CTET 2026 Notification: Apply Online for Sept Session - Eligibility, Dates & Application Form

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) to assess the eligibility of candidates for teaching positions in Classes 1 to 8 across India. The application window is open until June 10, 2026, via the official portal www.ctet.nic.in.

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a national-level examination administered by the CBSE biannually to identify eligible candidates for teaching roles in Central Government Schools, including KVS and NVS. Aspiring educators aiming for primary and upper primary teaching positions in government and government-aided schools must successfully qualify the CTET Exam. CTET scores are crucial for applying to vacancies in various esteemed educational institutions.

CTET 2026 Notification Out

The official notification for the CTET September 2026 cycle, including comprehensive details on the application process, eligibility criteria, important dates, exam structure, and syllabus, has been released on the official website, www.ctet.nic.in. Candidates can download the Information Bulletin directly from the CBSE website or utilize the provided direct link. 

CTET Notification 2026 PDF (Official) - Download Now

CTET 2026 Exam Summary

The CTET Exam comprises two papers: Paper 1 for aspiring teachers of Classes 1 to 5, and Paper 2 for those wishing to teach Classes 6 to 8. Candidates meeting the CTET eligibility criteria have an excellent opportunity to build a rewarding career in the teaching profession. 

CTET Exam 2026-Summary
Exam Conducting Body	Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Exam Name	Central Teacher Eligibility Test
Exam Level	National
Mode of Application	Online
Registration Dates	11th May to 10th June 2026 (11:59 pm)
Exam Mode	Offline (Pen and Paper)
Exam Duration	150 minutes
Language of Paper	English and Hindi
Attempt Limit	Unlimited
Certificate validity	Lifetime
No. of Test Cities	136 cities across India
Age Limit	There is no upper age limit,  Minimum age is 18 years.
Educational Qualification	Graduation
Exam Helpdesk No.	011-22235774
Official Website	www.ctet.nic.in

Important Dates

The CTET 2026 Notification, released on the official website, includes the complete CTET Exam schedule with registration and examination dates. Refer to the table below for key dates. 

CTET 2026- Important Dates
Events	Dates
CTET Notification 2026	11th May 2026
CTET Online Form 2026 Starts	11th May 2026
Last Date to fill Online Application	10th June 2026 (11:59 pm)
Last Date for submission of fee	10th June 2026 (11:59 pm)
Application Correction Window	15th to 18th June 2026
CTET Admit Card 2026	4th September 2026
CTET Exam Date 2026	6th September 2026

Please note: The CTET September Exam may also be conducted on September 5, 2026, if there is a higher number of applicants. 

Eligibility Criteria for CTET 2026 Exam

The eligibility criteria differ for selecting teachers for Classes 1 to 5 and Classes 6 to 8. Here are the educational qualifications required for each category:

Educational Qualification for Classes 1-5

A candidate must have completed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or be in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.). OR

A candidate must have completed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks and passed or be in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.), as per NCTE Regulations 2002. OR

A candidate must have completed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or be in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.). OR

A candidate must have completed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or be in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Education (D.Ed.). OR

A candidate holding a Bachelor’s degree and passed or be in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.).

Educational Qualification for Classes 6-8

A candidate with a Graduate degree and passed or appearing in the final year examination of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.). OR

A candidate who has completed their Graduation degree with 50% marks and passed or is appearing in the final year examination of Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.). OR

A candidate who has completed their Graduation degree with 40% marks and passed or is appearing in the final year examination of Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.), as per NCTE regulations. OR

A candidate who has completed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or is appearing in the final year examination of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.). OR

A candidate who has completed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with 50% marks and passed or is appearing in the final year examination of B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed or B.A/B.Sc.Ed. OR

A candidate holding a Graduate degree with 50% marks and has passed or is appearing for a 1-year B.Ed program.

Detailed CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Learn More

CTET 2026 Application Form

Teaching aspirants can submit their CTET 2026 Application Form via the official website, www.ctet.nic.in, between May 11 and June 10 (until 11:59 PM). Ensure all necessary documents are readily available before commencing the online application. Carefully review and follow the instructions to prevent any discrepancies. 

CTET Application Form 2026 - Apply Online

CTET Exam 2026 Application Fee

Candidates from the General or OBC category are required to pay Rs. 1000/- for one paper (Paper I or Paper II) or Rs. 1200/- for both papers. For SC/ST candidates, the application fee is Rs. 500/- for one paper and Rs. 600/- for both papers.

CTET Exam Fee Details are as follows:

CTET 2026 Application Fee
Category	Only Paper I or II	Both Paper I & II
General/OBC	Rs. 1000/-	Rs. 1200/-
SC/ST/Diff. Abled Person	Rs. 500/-	Rs. 600/-

Note: Applicable GST will be charged extra by the bank.

CTET 2026 Selection Process

Candidates appearing for the CTET Exam will be selected based on their CTET Exam scores. CTET is an eligibility test, and qualifying it does not guarantee employment. Candidates must apply for recruitment in various schools based on available vacancies requiring CTET certification. A minimum score of 60% is required to qualify.

CTET 2026 Exam Pattern

CTET 2026 Exam will be conducted in two phases:

1. Paper I
2. Paper-II

Paper I is for candidates aspiring to teach Classes 1 to 5, and Paper II is for those aiming to teach Classes 6 to 8. Candidates can opt for both Paper I and Paper II. Both papers consist of Objective Multiple Choice Questions. A minimum score of 60% is required to qualify the CTET Exam. Notably, the CTET score is now valid for a lifetime, as announced by CBSE.

Learn about the detailed CTET Exam Pattern:

CTET Paper I Exam Pattern

CTET Paper 1 Exam Pattern
Subject	Number of Questions	Total Marks
Language I (compulsory)	30	30
Language II (compulsory)	30	30
Child Development and Pedagogy	30	30
Environmental Studies	30	30
Mathematics	30	30
Total	150	150

Nature and standard of questions

• Child Development and Pedagogy questions will focus on educational psychology for teaching and learning relevant to the 6-11 years age group, emphasizing diverse learners, interaction, and effective facilitation.

• Language I questions will assess proficiency related to the medium of instruction.

• Language II questions will focus on language elements, communication, and comprehension abilities.

• Language II must be different from Language I. Candidates must select their languages (Language I and II) from the available options and specify them on the Confirmation Page.

Select two languages for your CTET examination. The list of languages and their codes is provided below:

CTET 2026 Languages
Code No	Language	Code No	Language	Code No	Language	Code No	Language
01	English	06	Gujarati	11	Marathi	16	Sanskrit
02	Hindi	07	Kannada	12	Mizo	17	Tamil
03	Assamese	08	Khasi	13	Nepali	18	Telugu
04	Bengali	09	Malayalam	14	Oriya	19	Tibetan
05	Garo	10	Manipuri	15	Punjabi	20	Urdu

• Mathematics and Environmental Studies questions will assess concepts, problem-solving skills, and pedagogical understanding. These sections will cover topics prescribed by NCERT for Classes I-V, with difficulty levels extending to the secondary stage.

• Questions for Paper I are based on the NCERT syllabus for Classes I-V, with a difficulty standard extending to the Secondary stage.

Review CTET Paper I & II Exam Pattern

CTET 2026 Syllabus 

CBSE has released the revised CTET Syllabus 2026. A thorough understanding of the syllabus is essential for effective preparation. Key areas include Child Development and Pedagogy, Mathematics, Science/Environmental Science, and Languages. Candidates must also prepare for two chosen languages from the list provided in the notification.

Syllabus for CTET Paper-I: Covers Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I & II, Mathematics, and Environmental Science.

Subjects	Topics
Child Development and Pedagogy	Child Development, Learning and Pedagogy
Language-I	Comprehension, Pedagogy of Language Development
Language-II	Comprehension, Pedagogy of Language Development
Mathematics	Geometry, Shapes & Spatial Understanding, Solids around Us, Numbers, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Environmental Studies	Family and Friends, Food, Shelter, Water, Travel

Syllabus for CTET Paper-II: Encompasses Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I & II, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Candidates choose between Mathematics & Science or Social Studies based on their specialization.

Subjects	Topics
Child Development and Pedagogy	Child Development, Learning and Pedagogy
Language-I	Comprehension, Pedagogy of Language Development
Language-II	Comprehension, Pedagogy of Language Development
Mathematics	Number System, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration
Science	Food, Materials, Natural Phenomena, Natural Resource
Social Studies/Social Sciences	History, Geography, Social and Political Life, Pedagogical Issues

Comprehensive CTET Syllabus 2026 (Paper I + Paper-II) - Read Now

CBSE CTET Certificate Validity

The validity of the CTET certificate for appointment has been revised to lifetime validity. This change is effective from 2011, as announced by the Education Minister. Candidates whose certificates have expired can obtain a new, non-expiring certificate. States and UTs are responsible for revalidating or re-issuing TET certificates to candidates whose 7-year validity period has expired since 2011. Previously, the CTET certificate was valid for 7 years from the issue date.

CTET Certificate 2026 - View Details

Download CTET Previous Year Question Papers

CTET Teacher Salary Details

Candidates who qualify CTET 2026 are eligible to apply for teaching positions in Classes 1 to 8 at Central Government Schools like NVS/KVS. The basic salary for CTET-qualified teachers ranges from Rs. 9300 to Rs. 34800, with an in-hand salary of approximately Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 50,000 per month.

CTET Teacher Salary 2026
Components	Primary Teacher	TGT	PGT
Pay Scale	9300- 34800	9300- 34800	9300- 34800
Grade Pay	4200	4600	4800
Basic Pay after 7th CPC	35400	44900	47600
HRA	3240	3400	4350
TA	1600	1600	1600
Gross Salary	40240	49900	53550
Net Salary	35000-37000	43000-46000	48000-50000

CTET 2026 Key Points

The press release highlights a shift in question paper development: "within the existing syllabus of CTET and structure of the question paper, the question papers will be developed to assess less of factual knowledge and more of conceptual understanding, application, problem-solving, reasoning, and critical thinking, focusing on the following key competencies:

1. To assess the teacher's understanding of teaching their respective subject.
2. To assess the futuristic teacher's pedagogic content knowledge.
3. To understand their knowledge of the relevance of the subject in the school curriculum.
4. Some questions will be added to assess the planning of teaching-learning experiences.
5. The question paper will be focused on the assessment methodologies specific to the concept.
6. A sample blueprint or sample question papers will be released by CBSE to make it easy for the candidates to understand the revised format

CTET 2026 Exam Centre 

Candidates can choose their preferred exam centers from a list of cities during registration, selecting up to 4 options. While the first preference will be prioritized, CBSE reserves the right to allot any center if the chosen ones are unavailable.

CTET 2026 Exam Centre
S. No	States & UT	Cities
1	Andaman & Nicobar Island	Port Blair
2	Andhra Pradesh	Anantapur, Bhimavaran, Chirala, Eluru, Guntur,Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nandyala, Narsaraopeta,  Nellore, Proddatur, Rajamundry, Srikulam, Tirupati, Vijaywada, Visakhapatnam, Viziannagaram
3	Assam	Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur
4	Bihar	Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Gaya, Muzzafarpur, Patna, Purnea,
5	Chhattisgarh	Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur
6	Chandigarh	Chandigarh
7	Dadar & Nagar Haveli	Dadar & Nagar Haveli
8	Daman & Diu	Daman
9	Delhi	New Delhi
10	Goa	Panaji
11	Gujarat	Ahmedabad, Anand, Bardoli, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara, Valsad, Vapi
12	Haryana	Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Karnal, Hisar, Kurukshetra
13	Himachal Pradesh	Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Una
14	Jammu	Jammu, Samba, Srinagar
15	Jharkhand	Bokaro, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
16	Karnataka	Belagavi, Bengaluru, Hubballi, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Udupi
17	Kerala	Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram,  Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur
18	Lakshadweep	Kavaratti
19	Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain
20	Maharashtra	Ahmednagar, Amravati, Aurangabad, Baramati, Chandrapur, Dhule, Jalgaon, Kashti, Kolhapur,  Kopragaon, Latur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pandharpur, Pune, Ratnagiri, Sangmner,  Sangoli, Satara, Sindurpur, Solapur
21	Manipur	Imphal
22	Meghalaya	Shillong
23	Mizoram	Aizwal
24	Nagaland	Dimapur, Kohima
25	Odisha	Balasore, Berhampur- Ganjam, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur
26	Puducherry	Puducherry
27	Punjab	Amritsar, Bhatinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Pathankot, Patiala, Sangrur
28	Rajasthan	Ajmer, Alwar, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur
29	Sikkim	Gangtok
30	Tamil Nadu	Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Erode, Kanchipuram, Karur, Mahurai, Kanyakumari,  Nammakal, Salem, Thanjavar, Thoothukhudi, Tiruchirappali, Tirupur, Vellore, Villupuram, Virudhunagar
31	Tripura	Agartala
32	Uttar Pradesh	Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Basti, Bijnor, Bilaspur, Faizabad, Firozabad, Ghaziabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur,  Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Mathura, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Noida, Pryagraj, Sitapur,  Varanasi
33	Uttarakhand	Almora, Dehradun, Haldwani, Pauri Garhwal, Roorkee, Rudrapur
34	West Bengal	Asansol, Burdwan, Durgapur, Howrah, Kalyani, Kolkatta, Siliguri, Siuri

CTET Exam Centre List 2026 - Find Your Center