In a move offering respite to teaching aspirants, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the reopening of the application window for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) February 2026. This decision comes after the board noted that a significant number of candidates had initiated the registration process but were unable to complete it during the initial application period.

The online registration portal will be accessible from 11:00 AM on December 27, 2025, and will remain open until 11:59 PM on December 30, 2025. This provides a one-time opportunity for those who started their applications but couldn't finalize them earlier.

According to CBSE, a total of 25,30,581 candidates successfully applied during the initial application window, which ran from November 27 to December 18, 2025. However, the board identified 1,61,127 registrations that remained incomplete. Observing the large number of incomplete applications and considering that the current CTET edition is being held after a gap of approximately one year, CBSE has adopted a sympathetic approach by granting this extension.

The CTET exam is scheduled to take place on February 8, 2026, and will be conducted offline, in pen-and-paper mode. The exam will be held in two shifts, with Paper I (for classes I-V) in the morning and Paper II (for classes VI-VIII) in the afternoon. Both papers will consist of 150 multiple-choice questions, each carrying one mark, and there will be no negative marking. Paper I is for candidates who wish to teach classes I-V, while Paper II is for those who aspire to teach classes VI-VIII. Candidates can opt to appear for either one or both papers, depending on their qualifications and teaching preferences.

CBSE has advised candidates using this extended window to carefully verify all details and make any necessary corrections before final submission. No further opportunity for corrections will be provided after this period. It's important to note that this reopening is exclusively for completing unfinished applications; no new registrations will be permitted during this time.

The CTET is a mandatory qualification for individuals seeking teaching positions in schools covered under the Right to Education Act, 2009. A candidate needs to score a minimum of 60% to qualify for the CTET exam. The CTET certificate is now valid for lifetime.

Candidates can access the application form and other relevant details on the official CTET website, ctet.nic.in. The admit cards will be available for download two days prior to the examination. Candidates are required to carry the admit card along with a valid photo ID to the exam center.