CTET Selection Process 2026: Complete Exam Procedure & Qualifying Criteria
Understanding the CTET Selection Process 2026 is essential for success in your teaching exam preparation. Below, we provide a detailed breakdown of the exam procedure and the written test structure.
CTET Selection Process 2026
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a mandatory qualifying examination that assesses a candidate’s competency for government teaching positions across India. To successfully qualify, general category candidates must secure at least 60% marks, while candidates from reserved categories must obtain a minimum of 55%.
Passing the CTET does not guarantee an immediate job offer; rather, it makes you eligible to apply for teaching vacancies in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and other central or state government schools. The CTET 2026 selection process involves meeting specific eligibility standards, excelling in the written examination, and adhering to the recruitment guidelines set by the respective authorities. This professional roadmap is your first step toward a secure teaching career.
CTET 2026 Exam Structure
The CTET examination consists of two distinct levels: Paper 1 and Paper 2.
- Paper 1 is meant to recruit the teachers for classes from 1st to 5th.
- Paper 2 is meant to recruit the teachers for classes 6th to 8th.
- All questions asked in the CTET exam are Multiple Choice Questions(MCQ) with four alternatives out of which one answer is most appropriate.
- Each question carries 1 mark.
- There is no negative marking in CTET Exam.
- There is a total of 150 questions.
- These 150 questions are divided into 5 sections. (Child pedagogy, Language 1, Language 2, Pedagogy 1, Pedagogy 2)
- Each section consists of 30 questions.
- All the sections are mandatory.
- The time allotted to attempt 150 questions is 2hr 30 minutes.
Note: Aspiring teachers who intend to teach across both levels (Classes 1st to 5th and Classes 6th to 8th) are required to appear for and qualify in both Paper 1 and Paper 2.
CTET 2026 Passing Marks
The minimum qualifying criteria for CTET 2026 are category-dependent. General category candidates must achieve at least 60% (90 out of 150 marks) to pass. Candidates belonging to OBC, SC, and ST categories benefit from relaxed criteria, requiring a minimum of 55% (82 out of 150 marks).
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Percentage | Passing Marks |
| General | 60% | 90 Out Of 150 |
| OBC/SC/ST | 55% | 82 Out Of 150 |
CTET 2026 Certificate Validity
- The validity of the CTET qualifying certificate has been extended from seven years to a lifetime for all categories.
- There is no restriction on the number of attempts a person can make to acquire a CTET certificate.
- The already qualified candidates may appear again to improve their scores.
Language of the CTET Question Paper
To ensure accessibility, the CTET question paper is provided in a bilingual format (English and Hindi). Every question is presented in both languages. To help you prepare, we have compiled a comprehensive list of CTET Previous Year Question Papers.
| English | Hindi | Sanskrit | Punjabi | Urdu |
| Bangla | Manipuri | Tamil | Marathi | Mizo |
| Nepali | Oriya | Khasi | Malayalam | Telugu |
| Tibetan | Garo | Assamese | Gujarati | Kanada |
CTET Selection Process: FAQs
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is the designated body responsible for conducting the CTET examination and managing the selection process.
The CTET selection process includes several key steps: verifying eligibility criteria, completing the online application form, downloading the admit card, appearing for the examination, reviewing your results, and securing your mark sheet and eligibility certificate.
To successfully qualify for the CTET, candidates must achieve a minimum score of 60% or higher.
Candidates must meet specific educational requirements, typically involving completion of Class 12 or graduation, combined with a recognized professional teaching diploma or degree.
Once issued, the CTET eligibility certificate remains valid for a lifetime, providing long-term career benefits.
After qualifying for the CTET, candidates can conveniently download their marksheet and official eligibility certificate through the DigiLocker app, making them fully eligible to apply for diverse government teaching recruitment drives.