Opening Overview
The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), Lucknow, has issued the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) 2026 notification. The PET is mandatory for candidates seeking recruitment to various Group C posts under the Commission's jurisdiction. The application process will be conducted online through the official UPSSSC website.
Post Details Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) |
| Examination | Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) 2026 |
| Advertisement Number | 16-Exam/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | The vacancy count will be notified through separate Group C recruitment advertisements |
| Qualification | High School or equivalent examination passed |
| Category | Admit Card / PET 2026 Notification |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | https://upsssc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Publication Date | 01/08/2026 |
| Registration and Online Application Start Date | 03/08/2026 |
| Last Date for Registration, Fee Payment and Application Submission | 01/09/2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Reconciliation and Application Correction | 08/09/2026 |
| Application Correction Facility Starts | 10/08/2026 |
| PET Score Validity | 3 years from the date of declaration or uploading of the result |
Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee | Online Processing Fee | Total Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | ₹160 | ₹25 | ₹185 |
| Other Backward Classes | ₹160 | ₹25 | ₹185 |
| Scheduled Caste | ₹70 | ₹25 | ₹95 |
| Scheduled Tribe | ₹70 | ₹25 | ₹95 |
| Persons with Disabilities | ₹0 | ₹25 | ₹25 |
Candidates belonging to categories such as dependants of freedom fighters, ex-servicemen, outstanding sportspersons and women candidates will pay the fee applicable to their original category. The fee can be paid through Credit Card, Debit Card, Internet Banking, UPI or SBI e-Challan.
Age Limit
Candidates must have completed 18 years and must not be more than 40 years of age as on 01/07/2026.
Age relaxation will be available as per Uttar Pradesh Government rules:
- Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Classes and other eligible reserved categories: Relaxation as prescribed by the government.
- Skilled sportspersons: Up to 5 years.
- Ex-servicemen: Up to 3 years, subject to the prescribed conditions.
- Persons with Disabilities: Up to 15 years.
- Uttar Pradesh government employees: Up to 5 years, as per applicable government orders.
Vacancy Details
The PET 2026 is an eligibility examination and does not specify a fixed number of vacancies. Candidates who obtain a valid PET score may apply for various Group C recruitment examinations conducted by UPSSSC. The vacancies and post-wise eligibility requirements will be announced through separate recruitment advertisements.
Eligibility / Qualification
Candidates must have passed High School or an equivalent examination by the last date of submitting the online application form.
Participation in PET 2026 or the issue of a PET scorecard does not itself guarantee selection or appointment to any post. Candidates must separately apply for the relevant Group C recruitment examination and fulfil the eligibility conditions mentioned in that advertisement.
Admit Card Details
The PET 2026 admit card and examination-related information will be made available through the official UPSSSC website. Candidates should regularly check the Commission's website for details regarding the examination date, shift, examination district, examination centre and admit card.
Candidates should carry the following documents to the examination centre:
- Printed admit card.
- Valid photo identity proof.
- Any other document specifically mentioned in the admit card instructions.
The examination centre, date and time allotted to a candidate will not ordinarily be changed. Candidates must appear only at the examination centre allotted to them.
One-Time Registration Requirement
UPSSSC has introduced a One-Time Registration (OTR) system. Candidates are required to complete OTR registration before applying for PET 2026 through the official website.
Candidates who completed OTR through PET 2025 will retain the same name, date of birth and mobile number. Other details entered in the OTR may be modified as permitted. Candidates registering for OTR for the first time will have their registered mobile number treated as non-changeable.
After obtaining the PET 2026 registration number, candidates will not be permitted to modify the OTR or application details through offline requests or correspondence.
Examination Pattern
The PET 2026 written examination will be objective and multiple-choice in nature.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Question Type | Multiple-choice questions |
| Negative Marking | One-fourth mark deducted for every wrong answer |
| Standard of Questions | Secondary/Senior Secondary level as prescribed by NCERT for the specified subjects |
Syllabus Details
| Subject | Marks | Main Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Indian History | 5 | Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic Culture, Buddhism, Jainism, Maurya and Gupta dynasties, Harshavardhana, Rajput period, Sultanate period, Mughal Empire, Marathas, rise of British rule, First War of Independence and socio-economic impact of British rule |
| Indian National Movement | 5 | Early years of the freedom movement, Swadeshi and Civil Disobedience Movements, role of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders, revolutionary movement, rise of nationalism, Government of India Act 1935, Quit India Movement, Azad Hind Fauj and Subhas Chandra Bose |
| Geography | 5 | Physical geography of India and the world, rivers and river valleys, water resources, mountains and glaciers, deserts, forests, mineral resources, political geography, climate, weather, time zones, population change and migration |
| Indian Economy | 5 | Indian economy from 1947 to 1991, Planning Commission, Five-Year Plans, mixed economy, public and private sectors, Green Revolution, dairy development, Operation Flood, nationalisation and reforms in banking, economic reforms after 1991, reforms after 2014, agriculture, infrastructure, labour, financial reforms and GST |
| Indian Constitution and Public Administration | 5 | Main features of the Constitution, Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Rights and Duties, parliamentary system, federal system, Union Territories, Centre-State relations, Supreme Court, High Courts, district administration, local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions |
| General Science | 5 | Basic Physics, basic Chemistry and basic Biology |
| Elementary Arithmetic | 5 | Whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentage, simple arithmetic equations, squares and square roots, powers and exponents, average |
| General Hindi | 5 | Sandhi, antonyms, synonyms, one-word substitutions, gender, compound words, idioms and proverbs, common errors, authors and works including poetry and prose |
| General English | 5 | English grammar and questions based on unseen passages |
| Logic and Reasoning | 5 | Large and small, order and ranking, relationships, odd one out, calendars and clocks, cause and effect, coding-decoding, deductive reasoning, statement analysis and decision-making |
| Current Affairs | 10 | Indian and international current affairs |
| General Awareness | 10 | Neighbouring countries of India, countries and capitals, currencies, Indian states and Union Territories, Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, Legislative Assemblies and Councils, national and international days, international organisations and headquarters, tourist places, art and culture, sports, Indian research organisations, famous books and authors, awards and winners, climate change and environment |
| Hindi Unseen Passage Analysis | 10 | Analysis of two Hindi passages, with five questions based on each passage |
| Graph Interpretation and Analysis | 10 | Interpretation and analysis of two graphs, with five questions based on each graph |
| Table Interpretation and Analysis | 10 | Interpretation and analysis of two tables, with five questions based on each table |
Selection and Score Validity
PET 2026 is the preliminary eligibility stage for various UPSSSC Group C recruitments. Candidates will be shortlisted for subsequent main examinations on the basis of their valid normalised PET scores, wherever applicable.
The PET score will remain valid for three years from the date on which the Commission declares the result or uploads the result on its website. If an examination is conducted in multiple shifts or on multiple days, the Commission may apply score normalisation for comparative evaluation.
Application and Correction Instructions
Candidates must complete the application through the online application system available at the official UPSSSC website. Only one application should be submitted for PET 2026.
The application process includes the following stages:
- OTR registration and candidate verification.
- Login through the OTR number or registered mobile number.
- Receipt of OTP and verification code.
- Entry of remaining details in the application form.
- Acceptance of the declaration.
- Payment or reconciliation of the prescribed fee.
- Final submission and printing of the registration slip and application form.
After final submission, candidates may use the Modify Submitted Application facility to make permitted corrections. The correction facility will be available from 10/08/2026, and the last date for correction will be 08/09/2026. No correction request will be accepted after the prescribed deadline.
Candidates must download and retain the registration slip and final application form for future reference.
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Candidates must enter their correct category, date of birth, educational qualification and other personal details.
- The date of birth recorded on the High School or equivalent certificate will be treated as valid.
- False, incomplete or unverifiable information may lead to cancellation of candidature.
- Candidates may be debarred from future examinations for cheating, impersonation, misconduct or use of unfair means.
- Only the final application submitted by a candidate will be considered if more than one application is submitted.
- The Commission will publish official information on its website and will not ordinarily communicate individually with candidates.
- Candidates facing technical difficulty may contact UPSSSC through the official website or the helpline number 0522-2720814.
- Candidates should regularly check the official website for admit card, examination schedule and other updates.
Examination Conduct and Disqualification
Any attempt to compromise the integrity of the examination, including impersonation, use of unfair means, cheating or misconduct, may result in cancellation of candidature and debarment from the examination and future recruitment processes. Provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, may also apply, including applicable criminal penalties.
The UPSSSC's decision regarding eligibility, candidature, examination conduct and selection-related matters will be final.