CTET February 2026- Apply Online

📢 CTET February 2026: Complete Guide to Central Teacher Eligibility Test

[cite_start]The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced the 21st Edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET). The examination is scheduled to be held on 08 February 2026 (Sunday)[cite: 3]. This notification serves as a beacon of opportunity for lakhs of aspiring teachers across India who dream of shaping the future of the nation. Whether you aim to teach in Central Government schools like Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), or schools under the administration of Union Territories, clearing the CTET February 2026 exam is your primary gateway.

[cite_start]The online application process has already commenced on 27 November 2025 and will remain open until 18 December 2025[cite: 1]. Candidates are strongly advised not to wait for the last date to avoid technical glitches. This comprehensive article covers every minute detail regarding the CTET February 2026 exam, including eligibility criteria, examination structure, syllabus breakdown, and important instructions for the exam day.

📅 CTET Feb 2026: Important Dates & Schedule

Time management is key for any competitive exam. CBSE has provided a clear timeline for the entire process. The application window is strictly time-bound, and no offline applications will be accepted.

• [cite_start]Online Application Start Date: 27 November 2025[cite: 1].
• [cite_start]Last Date to Submit Online Application: 18 December 2025 (Up to 11:59 PM)[cite: 2].
• [cite_start]Last Date for Fee Payment: 18 December 2025 (Before 11:59 PM)[cite: 2].
• [cite_start]Correction Window: 23 December 2025 to 26 December 2025[cite: 441]. This is a one-time facility to correct errors in particulars.
• [cite_start]Admit Card Download: Two days before the examination date[cite: 441].
• [cite_start]Date of Examination: 08 February 2026 (Sunday)[cite: 3].
• [cite_start]Declaration of Result: Tentatively by the end of March 2026[cite: 441].

🎓 Detailed Eligibility Criteria

[cite_start]The minimum qualifications for appearing in CTET are notified by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)[cite: 81]. It is crucial to note that merely appearing or qualifying in CTET does not verify your eligibility; the final verification is done by the recruiting agency.

For Primary Stage (Classes I to V) – Paper I

[cite_start]Candidates aiming to teach young children (Classes 1-5) must possess one of the following educational qualifications as per NCTE norms[cite: 83]:

• Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
• Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (as per NCTE Regulations 2002).
• Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed).

For Elementary Stage (Classes VI to VIII) – Paper II

For teaching middle school students (Classes 6-8), the requirements are slightly advanced:

• Graduation and passed or appearing in the final year of 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed).
• Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of 4-year B.El.Ed.
• Any candidate having a qualified B.Ed Programme recognized by NCTE is eligible to appear in CTET.

📝 Exam Pattern & Structure (Feb 2026)

[cite_start]The CTET examination consists of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Each question carries one mark, and the best part is that there is No Negative Marking[cite: 92]. [cite_start]The exam will be conducted in two shifts on 08 February 2026[cite: 67].

[cite_start]Paper I Syllabus Overview: It includes 5 sections: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies. Each section has 30 MCQs for 30 marks, totaling 150 Marks[cite: 96].

Paper II Syllabus Overview: It includes 4 sections: Child Development & Pedagogy (30 Qs), Language I (30 Qs), Language II (30 Qs), and a choice between Mathematics & Science OR Social Studies/Social Science (60 Qs). [cite_start]Total 150 Marks[cite: 109].

💻 How to Apply Online Step-by-Step

Applying for CTET is a fully online process. [cite_start]Follow these official steps to ensure your application is accepted without errors[cite: 11]:

1. Visit Official Website: Log on to https://ctet.nic.in.
2. Registration: Click on “Apply Online”. [cite_start]Fill in the Authentication Form with details like State, Identification Type, Name, DOB, and Gender[cite: 14].
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3. Fill Application Form: Complete the form with personal details, choice of examination cities, and educational qualifications[cite: 15].
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4. Upload Documents: Upload your latest scanned photograph (10-100 KB) and signature (3-30 KB) in JPG/JPEG format[cite: 24, 25].
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5. Fee Payment: Pay the examination fee via Debit/Credit Card or Net Banking[cite: 31].
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   • General/OBC: ₹ 1000 for one paper, ₹ 1200 for both papers[cite: 30].
   • SC/ST/Diff. [cite_start]Abled: ₹ 500 for one paper, ₹ 600 for both papers[cite: 30].
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6. Print Confirmation: After successful payment, download and print the Confirmation Page for your records[cite: 32].

🚫 Important Exam Day Guidelines

[cite_start]On the day of the exam (08 Feb 2026), candidates must report to the centre at 07:30 AM for Paper II and 12:30 PM for Paper I. Candidates reporting after the gate closure time will not be allowed[cite: 138].

Banned Items: Do not carry any stationery items like geometry boxes, plastic pouches, calculators, scales, writing pads, pen drives, erasers, or electronic devices like mobile phones, Bluetooth, earphones, watches (wristwatches), wallets, or goggles inside the examination center. [cite_start]Candidates must bring their own Ball Point Pen (Black/Blue) of good quality[cite: 228].

📜 Qualifying Marks & Certificate Validity

To qualify the CTET exam, a candidate must score 60% or more marks. [cite_start]School managements may give concessions to SC/ST, OBC, and differently-abled persons in accordance with their reservation policy[cite: 122, 123].

A major relief for aspirants is the validity period. [cite_start]The Validity Period of CTET qualifying certificate for appointment will be for Lifetime for all categories[cite: 128]. There is no restriction on the number of attempts a person can take. [cite_start]A person who has qualified CTET may also appear again to improve their score[cite: 129, 130].