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CTET 2026 which determines eligibility for teaching positions in central government schools, saw 23.3 lakh candidates appear nationwide of which 17.3 lakh failed.
CTET/TET is now compulsory not only for fresh appointments but also for promotions. (AI Generated Image)
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the results of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) February 2026 session. The exam, which determines eligibility for teaching positions in central government schools, saw 23.3 lakh candidates appear nationwide. Of these, only 5.9 lakh candidates qualified, resulting in an overall pass percentage of 25.7%.
The examination was held in 140 cities on February 7 and 8. Of the 23.2 lakh candidates, 17.3 lakh did not qualify, highlighting the intense competition and strict qualifying standards. Paper 1 yielded comparatively better results, with 3.6 lakh candidates qualifying out of 10.7 lakh who appeared, resulting in a pass rate of 33.7%. In contrast, Paper 2 had only 3.5 lakh qualifiers out of 18.7 lakh candidates, with the pass percentage falling to 18.6%.
Supreme Court Verdict
As per official data, over 25.30 lakh candidates registered for this session, which is nearly 9 lakh more than the previous exam held in December 2024. This surge in applicants not only compelled the board to revise the CTET exam schedule but also triggered fresh debate in the education sector. This year, both new candidates and experienced teachers are appearing for the CTET.
The primary reason for the sharp rise in applications is a landmark Supreme Court decision, which has effectively made the Teacher Eligibility Test mandatory for all. Following the court’s ruling, lakhs of teachers in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra who were teaching without TET now have no option but to clear the CTET to retain their jobs. These developments have turned CTET into one of the most competitive exams in the country this year.
A Supreme Court judgement delivered in September 2025 ruled that every teacher teaching Classes 1 to 8 under the Right to Education Act (RTE) must hold a TET qualification. It also denied any exemption to teachers appointed before 2010, when the RTE was implemented. Serving teachers have been given two years to obtain the required qualification, failing which they may face compulsory retirement or lose their positions.
CTET Mandatory For Promotion
CTET/TET is now mandatory not only for new appointments but also for promotions. Many states have made NET or the State TET compulsory for promoting primary teachers (PRTs) to Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) posts. As per the Supreme Court directive, teachers with more than 5 years of service remaining must clear this exam to qualify for promotion. As a result, thousands of teachers seeking promotion have applied for CTET this time.
CBSE has announced that eligibility certificates for successful candidates will be provided through DigiLocker for convenient access.
April 01, 2026, 10:14 IST
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