The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the CBSE CTET Answer Key 2026 for the February session today, March 12, 2026. This is a very important update for lakhs of teaching aspirants who appeared for the exam on February 7 and 8, 2026. Along with the answer key, the board has also made the CTET OMR Sheet 2026 available for download. Candidates can now log in to the official portal to check their responses and estimate their scores.
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a national-level examination held to determine the eligibility of candidates for teaching positions in classes 1 to 8. The release of the provisional answer key is a significant step before the final results are announced, as it brings transparency to the evaluation process.
Overview of CTET February 2026 Exam
The 21st edition of CTET was conducted in an offline mode (pen and paper) across various centers in India. While most candidates finished their exams in early February, a re-examination was also held on March 1, 2026, at specific centers in Vaishali, Bihar, due to technical issues. Now that the exam cycle is complete, the board has published the primary and secondary level keys.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Exam Dates | February 7 & 8, 2026 (and March 1 for some centers) |
| Answer Key Status | Released on March 12, 2026 |
| Objection Window | March 12 to March 15, 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Official Website | ctet.nic.in |
How to Download CBSE CTET Answer Key 2026
Candidates can access the answer key by visiting the official website. The process is simple and requires your basic login credentials.
- Visit the official CTET website at ctet.nic.in.
- On the homepage, click on the link that says “View/Challenge Answer Key – CTET Feb 2026.”
- A new login page will open. Enter your Application Number and Date of Birth (or Password).
- Once logged in, you will see options to download the CTET Paper 1 Answer Key and CTET Paper 2 Answer Key.
- You can also download your scanned OMR Sheet to see the exact answers you marked during the exam.
- Save the PDF files for your records.
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Raising Objections Against the Provisional Answer Key
If you find any mistake in the answers provided by the CBSE, you have the right to challenge them. The board has opened the answer key challenge facility for a short duration.
- Timeline: The window to raise objections is open from March 12 to March 15, 2026.
- Objection Fee: Candidates must pay a non-refundable fee of Rs. 1,000 per question challenged.
- Procedure: You must provide valid proof or reference from standard textbooks to support your claim.
- Refund Policy: If the subject experts accept your challenge and the answer key is revised, the fee for that specific question will be refunded to your account.
How to Calculate Your Estimated Score
Calculating your score with the CTET response sheet is quite easy because the marking scheme is straightforward. There is no negative marking in this exam, which is a big relief for students.
Formula:
$$Total Score = Number of Correct Answers \times 1$$
To get an accurate estimate:
- Open your scanned OMR Sheet alongside the official answer key.
- Check each question and count how many of your answers match the official key.
- Since each question carries 1 mark, the total count of correct answers is your final estimated score.
CTET Qualifying Marks 2026
To pass the exam, candidates need to meet the CTET qualifying marks set by the CBSE. The passing criteria depend on the category of the candidate.
| Category | Qualifying Percentage | Passing Marks (Out of 150) |
| General (UR) | 60% | 90 |
| OBC/SC/ST/PwD | 55% | 82 |
Candidates who secure these marks will be awarded the CTET Eligibility Certificate, which now has lifetime validity. This means once you qualify, you do not need to appear for the exam again unless you want to improve your score.
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Is the current answer key final?
No, the current release is the provisional answer key. After the objection window closes on March 15, CBSE experts will review all challenges. If any changes are needed, a final answer key will be prepared, and the CTET Result 2026 will be based on that final version.
Conclusion
After the challenge process ends, the board will take about a week or two to process the results. Most experts suggest that the CTET 2026 result date will likely fall in the last week of March 2026. The scorecards and certificates will be uploaded directly to the DigiLocker accounts of the qualified candidates. No physical copies will be sent by post.
Checking the CBSE CTET Answer Key 2026 early helps you plan your next steps, such as preparing for upcoming teacher recruitment exams in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS) or Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS).
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