CTET 2026 Application Window Extended to September 1; Revised Exam Date Awaited
The Central Board of Secondary Education has reopened online applications for the 22nd Central Teacher Eligibility Test, giving eligible candidates until September 1, 2026 to submit forms they could not complete during the original registration period.
The new window opened on August 25. Candidates who already completed and submitted an application during the earlier May 11 to June 10 window should not apply again. CBSE said the additional opportunity follows a Supreme Court judgment emphasising that eligible teachers should receive a reasonable chance to meet the statutory requirement of acquiring the prescribed Teacher Eligibility Test qualification.
CTET examination date will be revised
The most important change is that candidates should no longer treat September 6 as the confirmed examination date. That date appeared in the original information bulletin, but CBSE’s August 25 notice states that the revised date for the 22nd CTET will be announced after the reopened application portal closes.
Candidates should therefore monitor only the official CTET and CBSE websites for the revised schedule, city information and admit card announcement. Social-media posts or coaching notices that continue to present the earlier date without qualification may be outdated.
How to submit the CTET form
Applicants must use the online portal linked from ctet.nic.in. A new applicant should register, record the generated application number, complete personal and educational details, upload a recent photograph and signature in the prescribed format, pay the examination fee and download the confirmation page. The confirmation page should be retained but does not need to be mailed to the CTET unit.
The original bulletin set the fee at ₹1,000 for General and OBC-NCL candidates taking either Paper I or Paper II, and ₹1,200 for both papers. For SC, ST and differently abled candidates, the corresponding amounts were ₹500 and ₹600, with applicable bank charges or GST. The amount displayed by the active official payment portal should be treated as controlling.
Which paper should a candidate choose?
Paper I is intended for people seeking eligibility to teach Classes I to V. Paper II is for Classes VI to VIII. Candidates seeking eligibility across Classes I to VIII may take both papers, provided they meet the applicable academic and teacher-education requirements. Submitting a form does not by itself establish eligibility, and applicants remain responsible for checking the National Council for Teacher Education rules relevant to their qualifications.
The test is an eligibility examination rather than a direct appointment. Passing CTET does not guarantee recruitment, because the final appointing authority applies its own vacancies, reservation rules and other conditions.
Avoid duplicate forms and unofficial portals
Existing applicants should use their earlier credentials rather than creating duplicate submissions. New candidates should verify names and dates of birth against their Class X certificate, keep payment proof, and save a copy of the final confirmation page. They should not share passwords, one-time codes or payment details with unofficial agents.
Because the examination schedule is being revised, the next high-value update will be CBSE’s announcement of the new date. Candidates should continue preparing for both papers while waiting for that notice rather than relying on an unconfirmed timetable.
