CTET 2026: Complete Guide to the Central Teacher Eligibility Test
CTET 2026: Complete Guide to the Central Teacher Eligibility Test
If you want to teach Classes I to VIII in a Kendriya Vidyalaya, a Navodaya Vidyalaya or a CBSE-affiliated school, the CTET is the first gate you have to clear. The Central Teacher Eligibility Test does not give you a job. It gives you the eligibility to apply for one, and that eligibility now lasts for life.
This page is the starting point for everything about the CTET exam on ExamAtlas. It explains what the test is, who can take it, where it counts, what the current CTET 2026 session looks like after the postponement, and then points you to a detailed guide for each part. Read this first, then open the guide you need.
One line for the impatient: the September 2026 session (22nd edition) has moved to 12 and 13 December 2026, as per the CBSE public notice dated 14 September 2026.
What is CTET?
CTET is a national-level teacher eligibility test conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). It checks whether a person has the minimum ability and teaching understanding needed to teach at the primary and upper primary level.
The test exists because the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) made passing a Teacher Eligibility Test one of the minimum qualifications for teachers of Classes I to VIII. Under the NCTE notification dated 11 February 2011, anyone who scores 60% or more is treated as TET pass.
CBSE runs CTET in numbered editions, roughly in two cycles a year. The February 2026 cycle was the 21st edition, held on 7 and 8 February 2026. The September 2026 cycle is the 22nd edition. If you searched "CTET kya hai", that is the short answer: a CBSE-run eligibility test, based on NCTE norms, that makes you eligible to be considered for teaching jobs in central and many other schools.
CTET Paper 1 vs Paper 2 at a glance
CTET has two papers. Paper 1 is for those who want to teach Classes I to V. Paper 2 is for Classes VI to VIII. If you want to teach at both levels, you must take both papers. Both are objective, offline and carry no negative marking.
Which one should you take? If you hold a D.El.Ed and want primary jobs, Paper 1 is your paper. If you hold a B.Ed, Paper 2 is the natural fit. Many D.El.Ed holders who are also graduates write both, because the fee for both papers is only a little higher than for one.
Where is CTET valid?
The CTET September 2026 Information Bulletin lists where the certificate applies:
- Central Government schools such as KVS, NVS and Central Tibetan Schools.
- Schools under the Union Territories of Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and NCT of Delhi.
- Unaided private schools may consider CTET.
- State government, local body and aided schools usually consider the State TET. A State can, however, consider CTET if it decides not to hold its own TET.
- In CBSE-affiliated schools, teachers appointed for Classes I to VIII after 6 March 2012 must have passed CTET or the appropriate TET.
State TET vs CTET
Most states run their own test, for example JTET in Jharkhand, Bihar STET or BTET in Bihar, UPTET in Uttar Pradesh, REET in Rajasthan and MP TET in Madhya Pradesh. A state TET mainly serves that state's own schools. CTET serves central schools and many private schools across the country. Each state sets its own rules on whether it also accepts CTET, so read the recruitment notice of the post you want.
If you are from Jharkhand or Bihar and cannot decide between the tests, read our comparison, JTET vs CTET vs Bihar STET. My honest view: if you can manage it, write CTET along with your state TET. The syllabus overlaps a lot, and two certificates keep more doors open.
How long is the CTET certificate valid?
The CTET certificate is now valid for life for all categories. As widely reported, NCTE took this decision in 2021 (announced by the then Education Minister) and applied it retrospectively from 2011. So old certificates that were earlier valid for seven years also count.
Results come in digital form. Mark sheets for all candidates and eligibility certificates for successful candidates are issued in DigiLocker, digitally signed and legally valid under the IT Act, with an encrypted QR code that can be checked through the DigiLocker app. CBSE creates DigiLocker accounts for all candidates who appear and sends the login details to the mobile number registered with CBSE. There is also no limit on attempts, and a qualified candidate may write again to improve the score.
Current session status: CTET September 2026
This session has had a rough few months. Here is the sequence in brief:
- The CBSE notice dated 8 May 2026 announced the 22nd edition for 6 September 2026, in 27 languages across 132 cities.
- Online applications ran from 11 May to 10 June 2026, with a correction window from 15 to 18 June 2026.
- Applications reopened from 25 August to 1 September 2026. According to media reports, this followed a Supreme Court direction to give eligible candidates who had missed the deadline another chance. Those who had already applied did not need to apply again.
- The exam planned for early September was postponed. A correction window was open again from 7 to 10 September 2026.
- The CBSE public notice dated 14 September 2026 fixed the new dates: 12 and 13 December 2026.
CBSE has not yet said which paper is on which day, or the shift timings. In the original schedule, Paper II was in the morning (9:30 AM to 12:00 noon) and Paper I in the evening (2:30 PM to 5:00 PM). December timings will be confirmed on the Admit Card. Your exam city is allotted by CBSE; you cannot choose it, and change requests are not accepted.
The exam has moved by about 14 weeks. That is extra time. Do not waste it waiting for news.
CTET application fee
GST is extra and the fee is non-refundable. For General and OBC candidates, the second paper costs just Rs 200 more, which is why writing both makes sense if you are eligible for both.
CTET exam date
The 22nd edition is now on 12 and 13 December 2026. Your city and exam date will appear on the portal 15 days before the exam, and the Admit Card two days before. Paper-wise days are still awaited. Full timeline, old and new dates, and what is still pending are in our CTET Exam Date guide.
CTET Paper 1
Paper 1 is for primary teachers (Classes I to V). It has CDP, Mathematics, EVS, Language I and Language II, with 30 questions each. The CDP part focuses on children aged 6 to 11, and the Maths and EVS sections give equal weight to content and pedagogy. Section-wise topics and a scoring plan are in our CTET Paper 1 guide.
CTET Paper 2
Paper 2 is for upper primary teachers (Classes VI to VIII). You pick either Maths and Science or Social Studies as your 60-question subject block. CDP here focuses on the 11 to 14 age group. Subject choice, split of marks and the Maths/Science vs SST decision are covered in our CTET Paper 2 guide.
CTET exam pattern
Every question is an MCQ with four options and one mark. There is no negative marking, so you should attempt every question. The paper is bilingual (Hindi and English) and you mark answers on an OMR sheet with a blue or black ball point pen. Section tables and OMR rules are in our CTET Exam Pattern guide.
CTET syllabus
The syllabus comes from the Information Bulletin (Appendix I) and is built on NCERT textbooks of Classes I to VIII. About half of many sections is pedagogy, not pure content. That is where most candidates lose marks. The full topic lists for both papers are in our CTET Syllabus guide.
CTET eligibility
Minimum qualifications are as notified by NCTE, and the bulletin asks candidates to check ncte.gov.in. Final-year students can also apply. The bulletin does not state an age limit. One thing to watch: B.Ed-only candidates should not rely on Paper 1 for primary jobs after the Supreme Court's August 2023 ruling in Devesh Sharma v. Union of India. Details are in our CTET Eligibility guide.
CTET admit card
As per the 14 September notice, the Admit Card with exam centre details will be on the CTET portal two days before the exam. Without it, you will not be allowed inside. Carry a photo ID proof too. Download steps and exam-day rules are in our CTET Admit Card guide.
CTET cut off and qualifying marks
CTET has no merit list or rank. You pass if you score 60%, which is 90 out of 150. The bulletin lets school managements give concessions to reserved categories under their own policy, but it does not fix a figure. Many employers use 55%, but that is their rule, not CBSE's. Read our CTET Cut Off guide, and check the ExamAtlas data pages for Paper 1 and Paper 2 (data is being added).
CTET preparation strategy
With about 13 weeks left from today, a steady plan works better than a last-month rush. Start with NCERT books, give pedagogy real time, and take a full mock every week once the basics are done. A week-by-week plan up to December is in our CTET Preparation Strategy guide.
CTET certificate validity
Lifetime for all categories, with no limit on attempts. You can reappear to improve your score. The certificate comes on DigiLocker with a QR code for verification. More on old certificates, DigiLocker access and score improvement is in our CTET Certificate Validity guide.
Free resources for CTET
ExamAtlas resources are free. Right now they cover Paper 1 only; Paper 2 material is not live yet, and we would rather say that plainly.
- CTET Paper 1 Full Test Series 2026: 10 bilingual full tests with analytics and All India Rank. With the extra weeks you now have, one test a week fits well.
- CTET Paper 1 study material: free topic-wise notes on Child Development and Pedagogy, Education Policy, Mathematics, EVS, and Language and Pedagogy.
If you are writing Paper 2, the CDP and language pedagogy notes still help, since those parts are common in structure. Just keep in mind that Paper 2 CDP looks at the 11 to 14 age group.
What to do this week
Log in to ctet.nic.in and check that your application details are correct. Bookmark the portal, because the city intimation comes only 15 days before the exam. Then pick the one pillar guide above that matches your weakest area and start there today.
FAQs
What is CTET?
CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) is an eligibility test conducted by CBSE, based on NCTE norms, for people who want to teach Classes I to VIII. Passing it makes you eligible to apply for teaching posts; it does not guarantee a job.
When is CTET 2026 now?
The 22nd edition will be held on 12 and 13 December 2026, as per the CBSE public notice dated 14 September 2026. Paper-wise days are not announced yet.
How many marks are needed to pass CTET?
60%, which is 90 out of 150. Any concession for reserved categories is decided by the school management or employer under its own policy.
Is there negative marking in CTET?
No. Each question carries one mark and there is no negative marking.
Is the CTET certificate valid for life?
Yes. As widely reported, NCTE made it valid for life for all categories in 2021, with effect from 2011.
Can I take both Paper 1 and Paper 2?
Yes, if you meet the eligibility for both. The fee for both papers is Rs 1200 (General/OBC) or Rs 600 (SC/ST/Differently abled), plus GST.
Is CTET valid for state government schools?
State schools usually go by the State TET. A State can consider CTET if it decides not to hold its own TET, so check the specific recruitment notice.