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CTET September 2026: Apply Online, Exam Date, Syllabus, Eligibility

12 May 2026•7 min read•By UPSeva Team

Application Closed

The application deadline was 30 September 2026. Applications are no longer accepted.

🔴 CTET September 2026 — Apply Online

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the notification for CTET September 2026 (Central Teacher Eligibility Test). This is a national-level eligibility test for candidates aspiring to become teachers in central government schools (Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, etc.) and schools under various state governments including Uttar Pradesh.

CTET is conducted twice a year by CBSE on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Important: CTET certificate is valid for lifetime and is accepted across India for teaching positions in schools affiliated to CBSE and most state boards.

Quick Info Table

KeyValue
परीक्षा का नामCTET September 2026
आयोजकCBSE (केंद्रीय माध्यमिक शिक्षा बोर्ड)
उद्देश्यशिक्षक पात्रता (Teacher Eligibility)
पेपरPaper 1 (Class 1-5), Paper 2 (Class 6-8)
मोडComputer-Based Test (CBT) / Offline (OMR)
आवेदन शुल्क₹1000 (Paper 1/2), ₹1200 (Both)
अधिकारिक वेबसाइटctet.nic.in

Post-Wise Eligibility

Paper 1 (Class 1 to 5 — Primary Teacher)

Candidates must meet ANY ONE of the following criteria:

QualificationMinimum Marks
Senior Secondary (or equivalent)50% marks + 2-year D.El.Ed
Senior Secondary (or equivalent)50% marks + 4-year B.El.Ed
Graduation50% marks + 2-year D.El.Ed (by whatever name known)
Graduation50% marks + B.Ed

Paper 2 (Class 6 to 8 — Elementary Teacher)

Candidates must meet ANY ONE of the following criteria:

QualificationMinimum Marks
Graduation50% marks + 2-year D.El.Ed
Graduation50% marks + 4-year B.El.Ed
Graduation50% marks + B.Ed
Senior Secondary (or equivalent)50% marks + 4-year B.El.Ed
Senior Secondary (or equivalent)50% marks + 2-year D.El.Ed (by whatever name known)

For Both Papers (Class 1-8):

Candidates with B.Ed (Honours) or 4-year integrated B.A.-B.Ed / B.Sc.-B.Ed may also apply.

Exam Pattern

Paper 1 (Class 1-5)

SubjectQuestionsMarks
Child Development & Pedagogy3030
Language I (Hindi/English/Urdu/Sanskrit)3030
Language II (Hindi/English/Urdu/Sanskrit)3030
Mathematics3030
Environmental Studies3030
Total150150

Paper 2 (Class 6-8)

SubjectQuestionsMarks
Child Development & Pedagogy3030
Language I (Hindi/English/Urdu/Sanskrit)3030
Language II (Hindi/English/Urdu/Sanskrit)3030
Mathematics & Science OR Social Studies6060
Total150150

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes for each paper
Negative Marking: No negative marking
Mode: Written OMR-based examination

How to Apply

Step 1: Visit Official Website

Navigate to ctet.nic.in (official CTET portal)

Step 2: Registration

  • Click on "Apply Online"
  • Fill in basic details: Name, Date of Birth, Mobile Number, Email
  • Note down the registration number and password

Step 3: Fill Application Form

  • Select Paper (Paper 1, Paper 2, or Both)
  • Fill educational qualification details
  • Enter correspondence address
  • Select exam city preference

Step 4: Upload Documents

  • Recent passport-size photograph (20-50 KB, JPG format)
  • Signature (10-30 KB, JPG format)
  • Category certificate (if applicable)

Step 5: Pay Application Fee

CategoryPaper 1 or Paper 2Both Papers
General/OBC₹1000₹1200
SC/ST/Differently Abled₹500₹600

Step 6: Submit and Print

  • Review all entries before final submission
  • Take printout of confirmation page
  • Keep it safe for future reference

CTET Certificate Validity

Certificate TypeValidity
CTET Qualifying CertificateLifetime (no expiry)
Validity RegionAll India (central and state government schools)

Important Dates (September 2026 Cycle)

EventDate
Notification ReleaseMay 2026
Application StartMay 2026
Last Date to ApplySeptember 2026
Admit Card ReleaseTo be announced
Exam DateSeptember 2026
Result DeclarationTo be announced

Note: Exact dates will be published on ctet.nic.in. Candidates are advised to check the official website regularly.

Syllabus Overview

Paper 1 (Primary Stage — Class 1-5)

Child Development & Pedagogy (30 Questions)

  • Child Development (Primary School Child)
  • Concept of Learning
  • Pedagogy

Language I (30 Questions)

  • Language Comprehension
  • Grammar and Language Teaching

Language II (30 Questions)

  • Comprehension
  • Language Skills

Mathematics (30 Questions)

  • Mathematics Content (Number Sense, Algebra, Geometry, etc.)
  • Pedagogical Issues

Environmental Studies (30 Questions)

  • Family and Friends
  • Food and Nutrition
  • Shelter and Water
  • Things We Make and Do

Paper 2 (Elementary Stage — Class 6-8)

Child Development & Pedagogy (30 Questions)

  • Child Development (Concept of Learning)
  • Understanding Children
  • Assessment and Evaluation

Language I & II (60 Questions)

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Grammar and Language Skills -Pedagogy of Language Teaching

Mathematics & Science (60 Questions)

  • Number System, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration
  • Science: Food, Materials, The World of the Living, Moving Things, Natural Phenomena, Natural Resources

OR

Social Studies (60 Questions)

  • History, Geography, Civics, Economics
  • Social and Political Life

Why CTET is Important for UP Candidates

For UP teaching aspirants, CTET serves as:

  1. Mandatory Qualifier: CTET is mandatory for teaching positions in UP government schools under the Right to Education (RTE) Act
  2. Central School Gateway: Qualifying CTET is essential for recruitment in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) across India
  3. Private School Preference: Many private schools also prefer CTET-qualified candidates
  4. Lifetime Validity: One-time qualification with lifetime certificate
  5. National Recognition: Valid across all states and union territories

Career Opportunities After CTET

School TypeRequirement
Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs)CTET Mandatory
Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs)CTET Mandatory
UP Government SchoolsCTET Mandatory for Class 1-8
Private CBSE SchoolsPreferred but may vary
State Board SchoolsVaries by state

FAQs

Q: What is the validity of CTET certificate? A: CTET qualifying certificate has lifetime validity. There is no expiry date.

Q: Can I appear for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the same attempt? A: Yes, candidates can apply for both papers in the same CTET cycle. The fee is higher for both papers.

Q: Is there negative marking in CTET? A: No, there is no negative marking in CTET. Each correct answer carries 1 mark.

Q: How many times can I appear for CTET? A: There is no limit on the number of attempts. Candidates can appear any number of times.

Q: What is the passing marks for CTET? A: General category candidates need 60% (90 out of 150) to qualify. For SC/ST/OBC, the cutoff is 55% (82.5 out of 150).

Q: Is CTET valid in all states? A: Yes, CTET certificate is valid across India for teaching positions in schools affiliated to CBSE and most state boards.

Q: Can final year students apply for CTET? A: Yes, candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying examination can also apply provisionally.


हिंदी में

CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) September 2026 की परीक्षा CBSE द्वारा आयोजित की जाती है। यह परीक्षा केंद्रीय सरकार के स्कूलों (Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya) और राज्य सरकार के स्कूलों में शिक्षक बनने के लिए अनिवार्य है।

पात्रता:

  • Paper 1 (Class 1-5): Senior Secondary + 2-year D.El.Ed या Graduation + B.Ed
  • Paper 2 (Class 6-8): Graduation + D.El.Ed/B.Ed या समकक्ष

महत्वपूर्ण:

  • CTET Certificate की वैधता: आजीवन
  • Negative Marking: नहीं
  • Passing: 60% (General), 55% (SC/ST/OBC)

UP के लिए क्यों जरूरी:

  • UP सरकारी स्कूलों में शिक्षक पद के लिए अनिवार्य
  • KVs और NVs में भर्ती के लिए जरूरी
  • आजीवन वैध certificate

Source: Official UP Government Notifications

Last updated: 12 May 2026

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