The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has thrown a lifeline to thousands of aspiring teachers who missed the deadline for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET). In a significant move, the board has announced a special one-time facility allowing candidates with incomplete applications to finally submit them.
A Sympathetic Response to Candidate Grievances
This decision comes directly from the CBSE after it received numerous complaints following the closure of the online application window for the 21st edition of the CTET examination. Taking a "sympathetic view" of the situation, the board acknowledged the critical nature of the exam, which is being conducted after a gap of approximately one year. The official press release, signed by the Director (CTET), confirms that candidates who had already started the process will get a single, final opportunity to complete it.
Key Dates and Registration Statistics
The original application process for CTET February 2026 commenced on November 27, 2025, and officially concluded on December 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM. During this period, an impressive 25,30,581 candidates successfully applied. However, data revealed a massive last-minute rush, with 3,53,218 applications submitted on the penultimate day and a staggering 4,14,981 on the final day itself.
Despite this high volume, a significant number of registrations were left in limbo. The board disclosed that 1,61,127 registrations remained incomplete and were never converted into final submissions, leaving those candidates in a lurch.
Strict Guidelines for the Special Window
The new facility will be active on the official portal, ctet.nic.in, from 11:00 AM on December 27, 2025, until 11:59 PM on December 30, 2025. CBSE has laid down clear and non-negotiable rules for this window:
- It is strictly for completing existing, incomplete registrations only.
- No fresh registrations will be accepted under any circumstances.
- Candidates must verify all their details meticulously before the final click, as no further opportunity for correction will be provided afterward.
The notice, issued by the Director (CTET), explicitly warns applicants that this is their last chance to rectify any particulars. The board has urged all eligible candidates to utilize this limited-time window responsibly to ensure they do not miss out on the crucial examination.
This one-time measure underscores CBSE's effort to balance administrative deadlines with candidate welfare, especially for an exam that determines the eligibility of lakhs of prospective teachers across India.
