CTET September 2026 - Central Teacher Eligibility Test

Central Teacher Eligibility Test - September 2026

Central Board of Secondary Education

For teaching Classes I to V

For teaching Classes VI to VIII

Application Re-Opened

25 August 2026

1 September 2026

To Be Announced

Online

Lifetime

30 MCQs for 30 marks.

30 MCQs for 30 marks.

30 MCQs for 30 marks.

30 MCQs for 30 marks. Candidate selects one language from the available language list.

30 MCQs for 30 marks. Language II must be different from Language I.

30 MCQs for 30 marks.

60 MCQs for 60 marks for candidates intending to teach Mathematics and Science.

60 MCQs for 60 marks for candidates intending to teach Social Studies/Social Science.

30 MCQs for 30 marks.

30 MCQs for 30 marks. Language II must be different from Language I.

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 and Sindhi.

Languages:

• 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

A candidate who scores 60% or more in the TET examination is considered to have passed CTET as per the applicable NCTE notification.

The validity period of the CTET qualifying certificate for appointment is lifetime for all categories.

There is no restriction on the number of attempts a person can take for acquiring the CTET certificate.

Candidates who have already successfully completed and submitted their applications do not need to apply again.

The CTET examination is conducted across cities in India. Examination city allocation is made by CBSE according to the applicable instructions and availability.

Pen-and-paper based examination using OMR answer sheets.

All questions are Multiple Choice Questions with four alternatives, of which one answer is the most appropriate.

Senior Secondary or equivalent with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.).

Graduation with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.).

Graduation with at least 45% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.) in accordance with applicable NCTE regulations.

Senior Secondary or equivalent with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.).

Senior Secondary or equivalent with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 4-year B.A./B.Sc.Ed. or B.A.Ed./B.Sc.Ed.

Graduation with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 1-year B.Ed. (Special Education).

Permission to appear in CTET does not mean that the candidate eligibility has been verified. Final eligibility is verified by the concerned recruiting or appointing authority.

Qualifying CTET does not confer a right to recruitment or employment. It is one of the eligibility criteria for appointment as a teacher.

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 (D.El.Ed.).

Senior Secondary or equivalent with at least 45% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education in accordance with applicable NCTE regulations.

Senior Secondary or equivalent with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education).

Teacher Education: 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education)

Graduation and passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.

Graduation and passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.

Up to 5% relaxation in qualifying marks in the minimum educational qualification may be allowed to candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC and differently-abled candidates as per NCTE provisions.

Categories:

• SC
• ST
• OBC
• Differently Abled

The portal has been reopened to provide an opportunity to eligible candidates who could not avail themselves of the earlier application window, in view of the Hon'ble Supreme Court judgment emphasizing a reasonable opportunity for eligible teachers to comply with the statutory requirement of acquiring the prescribed TET qualification.

Reason: Opportunity for eligible candidates who could not apply earlier

No upper age limit is prescribed for appearing in CTET. Eligibility is primarily based on the prescribed educational and teacher-training qualifications.

For candidates intending to become teachers for Classes I to V (Primary Stage).

For candidates intending to become teachers for Classes VI to VIII (Elementary Stage).

Candidates intending to become teachers for both levels must appear in both Paper I and Paper II.

Rs.1000 plus applicable GST.

Rs.1200 plus applicable GST.

Rs.500 plus applicable GST.

Rs.600 plus applicable GST.

The revised date of the 22nd Edition of CTET examination will be announced after closure of the reopened application portal.

As stated in the original public notice, candidates do not have a provision to select an examination city in the online application portal. CBSE may allot the examination city on a random basis and requests for change of allotted city are not accepted.

Paper I consists of 150 Multiple Choice Questions carrying 150 marks. Duration is two and a half hours. There is no negative marking.

Paper II consists of 150 Multiple Choice Questions carrying 150 marks. Duration is two and a half hours. There is no negative marking.

The main question paper is bilingual in Hindi and English, except for the language sections.

Languages:

• Hindi
• English

There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

Candidates opting for teaching Classes I to V appear in Paper I.

Candidates opting for teaching Classes VI to VIII appear in Paper II.

Candidates seeking eligibility for both levels appear in both Paper I and Paper II.

Candidates securing the prescribed qualifying score are awarded the CTET qualifying certificate, subject to applicable rules.