The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will soon release the official notification for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) February 2026 session on its official website ctet.nic.in.
The CTET 2026 Exam is scheduled for 8th February 2026, and it will be held offline (pen-paper mode) only. Aspiring teachers who wish to teach in government or private schools should appear for this examination.
Qualified candidates will receive a CTET Certificate that remains valid for a lifetime, enabling them to apply for teacher recruitment in various central and state schools.
Highlights of CTET 2026 Examination
| Name of Exam | Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) |
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Exam Date | 8th February 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (OMR Based) |
| Certificate Validity | Lifetime |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | https://ctet.nic.in |
CTET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility for CTET varies depending on whether a candidate wants to teach Classes I–V (Primary Stage) or Classes VI–VIII (Elementary Stage). The qualifications are based on the norms prescribed by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
For Classes I–V (Primary Stage)
Candidates must fulfill one of the following:
- Senior Secondary or equivalent with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
- Senior Secondary with at least 45% marks and passed or appearing in 2-year D.El.Ed as per NCTE norms.
- Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).
- Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education).
- Graduation with at least 50% marks and B.Ed degree. Such candidates must complete a 6-month Bridge Course in Elementary Education within 2 years of appointment.
For Classes VI–VIII (Elementary Stage)
Candidates must fulfill one of the following:
- Graduation and passed or appearing in 2-year D.El.Ed.
- Graduation with at least 50% marks and 1-year B.Ed.
- Graduation with at least 45% marks and 1-year B.Ed in accordance with NCTE regulations.
- Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in 4-year B.El.Ed or integrated B.A/B.Sc.Ed programs.
- Graduation with 50% marks and 1-year B.Ed (Special Education).
- Candidates pursuing a teacher education program recognized by NCTE or RCI are also eligible.
CTET 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Only Paper I or II | Both Papers I & II |
| General/OBC | Rs. 1000 | Rs. 1200 |
| SC/ST/PwD | Rs. 500 | Rs. 600 |
Mode of Payment: Online through Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking.
How to Apply for CTET 2026
Follow these step-by-step instructions to apply for the CTET February 2026 examination:
- Visit the official website ctet.nic.in.
- Or go to the “Important Web-Links” section and click on the Online Application Form.
- Fill in all your personal and educational details accurately.
- Upload your recent passport-size photo, signature, and required documents.
- Pay the examination fee as per your category.
- Submit the form and take a printout for your records.
Important Dates for CTET 2026
| Online Application Start Date | To be announced soon |
| Last Date to Apply | To be announced soon |
| CTET Admit Card Release | To be updated |
| CTET 2026 Exam Date | 8th February 2026 |
CTET 2026 Exam Pattern and Structure
The exam consists of two papers:
- Paper I: For candidates who wish to teach Classes I–V (Primary Level).
- Paper II: For candidates who wish to teach Classes VI–VIII (Upper Primary Level).
Each paper is 2.5 hours long, containing 150 multiple-choice questions, with each question carrying one mark. There will be no negative marking.
Paper I (Classes I–V)
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Paper II (Classes VI–VIII)
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics & Science OR Social Studies/Social Science | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Important Web-Links
| Online Application Form | Available Soon |
| Official Notification | Available Soon |
| Short Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
FAQs on CTET 2026
Q1. When will the CTET 2026 notification be released?
CBSE is expected to release the official CTET 2026 notification in November or December 2025.
Q2. What is the CTET 2026 exam date?
The CTET February 2026 exam will be held on 8th February 2026.
Q3. Is there any negative marking in CTET?
No, there is no negative marking in any paper of CTET.
Q4. Is the CTET certificate valid for a limited period?
No, the CTET certificate is now valid for a lifetime.
Q5. Who can apply for CTET 2026?
Anyone fulfilling the NCTE-prescribed educational qualifications for teacher training courses can apply.
DibyaJyoti Nath, founder of assamtopper.com, holds a B.Ed and a Master’s degree from Gauhati University. He works in the Education Department, Government of Assam, and has over 5 years of blogging experience, sharing helpful information with students.