The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2025 is an important national-level exam conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to determine the eligibility of candidates aspiring to become teachers for Classes 1 to 8 in government and private schools across India. The 21st edition of the CTET exam is expected to take place in December 2025, with the official notification and application forms likely to be released in August 2025 on the official CTET website ctet.nic.in. The exam will be conducted in offline mode (pen-and-paper-based) and will offer two papers: Paper 1 for those aspiring to teach Classes 1 to 5, and Paper 2 for aspirants targeting Classes 6 to 8 teaching positions.
CTET 2025 will feature 150 multiple-choice questions in each paper, with a total of 150 marks. Candidates will have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete the exam. The marking scheme awards one mark for each correct answer, with no negative marking for wrong answers. The question papers will be bilingual, available in both English and Hindi. The exam subjects include Child Development and Pedagogy, Language-I, Language-II, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies for Paper 1. Paper 2 includes Child Development and Pedagogy, Language-I, Language-II, Mathematics & Science or Social Studies/Social Science, depending on the candidate’s teaching specialization.
Eligibility criteria vary for the two papers; for Paper 1, candidates must have passed a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education or its equivalent with at least 50% marks. The application fee is INR 1000 for General/OBC candidates and INR 500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. The CTET certificate awarded to successful candidates is valid for seven years and is a mandatory qualification for teaching jobs in central government schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, as well as many state government schools. The notification release will also detail the application process, last date for submission, and exam centers. This exam is highly competitive and serves as the gateway for securing a respected teaching career in India’s educational system.
| CTET Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
- The minimum age required to apply for the CTET exam is 18 years.
- There is no upper age limit for candidates applying for the CTET exam. Candidates of any age can appear for the exam.
- There is also no limit on the number of attempts a candidate can take in the CTET exam.
Important Dates
- Notification Release Date: August 2025 (expected)
- Application Form Start Date: August 2025
- Last Date to Apply Application: September 2025
- Admit Card date: 2 days before the exam
- Exam Date: December 2025 (to be notified)
- Exam Paper Timings: Paper 1 – 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM; Paper 2 – 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
- Exam Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes per paper
Eligibility Criteria and Educational Qualifications
| Paper | Educational Qualification (Must meet one of the following:) |
|---|---|
| Paper 1 (Classes 1-5) | – Senior Secondary with ≥50% marks + cleared/appearing in Diploma in Elementary Education (2 years) OR – Senior Secondary with ≥45% marks + cleared/appearing in Diploma in Elementary Education (2 years) OR – Senior Secondary with ≥50% marks + cleared/appearing in Bachelor of Elementary Education (4 years) OR – Bachelor’s degree with B.Ed. |
| Paper 2 (Classes 6-8) | – Graduation + cleared/appearing in Diploma in Elementary Education (2 years) OR – Graduation with ≥50% marks + cleared/appearing in B.Ed. OR – Graduation with ≥40% marks + cleared/appearing in B.Ed. (as per NCTE) OR – Senior Secondary with ≥50% marks + cleared/appearing in Bachelor of Elementary Education (4 years) OR – Graduation with ≥50% marks + cleared/appearing in B.Ed. (1 year) |
How To Apply CTET 2025 Online Form
- Visit the official website of CTET:
- Click on the “Apply for CTET” link on the homepage.
- For new candidates, click on “New Registration” and fill in personal details like name, parent’s names, date of birth, gender, category, and identification details (Aadhaar or PAN).
- Choose preferred exam center(s), medium of instruction, and the paper(s) to appear in (Paper 1 for Classes 1-5 or Paper 2 for Classes 6-8 or both).
- Fill in educational qualifications and other required details such as employment status and contact information.
- Upload scanned documents including a recent photograph and signature in the prescribed format and size.
- Proceed to pay the application fee online via Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or e-Challan. The fee varies by category and number of papers applied for: General/OBC – Rs. 1000 for one paper, Rs. 1200 for both; SC/ST/PwD – Rs. 500 for one paper, Rs. 600 for both.
- Submit the application form and download or print the confirmation page for future reference.
- Candidates can use the correction window (if provided) after submission to make any required changes.
Exam Pattern
| Feature | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Offline (Pen-and-paper) | Offline (Pen-and-paper) |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 150 | 150 |
| Total Marks | 150 | 150 |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for correct, 0 for incorrect | +1 for correct, 0 for incorrect |
| Language | English and Hindi | English and Hindi |
| Sections | 5 subjects | 4 subjects (choose between Math & Science or Social Studies) |
Subjects Covered
- Paper 1: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics, Environmental Studies
- Paper 2: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics & Science OR Social Studies/Social Science
Syllabus Overview
- Child Development and Pedagogy: Theories of child development, inclusive education, learning and pedagogy strategies.
- Language I & Language II: Language comprehension, communication skills, language acquisition, and teaching methodologies.
- Mathematics: For Paper 1 – basic arithmetic, shapes, and measurements; for Paper 2 – higher arithmetic and relevant teaching concepts.
- Environmental Studies (Paper 1): Basic concepts from family, food, shelter, water, travel, things we make and do.
- Science & Social Studies (Paper 2): Depending on specialization, topics from natural and social sciences aligned to NCERT curriculum for classes 6 to 8.
This structure aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aiming to produce competent, well-trained educators for Indian schools.
| CTET Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
