The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to release the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 provisional answer key for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 today, 24 February 2026, on the official website – ctet.nic.in. This release will be part of the post-exam process for the CTET February session, allowing candidates to verify their responses and estimate scores.
Where and How to Download CTET Answer Key 2026?
Once the answer key is published, candidates can download it by following these steps:
- Visit the official CTET portal: ctet.nic.in.
- Click on the link for CTET 2026 Answer Key / OMR Response Sheet.
- Enter your application number and date of birth.
- Download the PDF of provisional answer keys for both Paper 1 & Paper 2.
- Save a copy for score estimation and future reference.
Along with the answer key, the OMR response sheet will also be provided so candidates can compare their scanned answers with the official responses.
CTET Objection Window and Challenge Process
After the provisional answer key is released, CBSE will open a short objection window for candidates to challenge any discrepancies they find in the key. For each question challenged, a specified objection fee (typically ₹1,000 per question) must be paid. After reviewing all objections, CBSE will issue the final answer key, which will be used to calculate scores and prepare results.
CTET Qualifying Criteria & Next Steps
Candidates appearing in the CTET 2026 must secure the prescribed qualifying marks to be eligible for certification. Historically, aspirants are required to achieve a minimum qualifying criterion- such as 60 per cent (equivalent to 90 marks out of 150) — to be considered CTET-qualified, though exact criteria for 2026 will be confirmed with the official key and result notifications. Once the final answer key is finalised and results are prepared, CBSE will announce the CTET 2026 results on its official portal. Qualified candidates will receive eligibility certificates digitally, which can be stored via DigiLocker. Students and candidates are advised to monitor ctet.nic.in regularly for the latest updates, official answer key links and detailed instructions on downloading and raising challenges.