CTET 2026 Registration Guide: Eligibility and How to Apply

If you've been sitting on the CTET application for weeks, stop waiting. CTET September 2026 registration is live at ctet.nic.in right now, and the window closes on June 10, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Miss it, and you're waiting for the next cycle. The exam date is September 6, 2026, with a possible additional session on September 5 for some candidates.

CBSE runs the Central Teacher Eligibility Test roughly twice a year. It's the national-level qualifying exam for anyone who wants to teach in a central government school, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Army Schools, and schools under central UT administrations. Passing CTET doesn't get you a job directly. But without it, you can't even apply for most of these positions. It's the entry ticket, plain and simple.

One more thing worth knowing upfront: since 2021, the CTET certificate is valid for lifetime. Earlier it was 7 years. Honestly, that change made a real difference for people who cleared the exam early but took time to land a posting. I think it's one of the better policy calls CBSE has made in a while.

CTET September 2026: important dates

• Application window opens: May 11, 2026
• Last date to apply: June 10, 2026 (11:59 pm)
• Last date for fee payment: June 11, 2026
• Exam date: September 6, 2026 (September 5 for some candidates)
• Admit card: Available at ctet.nic.in before the exam

One thing CBSE has changed this cycle: exam city allotment is now random. You can indicate preferences, but the final allocation is system-generated. It's meant to cut down on malpractice and seat-blocking (annoying, I know). Keep that in mind when you're planning travel or putting in leave requests at work.

Are you eligible? Check before you start the form

CTET has two papers. Paper 1 qualifies you to teach Classes 1 to 5 (primary level). Paper 2 is for Classes 6 to 8 (upper primary). You can appear for both in the same cycle, and many candidates do, to keep both options open.

Paper 1 eligibility (Classes 1-5)

You need Class 12 (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks, plus a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) or be in its final year. A 4-year B.El.Ed also qualifies. SC/ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), and differently-abled candidates get a 5% relaxation, so the bar is 45% for them.

Paper 2 eligibility (Classes 6-8)

You need a graduation degree from a recognized university with at least 50% marks, plus a B.Ed degree or be in the final year of it. A 4-year integrated B.A.B.Ed or B.Sc.B.Ed with 50% also qualifies. Same 5% relaxation applies for reserved categories.

There's no age limit for CTET. No attempt limit either. If you've failed before, this is a clean shot. And once you pass, the certificate is yours forever.

CTET certificates issued on or after September 2011 are now valid for the lifetime of the candidate, following a Government of India decision implemented in 2021.

Exam pattern: what you'll face on September 6

Both papers follow the same basic format. 150 multiple-choice questions, 150 marks, 2 hours and 30 minutes. No negative marking. That last part matters, so attempt every question, even if you're guessing.

Paper 1 section breakdown

1. Child Development and Pedagogy: 30 questions
2. Language I (your chosen language): 30 questions
3. Language II (English or another language): 30 questions
4. Mathematics: 30 questions
5. Environmental Studies: 30 questions

Paper 2 section breakdown

1. Child Development and Pedagogy: 30 questions
2. Language I: 30 questions
3. Language II: 30 questions
4. Mathematics and Science OR Social Studies/Social Science: 60 questions (based on your subject area)

The passing mark is 60%, which is 90 out of 150 for general category candidates. For SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer) and differently-abled, it's 55%. Honestly, 90 out of 150 isn't trivial. Child Development and Pedagogy is where a lot of people drop marks. It's theory-heavy and very specific about constructivist learning, Piaget, Vygotsky, and inclusive education frameworks. Don't underestimate it. Check our exam preparation guides for topic-by-topic coverage.

How to apply for CTET 2026 online: step by step

Everything is online. No offline process at all. Before you start, keep these ready: a working email ID, your Indian mobile number, a scanned passport-size photo (JPEG, 10KB to 200KB), and your signature on white paper. You don't upload educational documents at this stage, but keep them nearby for reference when you're filling in the form.

1. Go to ctet.nic.in directly. Don't use any coaching website or third-party portal. You'll see the Apply Online link on the homepage. Click it.
2. Click New Registration. Enter your name exactly as it appears in your Class 10 board certificate, your date of birth, mobile number, and email. An OTP arrives on your phone. Enter it to proceed.
3. Log in with your new credentials and fill in the application form. Enter personal details, address, and educational qualifications. Choose which paper(s) you're appearing for, Paper 1, Paper 2, or both.
4. Upload your photo and signature. The photo must be a recent passport-size colour image in JPEG format, between 10KB and 200KB. Signature should be on plain white paper. Both need to be sharp and within size limits, otherwise the form gets flagged.
5. Choose your Language I from the available list. English is commonly chosen as Language II. Enter your exam city preferences, keeping in mind the random allotment policy this cycle.
6. Pay the application fee online. UPI through PhonePe, Google Pay, or Paytm works on the NIC payment gateway. Debit cards, credit cards, and net banking also work fine.
7. After successful payment, download and save the confirmation page immediately. Note your application number carefully. You'll need it to download your admit card and track your results.

The portal works better on a desktop browser than a phone. Chrome or Firefox is fine. If it feels slow or unresponsive, try during off-peak hours like early morning or late at night. And don't wait till June 9 or 10. Government portals get overwhelmed near deadlines, and a failed payment at 11:45 pm on June 10 is not how you want your application to end.

Application fee: how much and how to pay

• General and OBC candidates, one paper: Rs. 1,000
• General and OBC candidates, both papers: Rs. 1,200
• SC/ST and differently-abled candidates, one paper: Rs. 500
• SC/ST and differently-abled candidates, both papers: Rs. 600

If your UPI transaction fails, wait a few minutes before trying again. Double payments on NIC portals take time to reverse, and getting a refund means raising a query with CBSE (which is a whole thing). Net banking from SBI, HDFC, ICICI, and Axis typically works without issue.

Things to sort out before you hit submit

Name mismatches are the most common problem at document verification time. Your name on the form must match your Class 10 certificate exactly, middle names and spelling included. Same with date of birth. Any discrepancy causes delays when you're applying for actual teaching jobs later.

Take a fresh photo specifically for this application. Don't reuse an old Aadhaar photo or a casual phone selfie. A proper passport photo from any photo shop is around Rs. 50-100 and the photographer usually sends the digital file on WhatsApp. Worth the ten minutes, in my experience.

You can't edit the form after submission. So read through everything carefully before you click. Double-check your mobile number and email because that's how CBSE sends admit card download links and result notifications.

On exam day, your admit card alone isn't enough. You also need a valid photo ID alongside it. Aadhaar is most convenient and widely accepted, but PAN card, passport, voter ID, and driving licence also work. You can store your admit card in DigiLocker as a digital backup you can pull up on your phone at the exam centre, just in case you forget the printout.

For more on navigating government exam portals without getting stuck, our tech explainers section has practical coverage. And for the latest on CTET and other central recruitment exams, check our news section. CBSE occasionally releases corrections or schedule changes mid-cycle, and those updates do matter.

The deadline is June 10. That's it. Start the application today.