The CTET February 2026 Notification has officially been released by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), along with the complete Information Bulletin for candidates aspiring to become teachers in Classes I–VIII across central and many state-level schools. The exam will be held on 8 February 2026 (Sunday), and the online application window is open from 27 November 2025 to 18 December 2025 (11:59 pm).
This detailed guide covers eligibility, exam pattern, application process, fees, important dates, and everything else you need to know from the official bulletin.
CTET February 2026 Notification: Key Highlights
- Exam Name: Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) – February 2026
- Conducting Body: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- Mode of Exam: Offline, OMR-based pen-and-paper mode
- Papers:
- Paper I – For Primary Level (Classes I–V)
- Paper II – For Upper Primary Level (Classes VI–VIII)
- Exam Date: 8 February 2026 (Sunday)
- Application Period: 27 November 2025 to 18 December 2025
- Attempts Allowed: Unlimited
- Certificate Validity: Lifetime
CTET February 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 27 November 2025 |
| Start of Online Application | 27 November 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | 18 December 2025 (11:59 pm) |
| CTET Exam Date | 8 February 2026 |
CTET February 2026 Eligibility Criteria
There is no upper age limit for CTET. Minimum age required is 18 years. Eligibility differs for Paper I and Paper II.
Eligibility for Paper I (Classes I–V)
You must have Senior Secondary (10+2) or equivalent qualification along with any ONE of the following:
- Senior Secondary with 50% marks + 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed)
- Senior Secondary with 45–50% marks + 2-year D.El.Ed as per NCTE norms
- Senior Secondary with 50% marks + 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed)
- Senior Secondary with 50% marks + 2-year Diploma in Special Education
- Graduation with 50% marks + B.Ed (as per updated NCTE guidelines)
Eligibility for Paper II (Classes VI–VIII)
You must have Graduation or Senior Secondary qualification (depending on integrated course) with ANY ONE of the following:
- Graduation + 2-year D.El.Ed
- Graduation with 50% marks + 1-year B.Ed
- Graduation with 45% marks + 1-year B.Ed as per NCTE norms
- Senior Secondary with 50% marks + 4-year B.El.Ed
- Senior Secondary with 50% marks + 4-year B.A./B.Sc.Ed
- Graduation with 50% marks + 1-year B.Ed (Special Education)
Final-year students of teacher-training programmes may also apply.
CTET February 2026 Application Fee
General / OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)
- ₹1,000 – For one paper
- ₹1,200 – For both papers
SC / ST / PwBD
- ₹500 – For one paper
- ₹600 – For both papers
Fee can be paid online using debit/credit card, net banking or UPI.
How to Apply for CTET February 2026
Follow these steps to complete your application smoothly:
- Visit official CTET portal and click “Apply for CTET Feb 2026”.
- Register using your basic details to generate an application number.
- Fill the online form with personal info, qualification details and select:
- Paper I / Paper II / Both
- Exam city
- Language choices
- Upload scanned photo and signature as per required formats.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Download the confirmation page for future reference.
Always double-check details before final submission.
CTET February 2026 Exam Pattern
Both Paper I and Paper II consist of 150 MCQs for 150 marks, with a duration of 2 hours 30 minutes each.
Common Features
- Mode: Offline (OMR)
- Type: MCQs
- Marks per question: 1
- Negative marking: None
Paper I (Classes I–V) Structure
| Section | 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 |
Paper II (Classes VI–VIII) Structure
| Section | 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 |
Languages & Exam Cities
- CTET will be conducted in 20 languages.
- Exam will be held in 130+ major cities across India.
Candidates can select preference while applying.
Qualifying Marks & Certificate Validity
Qualifying Marks
- General: 60% (90 marks)
- SC / ST / OBC / PwBD: Relaxation of 5% (approx. 82 marks)
Certificate Validity
- Lifetime validity
- No limit on attempts — you can retake CTET to improve your score.
Who Should Apply for CTET February 2026?
You should definitely apply if you want to:
- Become a teacher in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, or other central schools
- Apply for teacher jobs in CBSE-affiliated or state-recognised schools
- Strengthen your resume for teaching positions across India
- Attempt CTET again to improve your marks
- Prepare early for upcoming government teacher recruitment exams
Tips for CTET February 2026 Preparation
- Prioritize Child Development & Pedagogy – it is the deciding section
- Read NCERT textbooks (Classes I–V or VI–VIII depending on your paper)
- Practice previous question papers and mock OMR sheets
- Strengthen reading comprehension in both Language I & II
- Prepare subject pedagogy thoroughly for your selected paper
Consistency and conceptual clarity are key to qualifying CTET.
Conclusion
The CTET February 2026 Notification brings a clear opportunity for aspiring teachers to secure lifetime eligibility for teaching jobs in top schools across India. With the exam scheduled for 8 February 2026 and the application window now open, candidates should begin preparation and complete the form well before the last date.
This exam remains one of the most essential qualifications for primary and upper-primary teachers, and the February 2026 cycle offers ample time for strategic preparation.
