CTET 2026 Sees Massive 9 Lakh Applicant Surge: Why Record Not Broken Yet?

• CTET 2026 recorded over 25.30 lakh applicants, a significant increase of 9 lakh compared to the December 2024 examination.
• The Supreme Court's September 2025 decision, making TET mandatory for all teachers under the RTE Act, is the primary reason for the surge.
• Teachers appointed before 2010, and those with over 5 years of service remaining for promotion, must now pass CTET to retain jobs or qualify for advancement.
• Many states' delays in conducting STETs have led candidates in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to opt for CTET.
• Despite the large increase, the 2026 applicant count did not surpass the 2021 record of 35.55 lakh candidates.