CTET Notification 2026 Released: February Exam Date, Apply Online Link, Eligibility & Syllabus PDF

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the CTET Notification 2026 for the February examination cycle, bringing important news for lakhs of teaching aspirants across India. According to the official Information Bulletin dated November 27, 2025, the 21st edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) will be conducted on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

The online application process is currently live on the official website ctet.nic.in and will remain open until December 18, 2025 (11:59 PM). Candidates aiming to become teachers for Primary (Classes 1–5) and Upper Primary (Classes 6–8) must complete their registration within the given timeline to avoid last-minute technical issues.

This article provides a complete and reliable guide to CTET February 2026, covering the exam date, application process, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus overview, important dates, and frequently asked questions.

What Is CTET and Why Is It Important?

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a national-level eligibility examination conducted by CBSE. Qualifying CTET is mandatory for candidates seeking teaching jobs in:

• Central Government Schools (KVs, NVs)
• Schools under administrative control of UTs
• Schools following CBSE curriculum
• Many state government and private schools

The CTET certificate now has lifetime validity, making it one of the most important eligibility exams for teaching aspirants in India.

CTET Notification 2026: Official Overview

Here is a snapshot of the key details as per the official notification:

Exam Feature	Details
Exam Name	Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) – Feb 2026
Conducting Body	Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Notification Release Date	27 November 2025
Application Start Date	27 November 2025
Last Date to Apply	18 December 2025 (11:59 PM)
Exam Date	8 February 2026 (Sunday)
Exam Mode	Offline (OMR Based)
Certificate Validity	Lifetime
Official Website	ctet.nic.in

CTET 2026 Important Dates & Timeline

CBSE follows a strict examination schedule, and missing deadlines can mean waiting for the next cycle.

Event	Date
Notification Release	27 November 2025
Online Application Window	27 Nov – 18 Dec 2025
Fee Payment Last Date	18 December 2025
Correction Window	23 – 26 December 2025
City Intimation Slip	Late January 2026 (Tentative)
Admit Card Release	Around 6 February 2026
CTET Exam Date	8 February 2026
Result Declaration	End of March 2026 (Tentative)

CTET 2026 Eligibility Criteria (As per NCTE Norms)

Eligibility for CTET is defined by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) guidelines.

Eligibility for Paper I (Classes I–V)

Candidates must fulfill any one of the following:

• Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with 50% marks and passed or appearing in final year of 2-year D.El.Ed
• Senior Secondary with 45% marks and 2-year D.El.Ed (as per NCTE 2002 norms)
• Senior Secondary with 50% marks and 4-year B.El.Ed
• Graduation with 50% marks and B.Ed
  (Subject to Supreme Court guidelines for primary level)

Eligibility for Paper II (Classes VI–VIII)

Candidates must fulfill any one of the following:

• Graduation + 2-year D.El.Ed
• Graduation with 50% marks + 1-year B.Ed
• Graduation with 50% marks + B.Ed (Special Education)
• Any B.Ed degree recognized by NCTE

CTET 2026 Application Process (Step-by-Step)

The application process is completely online and consists of multiple stages.

Step 1: Online Registration

1. Visit ctet.nic.in
2. Click on “Apply for CTET February 2026”
3. Select New Registration
4. Enter basic details (Name, DOB, Parents’ Name, etc.)
5. Create password and security question
6. Submit to generate Application Number

Step 2: Fill Application Form

• Login using Application Number & Password
• Select Paper I / Paper II / Both
• Choose Language I & Language II carefully
• Select up to 4 exam city preferences
• Enter educational qualification details

Step 3: Upload Scanned Documents

• Photograph: JPG/JPEG (10–100 KB)
• Signature: JPG/JPEG (3–30 KB)

Step 4: Application Fee Payment

Category	One Paper	Both Papers
General / OBC (NCL)	₹1000	₹1200
SC / ST / PwD	₹500	₹600

Payment Mode can be: Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking

Step 5: Confirmation Page

• Download and print the Confirmation Page
• No need to send it to CBSE

CTET 2026 Exam Pattern

CTET focuses on teaching aptitude, child pedagogy, and subject understanding rather than rote learning.

General Exam Structure

• Mode: Offline (OMR)
• Duration: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
• Total Questions: 150 MCQs
• Total Marks: 150
• Negative Marking: No

CTET Paper I Exam Pattern (Classes I–V)

Subject	Questions	Marks
Child Development & Pedagogy	30	30
Language I	30	30
Language II	30	30
Mathematics	30	30
Environmental Studies	30	30
Total	150	150

CTET Paper II Exam Pattern (Classes VI–VIII)

Subject	Questions	Marks
Child Development & Pedagogy	30	30
Language I	30	30
Language II	30	30
Mathematics & Science OR Social Studies	60	60
Total	150	150

CTET 2026 Qualifying Marks

• General Category: 60% (90/150)
• Reserved Categories: Relaxation as per school/government norms (usually 55%)

Qualifying CTET does not guarantee a job, but it is mandatory eligibility for teacher recruitment.

CTET Certificate Validity

• Lifetime Validity for all categories
• Candidates can re-appear to improve their score

The release of the CTET Notification 2026 marks a crucial opportunity for teaching aspirants across India. With a fixed exam date, lifetime validity, and nationwide recognition, CTET remains one of the most important eligibility exams in the education sector.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)