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CTET 2026 · केंद्रीय शिक्षक पात्रता परीक्षा
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is the gateway to govt-school teaching jobs at KVS, NVS, EMRS, and most CBSE/ICSE/state schools. Two papers — Paper I (Classes I–V, D.El.Ed pathway) and Paper II (Classes VI–VIII, B.Ed pathway). Conducted by CBSE twice a year. Lifetime-valid eligibility certificate since 2021.
You can attempt one paper or both in the same session. The choice depends on whether you want to teach Primary (Classes I-V, Paper I) or Upper-Primary (Classes VI-VIII, Paper II) — and on which qualifying degree you hold (D.El.Ed for Paper I, B.Ed for Paper II).
PAPER I
PAPER II
CBSE releases two CTET notifications per year — typically one in October (for Jan/Feb exam) and one in April (for Jul/Aug exam). The notification is published on ctet.nic.in and on cbse.gov.in. Subscribe to the official email alerts on the portal to get the first notification.
Confirm you meet the minimum qualifying degree for the paper(s) you want to attempt. Paper I: D.El.Ed / B.El.Ed / 4-year integrated. Paper II: B.Ed. You can attempt both papers in the same session if you hold both D.El.Ed and B.Ed. Senior Secondary minimum 50% (45% reserved).
Register with your email + mobile, fill personal + educational details, upload passport photo + signature (specs published on the portal), pay the application fee. Fees typically: ₹1,000 for one paper / ₹1,200 for both (General/OBC); ₹500 / ₹600 (SC/ST/PwD). Pay online via the CBSE gateway.
CTET is held at 130+ centres across India. Select 4 preferred cities at application — CBSE allocates one of them based on availability. Once allocated, the centre cannot be changed except through the official correction window.
Admit cards release ~10 days before the exam date. CBT format — 150 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours, no negative marking. Carry the admit card + a government photo ID to the centre. The exam is conducted in 20+ languages for Language I and II sections.
Results are published on ctet.nic.in approximately 6 weeks after the exam. Qualifying candidates get a digital CTET Eligibility Certificate that is valid for LIFETIME (changed from 7 years in 2021). Use this certificate when applying for KVS, NVS, EMRS, and state-school teacher recruitments.
CTET is the eligibility certificate — actual recruitment is separate, through each employer's own selection process (written exam + interview + documents). Holding CTET makes you eligible to apply across these pathways:
| Role | Employer | How CTET helps |
|---|---|---|
| Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) PRT / TGT | Central government schools network | Required eligibility for primary + upper-primary cadres |
| Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) TGT / Master | Residential central government schools | Required for upper-primary cadre |
| Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) | Tribal residential schools (Ministry of Tribal Affairs) | Required eligibility |
| Sainik Schools / Military Schools | Residential schools under defence | CTET preferred for academic teaching positions |
| CBSE / ICSE private schools | Private school chains nationwide | Strongly preferred — many CBSE schools mandate CTET for new TGT/PRT hires |
| State-school recruitment (UP, MP, etc.) | State Basic Education Boards | State-TET typically required as the primary qualifier, but CTET is accepted in most state recruitments |
BITE Varanasi is NCTE-recognised since 2003 (B.Ed) and 2016 (D.El.Ed). Our curricula directly cover the Child Development & Pedagogy, methodology, and subject-pedagogy areas CTET tests. Many alumni cleared CTET in their second-year B.Ed and now teach at KVS / NVS / EMRS / UP Basic Education Board / CBSE schools across India.
CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) is a national-level eligibility test for becoming a teacher in central government schools (KVS, NVS, EMRS) and most CBSE / ICSE / state schools. It is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on behalf of the Ministry of Education twice a year. The official portal is ctet.nic.in.
CTET Paper I is for becoming a Primary Teacher (Classes I-V) — qualifying degree is D.El.Ed or equivalent. CTET Paper II is for becoming an Upper-Primary Teacher (Classes VI-VIII) — qualifying degree is B.Ed. If you hold both D.El.Ed and B.Ed, you can attempt both papers in the same session. The exam pattern (150 questions, 150 marks, 2.5 hours) is the same, but the subjects differ.
For Paper I (Primary): Senior Secondary (10+2) with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD per NCTE 2002 Regs) AND passed or appearing in a 2-year D.El.Ed or B.El.Ed. For Paper II (Upper-Primary): Graduation with at least 50% (45% reserved) AND passed or appearing in a 1- or 2-year B.Ed from an NCTE-recognised institution. Full eligibility matrix on our /ctet-eligibility-2026 page.
CTET Eligibility Certificate is valid for LIFETIME. CBSE changed the validity from 7 years to lifetime in 2021, and the rule applies retrospectively — earlier candidates who passed CTET (even before 2021) now also hold lifetime-valid certificates. You do not need to re-take CTET to retain eligibility.
CTET is held twice a year — typically a January/February cycle (notification October prior) and a July/August cycle (notification April prior). Exact 2026 dates are published on ctet.nic.in. Specific timetable for 2026 is on our /ctet-syllabus-2026 page along with the latest known notification cycle.
60% (90 marks out of 150) for General category candidates. 55% (82.5 marks out of 150) for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and PwD candidates. There is NO negative marking — leave no question unanswered. Each correct answer is worth 1 mark; wrong/unattempted = 0.
NO. CTET is an ELIGIBILITY certificate — it qualifies you to apply for teaching jobs at central and most state schools. Actual recruitment is separate, through KVS / NVS / state Basic Education Board notifications, which conduct their own selection process (written exam + interview + document verification) on top of CTET. Think of CTET as the entrance ticket; the actual job requires clearing the recruitment process.
Typical CTET fees (per CBSE official structure — verify on ctet.nic.in for the current cycle): General/OBC — ₹1,000 for one paper, ₹1,200 for both. SC/ST/PwD — ₹500 for one paper, ₹600 for both. Payment is online only through the CBSE payment gateway (cards, net banking, UPI) during the application window.
YES. Candidates "appearing in" the qualifying B.Ed are eligible to apply for CTET. You can apply during your final year of B.Ed, take the exam, and your certificate will be issued conditional on completing the B.Ed degree. Many BITE B.Ed second-year students attempt CTET in the July/August cycle alongside their final-semester preparations. Similarly for D.El.Ed candidates and Paper I.
BITE's B.Ed (2 years, NCTE-recognised since 2003) and D.El.Ed (2 years, NCTE-recognised) curricula directly cover the Child Development & Pedagogy, Methodology, and subject-pedagogy areas that CTET tests. Many BITE alumni cleared CTET in their second-year B.Ed or shortly after. Our 5,000+ alumni network includes CTET-qualified teachers placed across KVS, NVS, EMRS, UP Basic Education Board, CBSE / ICSE private schools, and central schools.
Sources verified 28 May 2026
Related CTET guides (Phase 1 cluster build): CTET eligibility deep-dive · CTET syllabus + exam pattern · After B.Ed — CTET pathway · BITE B.Ed admission · BITE D.El.Ed admission · Career after B.P.Ed.