The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released a crucial notification for teaching aspirants! The examination date for the 21st Edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) has been officially announced for February 8, 2026 (Sunday). This article provides a comprehensive guide covering all details for the upcoming CTET February 2026 online form.
Table of Contents
📅 Key Dates and Exam Overview
The CTET is a mandatory qualifying examination for those aspiring to teach in Central Government Schools (like KVS, NVS) and other schools following the RTE Act guidelines.
| Event | Tentative Dates | Official Status |
| Official Notification/Information Bulletin Release | Late October / Early November 2025 | Expected Shortly |
| Online Application (Registration) Start Date | Late October / Early November 2025 | Expected Soon |
| Last Date to Apply Online | To be Notified in Bulletin | Crucial Deadline |
| CTET February 2026 Exam Date | February 8, 2026 (Sunday) | OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper Mode) | Confirmed |
The exam will be conducted across 132 cities in 20 different languages.
📝 CTET 2026 Application Fee Structure
Candidates must pay the application fee online through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. The fee structure remains largely consistent with previous sessions:
| Category | Only Paper I or Paper II | Both Paper I and Paper II |
| General/OBC | ₹1,000/- | ₹1,200/- |
| SC/ST/Differently Abled Person | ₹500/- | ₹600/- |
🎓 CTET 2026 Eligibility Criteria (Qualification and Age Limit)
Aspirants must ensure they meet the minimum educational qualifications prescribed by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). “Pursuing” (admitted and undergoing) any teacher training course also makes a candidate eligible to apply.
notification :https://ctet.nic.in/ctet-feb-2026-public-notice/
Paper I Eligibility (For Classes I to V)
A candidate must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and possess one of the following qualifications:
- Passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).
- Passed or appearing in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).
- Graduation with a B.Ed. degree (Note: Such candidates must mandatorily undergo a six-month Bridge Course in Elementary Education after appointment).
Paper II Eligibility (For Classes VI to VIII)
A candidate must have a Graduation degree and possess one of the following qualifications:
- Passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).
- Passed or appearing in the final year of a 1-year/2-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed).
- Senior Secondary 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.
Age Limit
- There is no upper age limit prescribed for the CTET examination.
- The minimum age to apply is 18 years.
💻 Step-by-Step Guide: How to Fill the CTET 2026 Online Form
The entire application process is strictly online via the official website, ctet.nic.in.
- Visit the Official Website: Go to the official CTET portal at ctet.nic.in.
- Registration: Click on the link for “Apply for CTET February 2026” and then select “New Registration.” Fill in your basic details (Name, Father’s Name, Mother’s Name, Date of Birth, Mobile Number, Email ID) to generate your Application Number and Password.
- Application Form Filling: Log in using the generated credentials. Fill in the detailed online application form with personal, educational, and contact information. Carefully select your preferred Exam Cities (choices are typically filled on a first-come, first-served basis).
- Document Upload: Upload scanned images of your recent Passport Photograph and Signature in the specified format and size. (Ensure both are clear to avoid rejection).
- Fee Payment: Pay the application fee using the available online payment modes (as per the table above).
- Final Submission & Confirmation: After successful payment, submit the form and download the Confirmation Page. Print a copy for your future reference.
Pro Tip: Keep all educational mark sheets, a valid ID proof, and scanned copies of your photo and signature ready before starting the online process.
📝 Exam Pattern at a Glance
The CTET is a Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) based test with no negative marking. Both Paper I and Paper II carry a total of 150 marks each.
| Aspect | Paper I (Classes 1–5) | Paper II (Classes 6–8) |
| Duration | 2.5 hours (150 minutes) | 2.5 hours (150 minutes) |
| Total Questions | 150 | 150 |
| Mandatory Sections | 5 (CDP, Language I, Language II, Maths, EVS) | 4 (CDP, Language I, Language II, Maths & Science OR Social Studies) |
Qualifying Marks
- General Category: 60% (90 out of 150)
- SC/ST/OBC/PwD: 55% (82.5 out of 150)