many times as you want to improve your score.
CTET Paper I vs Paper II – Which Should You Apply For?
| 📚 Paper I For teachers aspiring to teach Classes I to V (Primary Level) |
| 📙 Paper II For teachers aspiring to teach Classes VI to VIII (Upper Primary Level) |
ℹ Both Papers? Candidates who wish to teach both Class I–V and Class VI–VIII must appear in both Paper I and Paper II and pay the fee accordingly. Both papers are held on the same day in different shifts
CTET 2026 Exam Schedule
📅 Exam Date: 6 September 2026 (Sunday)
| Paper II | Morning Shift | 09:30 AM – 12:00 Noon |
| Paper I | Evening Shift | 02:30 PM – 05:00 PM |
ℹ If the number of candidates is very large, CBSE may also conduct the exam on 5 September 2026 (Saturday). No exam city preference is allowed — CBSE allots city on a random basis.
CTET 2026 Exam Pattern
Both papers contain 150 MCQ questions of 1 mark each. Duration is 2 hours 30 minutes. There is no negative marking. Question papers are bilingual (Hindi and English).
Paper I Pattern – Classes I to V (Primary Level)
| Subject | MCQs | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development & Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Paper II Pattern – Classes VI to VIII (Upper Primary Level)
| Subject | MCQs | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development & Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics & Science OR Social Studies/Social Science | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
✅ No negative marking: Attempt all 150 questions. Wrong answers carry zero penalty. Qualifying score is 60% = 90 marks out of 150.
CTET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The minimum qualifications for CTET are notified by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). A relaxation of up to 5% in qualifying marks is allowed for SC, ST, OBC, and Differently-abled candidates.
Eligibility for Paper I (Classes I–V)
- Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks + passed or appearing in final year of 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).
- Senior Secondary with 50% marks + 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).
- Senior Secondary with 50% marks + 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education).
- Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks + B.Ed as per NCTE norms.
Eligibility for Paper II (Classes VI–VIII)
- Bachelor’s Degree + passed or appearing in final year of 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
- Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks + B.Ed (recognized by NCTE).
- Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks + 4-year B.El.Ed / B.A.Ed / B.Sc.Ed.
- Equivalent qualifications as per NCTE norms.
ℹ Check the official NCTE website to confirm your eligibility before applying. Final year students of qualifying programmes are also eligible to apply.
CTET 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Only Paper I or II | Both Paper I & II |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC (NCL) | ₹1,000/- | ₹1,200/- |
| SC / ST / Differently Abled | ₹500/- | ₹600/- |
⚠ Important: Fee can be paid via Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking. GST will be charged extra by the bank. Fee once paid will NOT be refunded under any circumstances. Verify all details before payment.
CTET 2026 Important Dates
| NOTIFICATION RELEASED 8 May 2026 |
| APPLY START DATE 11 May 2026 |
| ⏰ LAST DATE TO APPLY 10 June 2026 |
| CORRECTION WINDOW 15–18 June 2026 |
| ADMIT CARD 2 Days Before Exam |
| ⭐ EXAM DATE 6 Sep 2026 (Sun) |
| RESULT DECLARATION By Oct 2026 (Tentative) |
⚠ Last date is 10 June 2026 at 11:59 PM. Do not wait for the last day. Server overload is common on the final day of CTET applications.
Languages Available for CTET 2026
Candidates must select two languages (Language I and Language II must be different). The following 27 languages are available:
English • Hindi • Assamese • Bengali • Garo • Gujarati • Kannada • Khasi • Malayalam • Manipuri • Marathi • Mizo • Nepali • Odia • Punjabi • Sanskrit • Tamil • Telugu • Tibetan • Urdu • Bodo • Dogri • Kashmiri • Konkani • Maithili • Santhali • Sindhi
ℹ Assamese is one of the 27 languages available — a great advantage for candidates from Assam who want to appear in their native language.
How to Apply for CTET 2026 – Step by Step
Before starting, keep a scanned photograph (10KB–100KB, 3.5cm × 4.5cm) and signature (3KB–30KB, 3.5cm × 1.5cm) ready in JPG/JPEG format.
- Click the Application Form link in the Important Links section below to visit the official CTET website.
- Fill the authentication form with your State, Identity type, Name, Date of Birth, and Gender exactly as per Class X certificate.
- Complete the online application form and create a password (8–13 characters with uppercase, lowercase, number, and special character).
- Note down your Registration Number / Application Number generated by the system.
- Upload scanned photograph and signature in JPG/JPEG format within specified size limits.
- Pay the examination fee via Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking.
- Take a printout of the Confirmation Page for your records.
⚠ Warning: Do NOT submit more than one online application. Multiple applications will result in cancellation of candidature and the candidate may be debarred from future exams.
🖉 Correction Window: Online correction in application particulars will be allowed from 15 June to 18 June 2026 only. No corrections will be accepted after this period.
CTET Certificate Validity
LIFETIME Validity – For ALL Categories
The CTET qualifying certificate is now valid for a lifetime for candidates of all categories — General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD. There is also no limit on the number of attempts. Candidates can appear multiple times to improve their score.
✅ Good to know: Even if you have passed CTET in a previous year, you can appear again in CTET 2026 to improve your score. The best score / most recent CTET certificate can be used for job applications.
Important Links
| CTET 2026 Application Form Open: 11 May – 10 June 2026 | Apply Now |
| Official Notification PDF CBSE CTET 2026 Notice | Download |
| CTET Information Bulletin Complete exam guidelines | View |
| CTET Guidebook Preparation guide | Download |
| Official Website – CTET ctet.nic.in | Visit |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When will the CTET 2026 exam be conducted?
➲ The CTET 2026 exam is scheduled for 6 September 2026 (Sunday). If the number of candidates increases, the exam may also be held on 5 September 2026 (Saturday). Paper II is in the morning shift (9:30 AM–12:00 Noon) and Paper I is in the evening shift (2:30 PM–5:00 PM).
What is the last date to apply for CTET 2026?
➲ The last date to submit the online application and pay the examination fee is 10 June 2026 up to 11:59 PM. The correction window is available from 15–18 June 2026.
What is the qualifying mark for CTET 2026?
➲ A candidate who scores 60% or more (90 out of 150 marks) will be considered as TET pass. School managements may give concessions to SC, ST, OBC, and differently-abled candidates as per their reservation policy.
What is the validity of the CTET 2026 certificate?
➲ The CTET qualifying certificate is valid for a lifetime for all categories. There is also no restriction on the number of attempts — candidates can appear as many times as they want.
Is there negative marking in CTET 2026?
➲ No, there is no negative marking in CTET 2026. Each question carries 1 mark. Candidates can attempt all 150 questions without any penalty for wrong answers.
Can I choose my exam city for CTET 20
➲ No. There is no provision to select the examination city on the online portal. CBSE will allot the city on a random basis, and no change request will be accepted after allotment.
Should I apply for Paper I, Paper II, or both?
➲ Apply for Paper I if you want to teach Classes I–V. Apply for Paper II if you want to teach Classes VI–VIII. If you wish to teach both levels, apply for both papers and pay the combined fee accordingly.
What is the application fee for CTET 2026?
➲ General/OBC: ₹1,000/- (one paper) or ₹1,200/- (both papers). SC/ST/Differently Abled: ₹500/- (one paper) or ₹600/- (both papers). GST is charged extra by the bank.
Is Assamese available as a language in CTET 2026?
➲ Yes. Assamese is one of the 27 languages available in CTET 2026. Candidates from Assam can choose Assamese as Language I or Language II while applying.
CBSE CTET 2026 | 22nd Edition | Paper I & II | Exam: 6 September 2026 | Last Date: 10 June 2026 | ctet.nic.in