The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), Lucknow has released the notification for the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) 2026 vide Advertisement No. 16-Pariksha/2026. PET-2026 is a mandatory qualifying exam — candidates who hold a valid, normalized PET score can apply for future UPSSSC Group C recruitment (Main Exam) advertisements. Eligible candidates (High School pass, age 18–40 years) can apply online at upsssc.gov.in from 3 August 2026 to 1 September 2026.
Recruitment Overview
| Exam Name | Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | 16-Pariksha/2026 |
| Organization | Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), Lucknow |
| Nature of Exam | Qualifying exam — mandatory prerequisite for future UPSSSC Group C recruitment (Main Exam) advertisements; not vacancy-specific |
| Qualification | High School (Class 10) or equivalent |
| Age Limit | 18–40 years as on 01-07-2026 (full relaxation table below) |
| Exam Pattern | 100 objective questions, 100 marks, 2-hour duration, 1/4 mark negative marking |
| Score Validity | 3 years from date of result declaration |
| How to Apply | Apply online only at upsssc.gov.in (OTR required) |
| Official Notification | Download Notification PDF |
| Official Website / Apply Online | upsssc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Publication Date | 01 August 2026 |
| OTR (One Time Registration) Effective From | 14 July 2026 |
| Online Application / Registration / Fee Payment Start Date | 03 August 2026 |
| Last Date for Registration, Fee Payment & Application Submission | 01 September 2026 |
| Application Correction Window Opens | 10 August 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Reconciliation & Application Correction | 08 September 2026 |
| Exam Date | To be notified separately |
Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee | Online Processing Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (General) | Rs. 160 | Rs. 25 | Rs. 185 |
| OBC | Rs. 160 | Rs. 25 | Rs. 185 |
| SC | Rs. 70 | Rs. 25 | Rs. 95 |
| ST | Rs. 70 | Rs. 25 | Rs. 95 |
| PwBD (Divyangjan) | Nil | Rs. 25 | Rs. 25 |
Note: Dependents of freedom fighters, ex-servicemen, excellent sportspersons, and women candidates pay the fee applicable to their original/base category above. Payment can be made via Credit/Debit Card, Internet Banking, UPI, or SBI e-Challan only.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | High School (Class 10) or equivalent, held before the application submission deadline |
| Age Limit | Minimum 18 years, maximum 40 years, as on 01 July 2026 |
| Application Restriction | Only one application allowed per candidate; offline/postal applications not accepted |
| OTR Requirement | One Time Registration (OTR) on upsssc.gov.in is mandatory before applying |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / OBC & other reserved categories | As specified by the Government from time to time (per applicable rules) |
| Classified sportspersons | 5 years |
| Ex-servicemen | 3 years (actual age minus total service period must not exceed the prescribed limit by more than 3 years) |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 15 years |
| UP State Government employees (in state service) | 5 years |
Selection Process / Exam Pattern
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) — the only stage | 100 objective (MCQ) questions across 15 subjects (History, National Movement, Geography, Indian Economy, Constitution & Public Administration, General Science, Elementary Arithmetic, General Hindi, General English, Logic & Reasoning, Current Affairs, General Awareness, Hindi passage analysis, graph interpretation, table interpretation), 100 marks total, 2-hour duration. Difficulty level per NCERT secondary/senior-secondary standard. 1/4 mark deducted for each wrong answer. If applications are very high, the exam may be held in multiple shifts/days with score normalization applied for fair comparison. The resulting score (normalized) is valid for 3 years and is required to apply for future UPSSSC Group C Main Exam advertisements — it does not by itself guarantee consideration for any specific post. |
How to Apply
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR) at upsssc.gov.in, if not already done (mandatory before applying).
- Log in using your OTR number or registered mobile number and verify via OTP.
- Fill in the remaining application details (category, marital status, EWS status, sportsperson/ex-servicemen/PwBD status, age relaxation claim, etc.) and submit the declaration.
- Pay the requisite fee online via Credit/Debit Card, Internet Banking, UPI, or SBI e-Challan as per your category.
- Download and print your application form/acknowledgment after successful payment — this completes the application process.
Note: Offline or postal applications are not accepted under any circumstances.
Documents Required
| Document | Format / Notes |
|---|---|
| High School / Class 10 Certificate | Sole valid proof of Date of Birth — no other document is accepted for DOB |
| Educational Qualification Certificates & Marksheets | Self-attested copies, to be submitted when demanded by the Commission |
| Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, if applicable) | Required to support the category declared in the application |
| PwBD Certificate (if applicable) | Required to claim the 15-year age relaxation |
| Ex-Servicemen / Sportsperson Certificate (if applicable) | Required to claim the respective age relaxation |
| OTR Registration Details | OTR number/registered mobile number needed to log in and apply |
| Passport-size Photograph & Signature | Not specified in notification (general guidance — standard upload specs typically apply during OTR/online registration) |
Important Links
| Download Official Notification (PDF) | Click here to download |
| Apply Online / Official Website | upsssc.gov.in |
| Join Telegram Channel | Join Telegram Channel |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | Join WhatsApp Channel |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Only one application is allowed per candidate — if you submit more than one, only the last submitted application is accepted and the rest are rejected.
- No correction is possible after 8 September 2026 — double-check every field, especially category and date of birth, before that deadline.
- Offline or postal applications are not accepted under any circumstances — apply online only at upsssc.gov.in.
- Your date of birth must exactly match your High School/equivalent certificate — no other document will be accepted as DOB proof.
- Complete and verify your OTR details before applying — your name, date of birth, and mobile number become locked once linked to a registration.
- Any use of unfair means or impersonation during the exam can lead to debarment from this and future Commission exams, along with legal action under the UP Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is UPSSSC PET-2026 and is it a job recruitment?
No — PET-2026 (Advertisement No. 16-Pariksha/2026) is a mandatory qualifying exam whose valid score is required to apply for future UPSSSC Group C recruitment (Main Exam) advertisements; it does not itself offer any vacancies.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for PET-2026?
The online application and fee payment must be completed by 1 September 2026, with fee reconciliation/correction allowed until 8 September 2026.
Q3. What is the minimum qualification required for PET-2026?
Candidates must hold High School (Class 10) or an equivalent qualification before the application submission deadline.
Q4. What is the age limit for PET-2026?
Candidates must be at least 18 years old and not more than 40 years old as on 1 July 2026, with category-wise relaxation available.
Q5. How much is the application fee for PET-2026?
The fee ranges from Rs. 25 for PwBD candidates to Rs. 185 for General/OBC candidates (including a Rs. 25 online processing charge), with SC/ST candidates paying Rs. 95.
Q6. Is OTR (One Time Registration) mandatory for PET-2026?
Yes — candidates must complete One Time Registration on upsssc.gov.in before they can apply for PET-2026, as offline applications are not accepted.
Q7. How long is the PET-2026 score valid?
The normalized PET score is valid for 3 years from the date the result/score card is declared or uploaded on the website.
Q8. What is the exam pattern for PET-2026?
It is a 2-hour, 100-question, 100-mark objective (MCQ) test covering 15 subjects from History to table/graph interpretation, with a 1/4 mark deduction for each wrong answer.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
