CTET Syllabus 2026: Subject-wise Detailed Syllabus for Paper 1 and Paper 2 (PDF)
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the CTET Syllabus 2026 on 27 November 2025 for both Paper 1 (Classes 1–5) and Paper 2 (Classes 6–8). Candidates planning to appear in the upcoming CTET 2026 exam should carefully go through the updated syllabus, exam pattern, and subject-wise topics to build a focused and effective preparation strategy.
The syllabus covers all key subjects such as Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP), Languages, Mathematics, Environmental Studies (EVS), Science, and Social Studies/Social Science. Along with the topic list, CBSE has also specified the pattern, number of questions, marking scheme and structure for both papers.
CTET Syllabus 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Exam Name | Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 |
| Exam Level | National |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total Marks (each paper) | 150 Marks |
| Exam Papers | Paper 1 (Classes 1–5) and Paper 2 (Classes 6–8) |
| Official Website | ctet.nic.in |
| CTET Syllabus PDF | Available with official notification |
CTET Syllabus 2026 PDF Download
The official and updated CTET 2026 Syllabus PDF for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 has been released along with the notification. Candidates appearing in the February 2026 CTET session can download the syllabus PDF and keep it as a reference document while preparing.
- Covers complete subject-wise and topic-wise syllabus.
- Includes exam pattern, marks distribution and number of questions.
- Useful for planning daily/weekly study schedules and mock tests.
Note: Candidates should always download the syllabus from the official CTET website only.
CTET Syllabus 2026 Subject-wise (Paper 1 & Paper 2)
The CTET exam consists of two papers:
- Paper 1: For candidates who wish to teach Classes 1 to 5 (Primary Stage).
- Paper 2: For candidates who wish to teach Classes 6 to 8 (Upper Primary Stage).
Paper 1 includes Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics and Environmental Studies. Paper 2 includes Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II and either Mathematics & Science or Social Studies/Social Science (as per candidate’s choice).
CTET Paper 1 Syllabus 2026 (Classes 1 to 5)
Paper 1 is meant for Primary Level teachers (Classes 1–5). It checks the candidate’s understanding of child psychology, basic content knowledge and teaching methodology suitable for younger learners.
CTET Paper 1 – Section-wise Syllabus
| Section | Key Areas / Topics | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy |
|
30 |
| Language I |
|
30 |
| Language II |
|
30 |
| Mathematics |
|
30 |
| Environmental Studies (EVS) |
|
30 |
CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026 (Classes 6 to 8)
Paper 2 is meant for Upper Primary Level teachers (Classes 6–8). The syllabus is broader and is largely based on the NCERT syllabus of Classes 6–8, with some questions of a slightly higher level.
CTET Paper 2 – Section-wise Syllabus
| Section | Key Areas / Topics | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy |
|
30 |
| Language I |
|
30 |
| Language II |
|
30 |
| Mathematics |
|
30 (within 60 marks section when combined with Science OR Social Studies) |
| Science |
|
30 (part of 60 marks section with Mathematics) |
| Social Studies / Social Science |
|
60 (if chosen) |
CTET Languages (Paper 1 & Paper 2)
Candidates must choose two languages – one as Language I and one as Language II. A few of the available language options are given below:
| Language | Language |
|---|---|
| Hindi | English |
| Sanskrit | Punjabi |
| Urdu | Bengali |
| Tamil | Telugu |
| Marathi | Gujarati |
| Malayalam | Kannada |
| Odia | Assamese |
| Nepali | Manipuri |
| Mizo | Khasi |
| Garo | Tibetan |
CTET Exam Pattern 2026
CBSE has kept the basic CTET exam pattern same – two papers of 150 marks each with only multiple-choice questions. There is no negative marking.
CTET Paper 1 Exam Pattern (Classes 1–5)
| Subject | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II (compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
CTET Paper 2 Exam Pattern (Classes 6–8)
| Subject | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy (compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II (compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science (for Maths/Science teacher) OR Social Studies/Social Science (for SST teacher) OR a suitable combination for other subjects | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Preparation Tips to Cover CTET 2026 Syllabus
- Child Development and Pedagogy: Revise child psychology, major theories, inclusive education and classroom practices. Many conceptual questions come from this section.
- Languages: Work on reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and pedagogy. Daily reading practice and answer-writing will help.
- Mathematics: Strengthen basics and practice NCERT-based questions regularly. Focus on speed and accuracy together.
- EVS / Science / Social Studies: Cover NCERT topics thoroughly and connect concepts with real-life examples to remember better.
- Make Notes: Prepare short topic-wise notes for quick revision, especially for CDP and pedagogy portions.
- Previous Year Papers: Solve past CTET papers and sample papers to understand question patterns and important areas.
- Online Classes & Mock Tests: Join structured courses or test series, attempt full-length mocks and analyse your performance.
CTET Syllabus 2026 – FAQs (Short)
- Q. Is the CTET 2026 syllabus officially released?
Ans. Yes, CBSE has released the updated CTET syllabus along with the notification. - Q. What subjects are in CTET Paper 1?
Ans. CDP, Language I, Language II, Mathematics and Environmental Studies. - Q. What subjects are in CTET Paper 2?
Ans. CDP, Language I, Language II and either Mathematics & Science or Social Studies/Social Science. - Q. How many papers are there in CTET 2026?
Ans. There are two papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates can appear in either one or both.