1. CTET Eligibility 2025

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is expected to conduct the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2025 in the coming months. Once the official notification and application form are released, interested candidates will need to register for CTET 2025 in order to appear for the exam.

However, only those who meet the CTET eligibility criteria 2025 will be allowed to apply. To be eligible, candidates must satisfy specific educational qualifications for either Paper 1 or Paper 2, depending on which level they intend to teach.

For example:

• To apply for CTET Paper 1 (for teaching Classes 1 to 5), candidates must have passed Class 12 with at least 50% marks, and also have completed or be pursuing a D.El.Ed, B.El.Ed, or B.Ed course.

• For CTET Paper 2 (for teaching Classes 6 to 8), a bachelor’s degree along with D.El.Ed, B.El.Ed, or B.Ed is required.

Before filling out the CTET 2025 application form, candidates are strongly advised to carefully review the complete eligibility details. These have been defined in line with the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) guidelines set by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

In this guide, we’ve summarised all the essential CTET 2025 eligibility conditions, including age limits, qualification requirements, reservation policies, and more, just as specified in the official CBSE notification.

The 21st edition of CTET will be conducted soon. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Paper 1 is for those planning to teach Classes 1 to 5

• Paper 2 is for those aiming to teach Classes 6 to 8

• If you wish to teach Classes 1 to 8, you’ll need to appear for both papers

It’s important to note that the eligibility criteria for Paper 1 and Paper 2 differ, and the official CTET notification explains these distinctions in full detail. In general, candidates must have passed their 12th-grade exam or hold a graduate degree, typically with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks, along with a relevant teacher training qualification.

1.1 Eligibility of NCTE CTET 2025: Minimum Qualifications to Appear for Exam

To be eligible for the CTET 2025 exam, candidates must meet the minimum qualification standards required for teaching positions. These qualifications are based on guidelines set by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

 1.1.1 NCTE Guidelines for CTET Eligibility

The NCTE regulations—formally titled “Determination of Minimum Qualifications for Persons to be Recruited as Education Teachers and Physical Education Teachers in Pre-Primary, Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary, Senior Secondary or Intermediate Schools or Colleges”—outline the academic requirements for teachers across all school levels.

Additionally, the educational qualifications specified in the recruitment rules of central institutions such as Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) are also applicable to CTET aspirants. These serve as benchmarks for eligibility.

1.1.2 Important Note for Applicants

Before applying, candidates must ensure that they fully meet the eligibility criteria. It’s the candidate’s responsibility to confirm their own eligibility. If someone applies and later turns out to be ineligible, they will be held accountable, even if they were allowed to appear for the exam.

It’s important to understand that appearing for the CTET does not guarantee that your eligibility has been verified. The final verification will be done later by the recruiting body or school during the hiring process.

1.2 CTET Eligibility Criteria PDF 2025

The latest CTET Eligibility Criteria PDF for 2025, which includes all the eligibility details for Paper 1 and Paper 2, is available in the official information bulletin. This document outlines the NCTE-prescribed qualifications required to appear for the CTET 2025 exam.

A notable update was introduced by the CBSE in the CTET December 2021 session, where an additional eligibility criterion was added. Here's a look at the newly included qualification:

Post-graduation with at least 55% marks (or an equivalent grade) along with a three-year integrated B.Ed–M.Ed course

According to this updated rule, candidates who have completed their post-graduation with a minimum of 55% marks and have also pursued a three-year integrated B.Ed–M.Ed program from an institution recognised by the NCTE is now eligible to apply for the CTET 2025 exam. These candidates are considered qualified to be appointed as teachers for Classes 1 to 5.

However, there's an important condition: if selected, such candidates will be required to complete a six-month Bridge Course in Elementary Education within two years of joining their teaching position.

1.3 Eligibility of CTET 2025: Nationality

Take a look at the CTET 2025 eligibility criteria related to nationality:

• To apply for the exam, candidates must hold Indian citizenship.

1.4 Age Limit Of CTET 2025 

• To be eligible for CTET 2025, candidates must be at least 18 years old.

• There is no upper age limit, so individuals of any age (18 and above) can apply for the exam.

2. CTET Educational Qualification 2025 for Paper 1 (Primary Teachers)

To be eligible for the role of a primary teacher (Classes 1 to 5), candidates must meet at least one of the following educational qualifications:

• Completed Senior Secondary (Class 12) with at least 50% marks and either passed or currently in the final year of a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed), regardless of the course’s exact name.

• Cleared Class 12 with a minimum of 45% marks and either passed or currently in the final year of a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education, in line with the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations, 2002.

• Secured 50% marks in Class 12 and passed or pursuing the final year of a four-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).

• Passed Class 12 with at least 50% marks and completed or currently in the final year of a two-year Diploma in Special Education.

• Graduated in any discipline with 50% marks or more, along with a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree.

Important Note: If a candidate qualifies through a B.Ed. degree from an NCTE-recognised institution, they will be required to complete a six-month Bridge Course in Elementary Education, approved by the NCTE, within two years of their appointment as a primary teacher.

3. CTET Educational Qualification 2025 for Paper 2 (Elementary Teachers)

To be eligible for appointment as an elementary teacher (Classes 6 to 8), candidates must fulfil any one of the following educational qualifications:

• Hold a graduate degree and have either completed or be in the final year of a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).

• Hold a graduation degree with at least 50% marks and have completed or are pursuing a one-year B.Ed. program.

• Hold a graduation degree with a minimum of 45% marks and have passed or be appearing in a one-year B.Ed. program, as per NCTE norms and regulations.

• Completed Class 12 (Senior Secondary) with at least 50% marks, and passed or currently enrolled in the final year of a four-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).

• Cleared Class 12 with 50% or more and passed or appearing in the final year of a four-year integrated B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed or B.A/B.Sc.Ed program.

• Hold a graduate degree with a minimum of 50% marks and have passed or are pursuing a one-year B.Ed. in Special Education.

Note: Candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC, or PwD categories are eligible for a relaxation of 5% in the minimum qualifying marks required for the CTET exam.

3.1 Eligibility for CTET  2025: Qualifying Marks

Candidates who achieve the minimum required marks are considered to have passed the CTET exam. Candidates in the General category must secure at least 60% marks to qualify. There is a 5% relaxation in the qualifying marks for reserved categories, including Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backwards Classes (OBC), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD). For candidates in these reserved categories, the minimum qualifying percentage is 55%.

4. CTET Previous Years’ Cut Off

Looking at the CTET cut-off marks from previous years can really help candidates understand how tough the exam is. It also helps them set realistic goals for their preparation. By analysing these trends over time, aspirants can get a clear idea of how various factors have influenced the qualifying marks across different categories.

4.1 CTET Cut Off 2021

The cut-off for CTET for the year 2021 has been stated below.

4.2 CTET Cut Off 2020

The cut-off for CTET for the year 2020 has been stated below.

4.3.CTET Cut Off 2019

The cut-off for CTET for the year 2019 has been stated below.

4.4.CTET Cut Off 2018

The cut-off for CTET for the year 2028 has been stated below.

4.5.CTET Cut Off 2017

The cut-off for CTET for the year 2027 has been stated below.

4.6 Factors Affecting CTET Cut Off

The CTET cut-off marks set the minimum score a candidate needs to qualify for teaching positions in central government schools. Several factors impact the cut-off each year, shaping how competitive the exam is and what score is needed to pass. Here are the key factors:

• The total number of candidates who take the exam

• The difficulty level of the question paper

• The number of vacancies available for teachers

• How well candidates perform in that particular year

• Cut-off trends from previous years

• Reservation policies and how seats are distributed among different categories

• Any changes in the exam pattern or syllabus

• The use of a normalisation process, if applicable

5. Conclusion

Understanding the CTET eligibility criteria, including age limits, educational qualifications, and NCTE norms, is crucial for candidates planning to appear in the 2025 exam. Meeting these requirements ensures that only qualified individuals are considered for teaching roles in central government schools. Additionally, being aware of the previous years’ cut-offs and the factors that influence them can help aspirants set realistic goals and prepare effectively. Staying updated with official notifications and guidelines will further assist candidates in navigating the application process smoothly and increasing their chances of success in this important teaching eligibility test.