Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) — Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, Salary & Vacancy 2026
Conducting Body: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
CTET is the central eligibility test for becoming a teacher in classes I–VIII at CBSE-affiliated central government schools (KVS, NVS, Army Public Schools) and many state government / private schools. Conducted twice yearly (July + December).
About CTET
CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) under the mandate of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. CTET certificate is mandatory for teaching at Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS), Army Public Schools, schools under Central Government control, and is also accepted by most state governments for state TET-equivalence.
CTET has two papers conducted on the same day. Paper-I is for those who want to teach Classes I–V (Primary Stage); Paper-II is for those who want to teach Classes VI–VIII (Upper Primary Stage). A candidate can appear for both papers if eligible. Each paper is 150 marks, 150 questions, 2.5 hours duration, with no negative marking.
Qualifying score: General candidates need 60% (90/150); SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates need 55% (82.5/150). CTET certificate is now valid for lifetime (revised from earlier 7-year validity by NCTE in 2021). The certificate alone does NOT give a teaching job — it makes the holder eligible to apply for actual teacher recruitment exams (KVS PRT, NVS TGT, etc.).
CTET Eligibility 2026
| Qualification | Paper-I: Senior Secondary (12th) with at least 50% + 2-year D.El.Ed/D.Ed (or 4-year B.El.Ed, or B.Ed with 6-month NCTE bridge). Paper-II: Bachelor's degree + B.Ed (or other equivalent NCTE-recognised teacher training). |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
| Maximum Age (General) | 50 years (relaxed for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/ESM as per rules) |
| Nationality | Indian citizen. |
CTET Salary & Pay Scale 2026
| Pay Level | Eligibility test only — no direct salary |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay (entry) | N/A (eligibility test) |
| Approx. Gross Salary | Salary depends on post applied through subsequent recruitment (e.g., KVS PRT: ₹35,400 basic = ₹50,000+ gross) |
| Application Fee (General) | ₹1,000 (Paper-I or Paper-II), ₹1,200 (both papers) |
| Application Fee (Reserved) | ₹500 / ₹600 for SC/ST/PwBD |
CTET Exam Pattern 2026
| Stage | Mode | Duration | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I (Class I-V) | Offline OMR | 150 min | 150 | 150 | No negative marking |
| Paper-II (Class VI-VIII) | Offline OMR | 150 min | 150 | 150 | No negative marking |
CTET Syllabus Highlights
- Child Development and Pedagogy (compulsory in both papers, 30 marks each) — Theories of learning, child psychology, inclusive education
- Language-I (compulsory) — One of 20 languages chosen by candidate; tests language proficiency + pedagogy
- Language-II (compulsory) — Different from Language-I; tests language proficiency + pedagogy
- Mathematics (Paper-I, 30 marks) — Number system, geometry, mensuration at primary level; Mathematics + Pedagogy
- Environmental Studies (Paper-I, 30 marks) — Family, food, shelter, water, transport, things we make; EVS pedagogy
- Mathematics & Science (Paper-II, 60 marks for Math/Science teachers) OR Social Studies (60 marks for SST teachers) — Subject-specific syllabus + pedagogy
CTET — Important Points to Remember
- Twice yearly — July session and December session, providing two attempts per year
- Certificate now valid for lifetime (NCTE notification 2021); older certificates also extended retroactively
- Around 25–30 lakh candidates per cycle, qualifying ~3–4 lakh (12–15% qualifying ratio)
- 20 language options for Language-I and Language-II — Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Odia, Assamese, Manipuri, Mizo, Khasi, Nepali, Tibetan, Bodo
- After CTET — apply for actual teacher posts through KVS recruitment, NVS recruitment, State TGT/PGT exams
CTET Vacancy Trend (Recent Years)
CTET is an eligibility test — there are no 'vacancies' in CTET itself. The downstream recruitment exams (KVS PRT, NVS TGT/PGT, state recruitments) draw from CTET-qualified candidates. KVS PRT 2023 had ~6,000 vacancies; NVS 2023 had 1,377 vacancies.
Frequently Asked Questions — CTET 2026
Q1. Is CTET enough to get a teaching job?
No. CTET is only an eligibility test — it makes you ELIGIBLE to apply for teacher recruitments. You still need to clear separate recruitment exams like KVS PRT/TGT/PGT, NVS, state government recruitments, or apply at private CBSE-affiliated schools.
Q2. Can I teach in any state with CTET?
Most states accept CTET in addition to (or in place of) their own state TET. CTET is preferred for central schools (KVS, NVS, Army Public Schools, EMRS). Some states (Tamil Nadu, Kerala) prefer their own state TET.
Q3. What is the age limit for CTET?
There is no specific age limit for CTET as an eligibility test — anyone meeting the qualification can apply. Age limits apply at the actual recruitment exam (e.g., KVS PRT has age limit 30 for General; NVS varies).
Q4. How much does CTET certificate help in private schools?
Many CBSE-affiliated private schools prefer CTET-qualified teachers as it satisfies RTE Act compliance. Pay scales in private schools vary widely — CTET-qualified teachers in good chains (DPS, Amity, Ryan) start at ₹25,000–₹40,000 per month.
Official Information
For the most current notification, eligibility updates, and application links, always visit the official website: https://ctet.nic.in. ExamResultDekho.com – Sarkari Job Alert is an information portal — we do not conduct any exam or process applications. Always verify deadlines and apply through the conducting body's official portal.
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