CTET Exam Date 2026 OUT: CBSE Confirms 12 & 13 December for the 22nd Edition
Official CBSE public notice, F. No. CBSE/CTET/2026, dated 14 September 2026. (Upload the notice image to your media library and update the src above.)
Quick Answer: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has confirmed, via a public notice dated 14 September 2026, that the 22nd Edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) will be held on 12 and 13 December 2026. Candidates will be able to check their allotted exam city and date on the official CTET portal around 15 days before the exam, and the admit card will be available for download 2 days before the exam.
If you've been refreshing the CTET portal every day this week wondering "kab hoga CTET 2026 exam," CBSE finally put the confusion to rest. The board's Director (CTET) signed off on a fresh public notice on Monday, 14 September 2026, locking in a two-day exam window in December. Here's everything the notice actually says, what changed from the earlier timeline, and what you should do right now to stay ahead.
What Exactly Did CBSE Announce?
The notice, filed under F. No. CBSE/CTET/2026, states that the 22nd edition of CTET — the exam that decides teaching eligibility for Central Government schools such as KVS and NVS, and is also widely accepted by several states — will now be conducted over two days: 12th and 13th December 2026.
| Exam Name | Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) — 22nd Edition |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Notice Reference | F. No. CBSE/CTET/2026, dated 14 September 2026 |
| Revised Exam Dates | 12 & 13 December 2026 |
| Exam City & Date Slip | Available on CTET portal ~15 days before the exam |
| Admit Card Release | Available for download ~2 days before the exam |
| Paper-wise Schedule | Not yet specified — awaited from CBSE |
| Total Marks / Papers | Paper 1 & Paper 2, 150 marks each, no negative marking |
Why Was the CTET 2026 Exam Postponed?
This December date is actually a revision. The exam for this cycle was originally expected earlier in the year, and candidates had also been tracking a possible window around early October based on unofficial signals. According to reports tracking the notice, the earlier schedule for this cycle was deferred amid developments connected to Supreme Court directions concerning TET qualification requirements — a legal and procedural matter that CBSE needed to account for before finalising a fresh date. We had flagged this uncertainty in our earlier update (linked below); the December 12–13 notice now supersedes that expected timeline with an official, confirmed date.
How Will You Know Your Exam City and Date?
CBSE has been clear on the process: your individual exam city and the specific date assigned to you (12th or 13th December) will be published on the CTET portal about 15 days before the exam. You'll need to log in with your application credentials to view this. Don't plan travel or leave bookings based on guesswork or unofficial forwarded messages — always confirm through the official portal first.
When Will the Admit Card Be Released?
The same notice confirms the admit card, which will carry your final examination centre details, will be released for download two days before the exam. Since CBSE has occasionally moved this timeline by a day or two in past cycles, keep checking the portal in the first week of December rather than waiting for the exact date.
Only ~3 Months Left for CTET 2026 — Are Your Papers Actually Exam-Ready?
Practice with 30 full-length CTET Paper 1 & Paper 2 mock tests built on the latest pattern, with detailed performance analysis after every attempt.
Start CTET 2026 Mock Tests →Has the Paper 1 / Paper 2 Schedule Been Released?
Not yet. The 14 September notice confirms only the overall exam window (12–13 December). CBSE is yet to specify which paper will be held on which date, or the shift timings for each. Candidates appearing for Paper 1 (Classes 1–5) and Paper 2 (Classes 6–8) should wait for this detail rather than assuming a pattern from previous cycles, since CBSE has changed shift structures before.
What Should You Do in the Next 90 Days?
- Lock your daily study hours now — with ~13 weeks to go, a fixed schedule beats last-minute cramming, especially for the Child Development & Pedagogy and Mathematics-Science Pedagogy sections that trip up most first-time candidates.
- Attempt full-length mocks under exam conditions so that speed and accuracy improve together, not just topic knowledge.
- Revise using previous-year question patterns — CTET repeats concept-testing styles far more than it repeats exact questions.
- Track official updates only from ctet.nic.in — this page will be updated the moment CBSE releases the paper-wise schedule or admit card date.
CTET 2026 Online Test Series — Paper 1 & Paper 2
30 full-length mock tests, exam-oriented questions, and detailed performance analysis to help you find and fix weak areas before December.
View Test Series — ₹250Related CTET Study Resources
Since the exam pattern and paper-wise dates are still to be confirmed, use this window to strengthen the sections that carry the most weight. These guides from our CTET desk are a good place to start:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the CTET 2026 exam dates?
As per CBSE's official public notice dated 14 September 2026 (F. No. CBSE/CTET/2026), the 22nd edition of CTET will be conducted on 12 and 13 December 2026.
Why was the CTET 2026 exam date changed?
The earlier expected schedule for this cycle was deferred amid developments related to Supreme Court directions on TET qualification requirements. CBSE has now finalised and confirmed the December 12–13 window through its official notice.
When will I know my CTET exam city and date?
CBSE will publish the examination city and the specific date allotted to each candidate on the official CTET portal approximately 15 days before the exam.
When will the CTET 2026 admit card be released?
The admit card, containing final examination centre details, will be available for download from the CTET portal about 2 days before the examination.
Has CBSE released the Paper 1 and Paper 2 wise schedule?
No. The 14 September 2026 notice confirms only the overall two-day exam window. The paper-wise schedule and shift timings are yet to be announced by CBSE.
Is there negative marking in CTET?
No, CTET does not have negative marking for incorrect answers, and there is no fixed limit on the number of attempts a candidate can make.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on CBSE's public notice dated 14 September 2026 and subsequent media reporting. Exam dates, city allotment and admit-card timelines are subject to change at CBSE's discretion. Always cross-verify critical details on the official CTET portal before making travel or exam-day plans.
Official & further reading: CTET Official Portal (ctet.nic.in) · CBSE Official Website · National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
