CTET December 2026: Exam on 12–13 December, City Slip Around 27 November
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that the 22nd edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) will be held on 12 and 13 December 2026 (Saturday–Sunday). The dates were fixed in CBSE’s public notice dated 14 September 2026, and a live check of ctet.nic.in on 7 November 2026 found no later notice changing them. This exam is for teacher aspirants across Haryana who want eligibility to teach Classes I to VIII — passing CTET qualifies you for teacher recruitment in central schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS). Please note: for Haryana government schools, you need HTET, not CTET — CTET does not replace HTET (explained separately below).
This tracker brings together the exam dates, the current status of the city slip and admit card, the pattern of both papers, the fee, eligibility, and what to do on exam day — all in one place. It will be updated here as soon as the city slip or admit card is released, so bookmark this page.
The most important point first: applications for this cycle are fully closed — the first window (11 May–10 June 2026) and the reopened window (25 August–1 September 2026) are both over, and the correction window (7–10 September 2026) has also closed. If you did not apply in one of those windows, this December exam is not yours — the next cycle is your chance.
| Information | Status (7 November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Exam | CTET 22nd edition — 12–13 December 2026 (Saturday–Sunday) |
| Official notice | CBSE public notice, 14 September 2026 (F. No. CBSE/CTET/2026) — first item on ctet.nic.in |
| Exam city + allotted date | 15 days before the exam on the portal — about 27 November 2026 (calculated; CBSE has not printed a calendar date) |
| Admit card | Two days before the exam, download from the portal — about 10–11 December 2026 (calculated) |
| Applications | Closed — 11 May–10 June 2026; reopened 25 August–1 September 2026; corrections 7–10 September 2026 |
| Original date | 6 September 2026 — postponed to December |
| Papers | Paper I (Classes I–V), Paper II (Classes VI–VIII) — each 150 questions, 150 marks, 2.5 hours, no negative marking |
| Official portal | ctet.nic.in |
Exam date — what CBSE has said
- Notice of 14 September 2026 (F. No. CBSE/CTET/2026, signed by the Director (CTET)): “the 22nd edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) will be conducted on 12th and 13th December 2026” — this is the only official exam date for this cycle.
- Live check, 7 November 2026: this notice is the top item in Public Notices on ctet.nic.in; no notice after 14 September changes the dates. The site footer reads “Last Updated: Sep 29, 2026”.
- Do not be misled by the old date: the exam was first scheduled for 6 September 2026 (Sunday). After a Supreme Court review judgment, CBSE reopened applications from 25 August to 1 September 2026 and moved the exam to December. Caution: the Information Bulletin (September 2026) linked on the portal still carries the old date “06th September, 2026” on its cover — that date no longer applies; only the 14 September notice counts.
- Which paper on which day? CBSE has not yet said whether Paper I or Paper II falls on 12 December — that will appear in your city slip along with your allotted date. In earlier cycles Paper II was held in the morning (9:30 AM–12:00 noon) and Paper I in the afternoon (2:30–5:00 PM), but the December timings will be confirmed only on the admit card.
City slip and admit card — when, where, how?
| Document | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Exam city + your allotted exam date | 15 days before the exam — about 27 November 2026 (for the 12 December exam; 28 November for 13 December) | ctet.nic.in — “Candidate Activity” / Public Notices |
| Admit card (with exam centre) | Two days before the exam — about 10–11 December 2026 | Download from ctet.nic.in |
Note: 27 November and 10–11 December are calculated from CBSE’s “15 days before” / “two days before” rules — CBSE has not itself printed these calendar dates. The confirmed dates will be written on this page as soon as the slip is released.
How to download the admit card (once released):
- Open ctet.nic.in.
- Go to the “Download Admit Card” / Candidate Activity link.
- Enter your application number, date of birth and security PIN.
- Download and print the admit card — it carries your exam centre, date and time.
- Check your name, photograph, signature and exam centre details on it immediately. If you spot an error, contact the CBSE helpdesk; the correction window has closed, so form errors can no longer be fixed.
Exam pattern — both papers, 150 questions, no negative marking
- Each paper has 150 multiple-choice questions, 150 marks, 2.5 hours; each question carries 1 mark; there is no negative marking for wrong answers — so attempt every question.
- The question paper is bilingual (Hindi and English); answers are marked on an OMR sheet.
- Paper I is for those who want to teach Classes I–V; Paper II is for those who want to teach Classes VI–VIII. To teach both levels, you must sit both papers.
Paper I — Classes I–V (150 questions / 150 marks)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP) | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies (EVS) | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Paper II — Classes VI–VIII (150 questions / 150 marks)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP) | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science or Social Studies / Social Science | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Note: In Paper II you must choose one of Mathematics & Science or Social Studies — pick the one matching your teaching subject.
Eligibility — who can sit the exam?
- Minimum qualifications are those notified by NCTE — the CBSE bulletin does not list degrees itself; it directs candidates to ncte.gov.in. Broadly, Paper I requires Senior Secondary (50%) with D.El.Ed / B.El.Ed, and Paper II requires a graduation degree (50%) with B.Ed — but check your qualification against the NCTE norms.
- Age limit: CTET has no age limit — age limits apply later, in the recruitment notice of the post you apply for.
- Relaxation: SC, ST, OBC and differently abled candidates get up to 5% relaxation in the marks of their minimum qualification.
- Important warning: CBSE does not verify your eligibility at the exam stage — the recruiting agency checks it later, and you are responsible if you are not eligible. Read the NCTE norms before relying on your application.
Fee — what this cycle charged
| Category | One paper | Both papers |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC (NCL) | ₹1,000 | ₹1,200 |
| SC / ST / Differently abled | ₹500 | ₹600 |
The fee was paid online (debit/credit card, net banking, UPI). This is the fee of the closed application cycle — check the next notification for the new cycle’s fee.
Qualifying marks and certificate validity
- To pass, you need 60% or more — that is 90 out of 150. Under the NCTE notification of 11 February 2011, school managements may give concessions to SC, ST, OBC and differently abled candidates under their reservation policy.
- The CTET certificate is now valid for life — validity was made lifetime in 2021, so once you pass, you never need to sit the exam again (you may reappear to improve your score — there is no limit on attempts).
- Remember: CTET is only an eligibility test — it does not guarantee a job. Recruitment happens through separate notices from KVS, NVS or state governments.
CTET vs HTET — what Haryana aspirants must understand
- CTET gives eligibility for teacher recruitment in central schools — Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS) and Central Tibetan Schools.
- HTET (Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test) is what Haryana government school recruitment (through HSSC) requires — passing CTET does not substitute for HTET.
- To teach in a Haryana government primary or middle school, you must pass HTET Level 1 (PRT), Level 2 (TGT) or Level 3 (PGT). HTET 2026 applications close on 10 November 2026 (bseh.org.in) — if you have not applied yet, that is your last date.
- Many private schools also recognise CTET, so holding both qualifications widens your chances.
Exam-day checklist (12–13 December)
- Carry a printout of the admit card plus an original photo ID (Aadhaar / Voter ID / Driving Licence) — entry is denied without them.
- Reach the exam centre at least 1 hour before the reporting time — latecomers are not admitted.
- Carry nothing inside except a black/blue ball pen, the admit card and your ID — mobiles, watches and calculators are prohibited.
- Fill your roll number and question-booklet code on the OMR sheet carefully — a wrong entry means your answers are not evaluated.
- There is no negative marking — attempt all 150 questions; leave none blank.
Frequently asked questions
1. When is the CTET December 2026 exam?
12 and 13 December 2026 (Saturday–Sunday) — the 22nd edition, as per CBSE’s public notice of 14 September 2026.
2. When will the CTET city slip come?
15 days before the exam — by calculation, about 27 November 2026 (for the 12 December exam). The confirmed date will be written on this page once the slip is released.
3. When will the CTET admit card be available?
Two days before the exam, about 10–11 December 2026 — download it from ctet.nic.in.
4. Can I still apply for CTET December 2026?
No — both application windows (11 May–10 June 2026 and 25 August–1 September 2026) and the correction window (7–10 September 2026) have closed.
5. How many marks do I need to pass CTET?
60% or more — 90 out of 150. Reserved categories may get concessions under the school management’s policy.
6. How long is the CTET certificate valid?
For life — validity has been lifetime since 2021. There is no limit on attempts.
7. Can I get a Haryana government school job with CTET?
No — Haryana government schools require HTET. CTET gives eligibility for central schools (KVS/NVS).
Official sources and important links
- CTET official portal — exam city, admit card, notices: ctet.nic.in
- Exam date notice (CBSE, 14 September 2026, PDF): CBSE Public Notice — 22nd CTET Exam Dates
- Information Bulletin — CTET September 2026 (PDF; note: its cover still carries the old 6 September 2026 date, superseded by the 14 September notice): CTET September 2026 Information Bulletin
- NCTE — minimum qualification norms: ncte.gov.in
- BSEH Bhiwani — HTET 2026 (for Haryana government schools): bseh.org.in
- KVS — Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan: kvsangathan.nic.in
- NVS — Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti: navodaya.gov.in
Disclaimer: This page is based on a live check of CBSE’s official site ctet.nic.in and CBSE’s public notice of 14 September 2026, as of 7 November 2026. The city-slip (~27 November) and admit-card (~10–11 December) dates are estimates calculated from CBSE’s “15 days before” / “two days before” rules, not official calendar dates — this page will be updated when the confirmed dates are released. For final confirmation, see ctet.nic.in.
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