CTET Exam Full Details: Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Fees & Teacher Salary

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a national‑level eligibility exam conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for candidates who want to become teachers in Central Government schools (such as Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and some Army schools) and government schools.

This is a central teacher eligibility test by CBSE for being eligible for teachers in central schools such as Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, Army and central government schools.

CTET is held twice a year – Check Details

CTET is conducted two times in a year. Though in rare cases it may occur once in a year. In 2025, it happened when the December session of the CTET exam was not conducted.

Let us understand the CTET first. It is conducted for two papers as mentioned below:

What CTET is for

• Paper‑1: For becoming a teacher in Classes 1–5 (Primary level).
• Paper‑2: For becoming a teacher in Classes 6–8 (Upper Primary level).
  Clearing CTET is a mandatory eligibility requirement (not a direct recruitment) for many central‑school teaching posts.

Basic exam pattern (2026)

• Mode: Offline (OMR‑based, pen‑and‑paper).
• Duration: 150 minutes (2.5 hours).
• Both papers: 150 questions, 150 marks, in two languages (Hindi + English).

A typical structure (for either paper) is:

• Child Development & Pedagogy: 30 Q
• Language‑I (compulsory): 30 Q
• Language‑II (compulsory): 30 Q
• Remaining 60 Q split between Maths/Science or Social Studies , depending on Paper‑1/Paper‑2

CTET Exam Timing

Paper	Shift	Time
Paper‑II	Morning	09:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Paper‑I	Evening	02:30 PM to 05:00 PM

CTET Eligibility

• Paper‑1 (Class 1–5): Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks + 2‑year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed/B.El.Ed in some cases), as per NCTE norms.

Or

Senior Secondary ot its equivalent with at least 45 per cent marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 2 year Diploma in Elementary Education by the NCTE recognized norms,

Or

Senior Secondary or its equivalent with 50 percent marks, or appearing in the final year of a 4 year Bachelor of Elementary Education B.El.ED

Or

Senior Secondary  or its equivalent with 50 percent or appearing  in the final exam of 2 year Diploma in Education( Special Education)

These candidates are also eligible

Graduate with 50 percent marks with B.Ed

Paper‑2 (Class 6–8):

There is no much difference in the qualification here too

Senior secondary pass out with 50 percent and have B.EL.Ed OR

Senior Secondary pass out with 50 perent marks or candidates who are appearing in the year of their exam of 4 year BA/BSc.Ed or BA.ED/BSc Ed or

Graduation with minimum marks (often 50% or 45% depending on category) + 1‑year B.Ed or equivalent recognized by NCTE.

Candidates has qualified B.Ed programme  can appear in TET/CTET

PG candidates with minimum 55 percent marks or its equivalent grade and three integrated B.Ed-M.Ed

CTET Eligibility – Age Limit

There is no upper age cap here. So candidates of any age can appear for CTET

CTET Minimum Qualifying Marks

Category	Minimum Qualifying Marks
UR	90
SC/ST/OBC/ PWD	82

Note: These are marks given above, not percentages

CTET Teachers Salary

CTET Teacher Salary Structure 2025‑26 (Approx.)

Component	Primary Teacher (PRT)	TGT	PGT
Pay Scale	9,300 – 34,800	9,300 – 34,800	9,300 – 34,800
Grade Pay	4,200	4,600	4,800
Basic Pay (after 7th CPC)	₹35,400	₹44,900	₹47,600
HRA (approx.)	₹3,240	₹3,400	₹4,350
TA (Transport Allowance)	₹1,600	₹1,600	₹1,600
Gross Salary (BP + HRA + TA)	₹40,240	₹49,900	₹53,550
Net / In‑hand Salary range	₹35,000 – ₹37,000	₹43,000 – ₹46,000	₹48,000 – ₹50,000

Recent and Upcoming CTET Sessions

• The February 2026 CTET has already been conducted (exam on 7–8 Feb 2026; result and score‑card released).
• The July 2026 CTET is scheduled for 5 July 2026 (Sunday); the online application window closed on 2 April 2026.

You have pasted the CTET online application method and registration procedure for the CTET–February session. Here is a clear, structured summary of what you shared:

Method of Submitting Online CTET Application – Step‑Wise

1. Visit official site – Go to https://ctet.nic.in.
2. Click Apply Online – Click the “Apply Online” link on the homepage.
3. Fill the Online Application Form – Enter all required details and note down the Registration No. / Application No. for future logins.
4. Upload photo and signature: Format: JPG/JPEG only.
5. Photo: Size: 10–100 KB, Dimensions: 3.5 cm (width) × 4.5 cm (height).
6. Signature: Size: 3–30 KB, Dimensions: 3.5 cm (length) × 1.5 cm (height).
7. Pay examination fee – Pay using debit/credit card or net banking.
8. Print confirmation page – After successful payment, download and print the confirmation page for your records.

Registration Procedure (3 parts)

Authentication Form Fill details:

• State
• Identification type (any valid ID)
• Candidate’s Name
• Date of Birth
• Gender

Fill Online Application Form & password

• Complete the form and create a password.
• After submission, a Registration No. / Application No. is generated; note it down.
• For future logins, use Registration No. + chosen password.

CTET Password policy

Length: 8–13 characters.

Must include:

• At least one uppercase letter (A–Z)
• At least one lowercase letter (a–z)
• At least one number (0–9)
• At least one special character !@#$%^&*-

You can change the password after login, but the new password must not match any of the last 3 passwords.

Do not share your password with anyone; CTET/NIC will not be responsible for misuse.

Always log out at the end of the session.

Online Uploading of Scanned Images

• Photo and signature upload is mandatory.
• Both in JPG/JPEG format.
• Use the exact size and dimensions given above.
• The uploaded latest photograph will be matched with the candidate at the exam centre.

CTET Examination Fee 

Category	Only Paper‑I or Paper‑II	Both Paper‑I & Paper‑II
General / OBC (NCL)	₹1000	₹1200
SC / ST / Differently‑Abled	₹500	₹600

• GST (if applicable) will be charged extra by the bank over and above the above fees.

CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) consists of 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), each worth 1 mark, with no negative marking. Exams last 2.5 hours. Paper I targets teachers for Classes I-V (Primary Stage), Paper II for Classes VI-VIII (Elementary Stage). Candidates teaching both levels must take both papers.

Paper-I: Classes I-V (Primary Stage)

All sections compulsory. Questions draw from NCERT syllabus for Classes I-V, but difficulty may extend to the Secondary stage.

Section	MCQs	Marks	Focus Areas
Child Development & Pedagogy	30	30	Educational psychology for ages 6-11; diverse learners, facilitation skills.
Language I (medium of instruction)	30	30	Proficiencies in chosen language.
Language II (different from Language I)	30	30	Language elements, communication, comprehension.
Mathematics	30	30	Concepts, problem-solving, pedagogy.
Environmental Studies	30	30	Concepts, applications, pedagogy.
Total	150	150

Paper II: Classes VI-VIII (Elementary Stage)

Child Development & Pedagogy, Language I, and Language II are compulsory. Choose either Mathematics & Science or Social Studies/Social Science.

Section	MCQs	Marks	Focus Areas
Child Development & Pedagogy	30	30	Educational psychology for ages 11-14; diverse learners, facilitation.
Language I	30	30	Proficiencies in medium of instruction.
Language II (different from Language I)	30	30	Language elements, communication, comprehension.
Mathematics & Science OR Social Studies/Social Science	60	60	Concepts, problem-solving, pedagogy (NCERT Classes VI-VIII syllabus; difficulty up to Senior Secondary).
Total	150	150

CTET Exam Language Options

Select Language I and II from this list (Language II ≠ Language I). Specify on confirmation page.

• 01 English, 02 Hindi, 03 Assamese, 04 Bengali, 05 Garo
• 06 Gujarati, 07 Kannada, 08 Khasi, 09 Malayalam, 10 Manipuri
• 11 Marathi, 12 Mizo, 13 Nepali, 14 Odia, 15 Punjabi
• 16 Sanskrit, 17 Tamil, 18 Telugu, 19 Tibetan, 20 Urdu

CTET Applicability

CTET qualifies candidates for teaching roles in specific institutions, as per NCTE guidelines.

• Mandatory for: Central Government schools (KVS, NVS, Central Tibetan Schools), schools under UTs (Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, NCT of Delhi).
• Optional for: Unaided private schools (they may choose to accept CTET).
• State schools: Typically require State TET; states may accept CTET if no State TET is held.
• CBSE-affiliated schools: Teachers appointed from March 6, 2012, for Classes I-VIII must pass CTET or relevant State TET.

Exam Validity and Attempts For CTET

• Lifetime validity: CTET certificate valid for life across all categories.
• Unlimited attempts: No limit; qualified candidates can reappear to improve scores.

CTET certificate

CBSE issues CTET mark sheets to all candidates and eligibility certificates to qualifiers exclusively in digital format via DigiLocker accounts. These documents are digitally signed for legal validity under the IT Act and feature encrypted QR codes for secure verification using the DigiLocker app.

Access Process

DigiLocker accounts are auto-created for CTET candidates, with login credentials sent to registered mobile numbers. Candidates log in to download PDFs of mark sheets (all candidates) and certificates (successful ones only).

CTET candidates receive a sealed Test Booklet containing the OMR sheet, which must remain sealed until the invigilator announces opening it.

CTET OMR Sheet Handling Rules

• Match the code (A, B, C, or D) on OMR and Test Booklet; do not fold, wrinkle, or mark strays on OMR.
• Use only black/blue ballpoint pen (pencils prohibited); fill Roll No. solely in designated spaces.

Side 1: Candidate Details

Fill neatly:

• Roll Number
• Candidate’s Name
• Father’s Name
• Centre Number
• Examination Centre Name
• Paper-II Subject (Paper-II only)

Side 2: Test Details

Fill neatly:

• Roll Number
• Main Test Booklet Number
• Language Supplement Booklet Number/Code
• Paper-II Subject (Paper-II only)
• Language attempted
• Candidate’s Signature

How to mark Responses in OMR Sheet?

CTET requires precise marking on the OMR sheet to ensure accurate optical scanning—no changes, erasers, or pencils allowed.

Marking Responses

• Darken one circle completely (using black/blue ballpoint pen) for the most appropriate answer out of four options.
• Example: For Q.008 “Capital city of Nepal?” (1) Kathmandu → fully darken circle 1: ![marking example: 008 [darkened 1 circle]].
• Multiple darkened circles, light/incomplete marks, or stray marks (like 3/5) = no marks or rejection.

Key Restrictions

• No rough work on OMR—use Test Booklet margins only.
• No changes/erasing: Finalize before darkening; correction fluid/erasers cause rejection.
• Unattempted questions: Leave circle blank (no penalty).

Exam End Rules

• Sign attendance sheet before handing OMR.
• Carry only Test Booklet home.
• Missing OMR during evaluation = result cancellation (presumed taken by candidate).

CTET OMR Handling Rules

Candidates must follow strict protocols for rough work, answer changes, and sheet submission to avoid result cancellation.

Rough Work

No rough work allowed on OMR sheet—all calculations must use spaces in the Test Booklet.

No Answer Changes

Darken circles confidently; erasers, correction fluid, or alterations reject the sheet due to machine grading. Candidates bear full responsibility.

End-of-Exam Procedure

Sign attendance sheet before submitting OMR. Carry only Test Booklet home.

OMR Discrepancy Risk

Missing OMR at evaluation presumes candidate took it with booklet—result cancelled automatically.

Core Entities

• Government: Refers to the Government of India, the central authority overseeing CTET policies.
• Ministry: Means the Ministry of Education, New Delhi, which directs CTET conduct.
• Board: Stands for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Delhi, responsible for exam administration.

Educational Terms

• School: Any institution where CTET applies per the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009.
• CTET: The Central Teacher Eligibility Test, a qualifying exam for teacher appointments in classes I-VIII.
• Qualifying Examination: The prior exam result enabling CTET application eligibility.
• Examining Body: CBSE Delhi, tasked by the central government to conduct CTET.

Reservation Categories

• Scheduled Castes: As defined by the Government of India.
• Scheduled Tribes: As specified by the Government of India.
• Other Backward Classes (OBCs): As laid down by the Government of India or relevant states/UTs where CTET is adopted.
• Differently Abled Persons: As per the RPWD Act 2016 by the Government of India or states/UTs.

Procedural Term

• Rules: CBSE-specified guidelines for CTET, issued under Ministry of Education directives.

Table – 1 For CTET State & City

City Code	State	City
101	Andaman & Nicobar	Port Blair
102	Andhra Pradesh	Guntur
103	Andhra Pradesh	Tirupati
104	Andhra Pradesh	Vijayawada
105	Andhra Pradesh	Visakhapatnam
106	Arunachal Pradesh	Itanagar
107	Assam	Dibrugarh
108	Assam	Guwahati
109	Assam	Silchar
110	Bihar	Begusarai
111	Bihar	Bhagalpur
112	Bihar	Bhojpur (Ara)
113	Bihar	Darbhanga
114	Bihar	Gaya
115	Bihar	Gopalganj
116	Bihar	Madhubani
117	Bihar	Muzaffarpur
118	Bihar	Nalanda
119	Bihar	Patna
120	Bihar	Purnia
121	Bihar	Rohtas
122	Bihar	Saharsa
123	Bihar	Samastipur
124	Bihar	Saran
125	Bihar	Vaishali (Hajipur)
126	Chandigarh	Chandigarh
127	Chhattisgarh	Bhilai/Durg

CTET State & City: Table -2

128	Chhattisgarh	Bilaspur	128	Chhattisgarh
129	Chhattisgarh	Raipur	129	Chhattisgarh
130	Dadra & Nagar Haveli	Dadra & Nagar Haveli	130	Dadra & Nagar Haveli
131	Daman & Diu	Daman	131	Daman & Diu
132	Delhi	Delhi	132	Delhi
137	Goa	Panaji	137	Goa
138	Gujarat	Ahmedabad	138	Gujarat
139	Gujarat	Rajkot	139	Gujarat
140	Gujarat	Surat	140	Gujarat
141	Gujarat	Vadodara	141	Gujarat
142	Haryana	Ambala	142	Haryana

CTET State & City: Table-3

City Code	State	City
143	Haryana	Faridabad
144	Haryana	Gurugram
145	Haryana	Hisar
146	Haryana	Karnal
147	Haryana	Kurukshetra
148	Himachal Pradesh	Hamirpur
149	Himachal Pradesh	Kangra
150	Himachal Pradesh	Shimla
151	Jammu & Kashmir	Jammu
152	Jammu & Kashmir	Srinagar
153	Jharkhand	Bokaro
154	Jharkhand	Dhanbad
155	Jharkhand	Hazaribagh
156	Jharkhand	Jamshedpur
157	Jharkhand	Ranchi
158	Karnataka	Bengaluru
159	Karnataka	Hubli (Hubballi)
160	Kerala	Ernakulam
161	Kerala	Kozhikode (Calicut)
162	Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram
163	Ladakh	Kargil

More CTET State & City

164	Ladakh	Leh
165	Lakshadweep	Kavaratti
166	Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal
167	Madhya Pradesh	Gwalior
168	Madhya Pradesh	Indore
169	Madhya Pradesh	Jabalpur
170	Maharashtra	Amravati
171	Maharashtra	Aurangabad
172	Maharashtra	Mumbai
173	Maharashtra	Nagpur
174	Maharashtra	Nashik
175	Maharashtra	Pune
176	Maharashtra	Solapur
177	Manipur	Imphal
178	Meghalaya	Shillong
179	Mizoram	Aizawl
180	Nagaland	Kohima
181	Odisha	Bhubaneswar
182	Odisha	Sambalpur
183	Puducherry	Puducherry
184	Punjab	Amritsar

CTET February 2026 Exam Cities (Partial List)

This excerpt from the CTET February 2026 Information Bulletin (Page 23) lists exam city codes and locations across Indian states, aiding candidates in selecting test centers during application.

Punjab and Rajasthan Cities

City Code	State	City
185	Punjab	Bhatinda
186	Punjab	Jalandhar
187	Rajasthan	Ajmer
188	Rajasthan	Alwar
189	Rajasthan	Bikaner
190	Rajasthan	Jaipur
191	Rajasthan	Jodhpur
192	Rajasthan	Kota
193	Rajasthan	Udaipur

Eastern and Southern Cities

City Code	State	City
194	Sikkim	Gangtok
195	Tamil Nadu	Chennai
196	Tamil Nadu	Coimbatore
197	Tamil Nadu	Madurai
198	Telangana	Hyderabad
199	Telangana	Warangal
200	Tripura	Agartala

CTET Uttar Pradesh Cities/District

Uttar Pradesh has the most cities listed (codes 201–225), covering major districts like Agra, Lucknow, and Prayagraj (Allahabad).

City Code	City/District
201	Agra
202	Aligarh
203	Ambedkar Nagar
204	Ayodhya (Faizabad)
205	Bareilly
206	Bijnor
207	Deoria
208	Etawah
209	Ghaziabad
210	Ghazipur
211	Gonda
212	Gorakhpur
213	Jaunpur
214	Jhansi
215	Kanpur
216	Lucknow
217	Mainpuri
218	Mathura
219	Mau
220	Meerut
221	Moradabad
222	Noida/Greater Noida
223	Pratapgarh
224	Raebareli

More CTET Uttar Pradesh Cities/District

City Code	State	City
226	Uttar Pradesh	Saharanpur
227	Uttar Pradesh	Shahjahanpur
228	Uttar Pradesh	Sitapur
229	Uttar Pradesh	Sultanpur
230	Uttar Pradesh	Varanasi
231	Uttarakhand	Dehradun
232	Uttarakhand	Haldwani
233	Uttarakhand	Haridwar
234	Uttarakhand	Udham Singh Nagar
235	West Bengal	Kolkata
236	West Bengal	Siliguri

CTET Exam FAQs