The present invention aims to provide an activated cathode enabling a long-time stable operation with hydrogen overvoltage maintained at a low value, keeping a high remaining rate of the catalyst element after a cease of operation for a short-circuiting and after an electrolysis operation at a high current density, restricting catalyst loss to a little, and having a strong resistance to contamination caused by electrolyte impurity elements.The present invention relates to a cathode for hydrogen evolution with a catalyst layer formed on the cathode substrate, having, at least, three elements comprising platinum, cerium and palladium, as essential element, in a state of metal, metal oxide, or hydroxide, contained, where the mole fraction of respective element being x, y, and z, within a range of 5 mol %≦x≦90 mol %, 5 mol %≦y≦55 mol %, 5 mol %≦z≦65 mol %.