The window for aspiring teachers to apply for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) February 2026 session is about to close. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will shut down the online registration process tomorrow, December 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Candidates must complete their application on the official portal, ctet.nic.in, before the deadline.
Key Dates and Application Process
The board initiated the registration drive on November 27, 2025. The crucial national-level examination itself is scheduled to be held on February 8, 2026. This test is a mandatory qualification for individuals seeking teaching positions for classes 1 to 8 in central government schools like Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, as well as other aided institutions.
Prospective applicants are urged to act immediately. The application is a multi-step online process conducted exclusively on the CTET website. It involves filling in personal and academic details, uploading a recent photograph and signature, and paying the requisite fee. A critical point to note is that candidates cannot change their chosen examination city after final submission. CBSE will randomly allocate the final exam center based on the application.
Exam Structure and Important Details
The CTET 2026 will be conducted in an impressive 20 different languages, catering to candidates from diverse linguistic backgrounds across India. The test is divided into two papers: Paper I for those aiming to teach classes 1 to 5, and Paper II for classes 6 to 8. Each paper comprises multiple-choice questions covering core areas like Child Development & Pedagogy, Languages, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies or specific subject areas for the higher level.
Eligibility to appear for the test depends on meeting the academic qualifications prescribed by CBSE. Candidates can choose to appear for one or both papers based on their career goals and educational background. All necessary information, including the detailed syllabus, complete list of languages, eligibility criteria, fee structure, and the list of exam cities, is available in the information bulletin published on ctet.nic.in.
Final Steps for Applicants
After successfully submitting the form and fee payment, candidates must save and print the confirmation page for their records. It is essential to keep the application number safe for all future correspondence and for downloading the admit card, which will be released closer to the exam date. With less than a day left, aspirants should avoid last-minute technical glitches by completing their registration well before the midnight deadline on December 18.
