The application window for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 will close tomorrow, December 18 at 11:59 pm. Candidates can apply for the exam through the official website at ctet.nic.in.
The registration process began on November 27, 2025, and the examination will be conducted on February 8, 2026.
This year’s CTET holds added significance following a recent Supreme Court ruling that has made the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for teachers. As per the ruling, teachers who fail to qualify the exam may face job-related consequences, including ineligibility for promotions.
However, teachers with less than five years of service remaining have been given relief from immediate retirement, though passing TET will still be required for career progression.
The ruling is expected to impact lakhs of teachers across states such as Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where a large number of educators are currently serving in government and aided schools.
CTET 2026 Eligibility
CTET consists of two papers based on the teaching level. Paper 1 is for candidates aiming to teach Classes 1 to 5 and requires Class 12 with at least 50 per cent marks along with D.El.Ed, B.El.Ed or a Diploma in Special Education. Paper 2 is for teaching Classes 6 to 8 and requires graduation with D.El.Ed or B.Ed, or Class 12 with 50 per cent marks and a four-year B.El.Ed or BA/BSc.Ed qualification.
Exam Pattern And Qualifying Marks
The CTET is a multiple-choice test, with each paper carrying 150 questions for 150 marks. Candidates from the General category must score at least 90 marks (60 percent) to qualify, while those from SC/ST categories need a minimum of 82 marks (55 percent). The exam evaluates candidates on teaching aptitude, subject knowledge and understanding of child development.
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In December 2024, only 24.17 percent of candidates cleared Paper 1, while 12.31 percent qualified for Paper 2.
Notably, CTET is a national-level eligibility test conducted twice a year by CBSE and is a mandatory qualification for teaching positions in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and several other government and aided schools across the country.
