UPSSSC UP PET 2026 Notification Out: Online Form, Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Eligibility

The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) has officially released the advertisement notice for the Preliminary Eligibility Test (UP PET 2026) under Advertisement No. 16-Pariksha/2026. UP PET is the mandatory state-level screening examination required to apply for all upcoming Group B and Group C government vacancies across various Uttar Pradesh state departments. Without a valid UP PET scorecard, candidates cannot appear in subsequent main examinations for positions such as Lekhpal, Junior Assistant, VDO, Cane Supervisor, and Laboratory Technician.

Online registration for UP PET 2026 commences on 03 August 2026, with the online form submission window remaining open until 01 September 2026. Candidates who have completed their High School (Class 10th) from a recognized board in India and have completed the mandatory One Time Registration (OTR) on the official UPSSSC portal are eligible to apply. Below is a comprehensive guide covering critical dates, age limits, qualification requirements, detailed subject-wise syllabus, examination pattern, and step-by-step application instructions.

UP PET 2026 Important Dates & Summary

Keeping track of official registration schedules and correction deadlines ensures a smooth application process without last-minute technical glitches.

Application Fee and Age Limit Criteria

The application fee must be paid online via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or through an SBI e-Challan before the submission deadline.

Category-Wise Application Fee

Age Limit (Calculated as of 01 July 2026)

• Minimum Age Limit: 18 Years
• Maximum Age Limit: 40 Years (Candidate must not have been born prior to 02 July 1986)
• Age Relaxation Rules: Upper age relaxations are strictly applicable per Uttar Pradesh State Government norms:
  • OBC / SC / ST Candidates of UP Domicile: 5 Years relaxation (Up to 45 years).
  • Ex-Servicemen: 3 Years relaxation past service duration.
  • Skilled Sportspersons of UP: 5 Years relaxation.
  • PWD (Divyangjan) Candidates: Up to 15 Years relaxation.

Eligibility Criteria & Mandatory OTR Registration

To participate in UP PET 2026, candidates must fulfill the basic academic requirements specified by the commission:

• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed High School (Class 10th) or an equivalent examination from any recognized educational board in India. Higher educational qualifications such as Intermediate (10+2), Bachelor’s Degree, or Master’s Degree are fully accepted and welcomed.
• Mandatory One Time Registration (OTR): Completion of OTR on the official UPSSSC portal (upsssc.gov.in) is mandatory for all applicants. The OTR profile automatically populates academic certificates, identity verification, and contact history into the PET application form.

UPSSSC PET 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

The Preliminary Eligibility Test evaluates general knowledge, reasoning, numerical aptitude, and language analysis skills through a standardized objective format.

• Exam Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes).
• Total Questions & Marks: 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) carrying 100 Total Marks (1 mark per question).
• Test Format: Offline OMR-based written test or Computer Based Test (CBT) across multiple exam shifts. Score normalization will be implemented if held in multiple sessions.
• Negative Marking: Each correct response awards +1 Mark. A deduction of 0.25 (1/4th) Mark applies for every incorrect response. Unattempted questions incur no penalty.
• Standard Difficulty Level: Topics 1 to 9 follow the secondary and senior secondary NCERT difficulty standards.

Detailed Subject-Wise Syllabus Breakdown

1. Indian History (5 Marks)

Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic Culture, Buddhism (Gautama Buddha - Life & Teachings), Jainism (Mahavira - Life & Teachings), Mauryan Empire (Emperor Ashoka), Gupta Dynasty (Samudragupta, Chandragupta II), Harshavardhana, Rajput Period, Sultanate Period, Mughal Empire, Maratha Empire, Rise of British Rule & First War of Independence (1857), Social and Economic Impact of British Rule.

2. Indian National Movement (5 Marks)

Initial stages of the Freedom Movement, Swadeshi and Civil Disobedience Movement (Role of Mahatma Gandhi and other prominent leaders), Revolutionary movements and the rise of militant nationalism, Legislative amendments and the British India Act 1935, Quit India Movement, Azad Hind Fauj, and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

3. Geography (5 Marks)

Physical Geography of India and the World (Rivers and River Valleys, Groundwater resources, Mountains, Hills and Glaciers, Deserts and Arid regions, Forests, Mineral resources especially in India), Political Geography of India and the World, Climate and Weather patterns, Time Zones, Demographic changes and migration patterns.

4. Indian Economy (5 Marks)

Indian Economy from 1947 to 1991 (Planning Commission and Five-Year Plans, Development of Mixed Economy: Public & Private sectors, Green Revolution, White Revolution & Operation Flood, Banking Nationalization and Reforms), Economic Reforms of 1991 (LPG reforms), Economic reforms post-2014 (Agriculture reforms, Structural reforms, Labour reforms, GST framework).

5. Indian Constitution & Public Administration (5 Marks)

Salient Features of the Indian Constitution, Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Parliamentary System, Federal System (Union & Union Territories, Centre-State relations), Judicial Framework (Supreme Court, High Courts), District Administration, Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions.

6. General Science (5 Marks)

Basic Physics (Elementary concepts, measurements, and laws of motion), Basic Chemistry (Chemical reactions, elements, acids, bases, and daily life compounds), Basic Biology (Human anatomy, plant physiology, nutrition, and diseases).

7. Elementary Arithmetic (5 Marks)

Whole Numbers, Fractions, and Decimals; Percentages; Simple Arithmetic Equations; Square and Square Roots; Exponents and Powers; Averages.

8. General Hindi (5 Marks)

संधि (Sandhi), विलोम शब्द (Antonyms), पर्यायवाची शब्द (Synonyms), वाक्यांशों के लिए एक शब्द (One-word substitutions), लिंग (Gender), समश्रुत भिन्नार्थक शब्द (Homophones), मुहावरे और लोकोक्तियां (Idioms and Phrases), सामान्य अशुद्धियां (Common sentence errors), लेखक और उनकी रचनाएं (Prose & Poetry authors).

9. General English (5 Marks)

English Grammar (Tenses, Articles, Prepositions, Voice, Narration), Reading Comprehension passages with objective questions.

10. Logic & Reasoning (5 Marks)

Order & Ranking, Blood Relations, Grouping and Classification (Odd One Out), Calendar & Clock, Cause & Effect, Coding-Decoding (Numbers and Letters), Deductive Reasoning / Statement Analysis and Conclusions.

11. Current Affairs (10 Marks)

National events, International affairs, Government schemes & initiatives, Sports tournaments & winners, Awards & honors, Science & Tech breakthroughs, Defense exercises, Important reports and indexes, Uttar Pradesh specific current affairs.

12. General Awareness / Static GK (10 Marks)

India’s Neighboring Countries, Countries, Capitals & Currencies, Indian States & Union Territories, Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Parishad), National & International Days of importance, World Organizations & their Headquarters, Indian Tourism destinations, Art & Culture of India, Indian & International Sports, Indian Research Institutes, Famous Books and Authors, Climate Change & Environment.

13. Hindi Unseen Passages Analysis (10 Marks)

Analysis and comprehension of 2 unseen Hindi passages (5 objective questions per passage carrying 1 mark each).

14. Graph Interpretation & Analysis (10 Marks)

Data Interpretation based on 2 Graphs (Line graphs, Bar graphs, or Pie charts) consisting of 5 questions per graph focused on ratios, percentages, and averages.

15. Table Interpretation & Analysis (10 Marks)

Data Analysis based on 2 Tables consisting of 5 questions per table involving missing data, numerical comparisons, and percentage evaluations.

Step-by-Step Online Application Guide

1. Complete One Time Registration (OTR): Visit upsssc.gov.in. If you do not have an OTR ID, register first by providing basic personal details, Aadhar verification, mobile number, and email verification.
2. Log In to the Portal: Click on "Applicant Segment" > "Apply Online for PET 2026". Authenticate using your OTR Number or registered mobile number via OTP.
3. Verify Auto-Filled Data: Check your populated personal details, category claims, father’s name, and educational credentials linked from your OTR profile.
4. Provide PET Specific Details: Select age relaxation claims if applicable, confirm your UP domicile status, and choose your preferred examination city choices.
5. Pay Application Fee: Proceed to the online payment gateway. Pay the required application fee (₹185 for UR/OBC/EWS, ₹95 for SC/ST, ₹25 for PwD) using UPI, Net Banking, or Credit/Debit Card.
6. Final Form Submission: Verify all entries in the preview panel, submit the completed application form, and save a soft copy as well as printed physical copies of your registration sheet and payment receipt.

Preparation Strategy to Score 80+ Marks in UP PET 2026

• Target High-Weightage Visual & Passage Sections: Data Interpretation (Graphs & Tables), Unseen Passages, Current Affairs, and Static GK account for 50 Out of 100 Marks. Daily practice on bar graphs, pie charts, missing data tables, and reading passages will yield high scores.
• Master Static GK & Current Affairs: Focus on standard reference books like Lucent’s General Knowledge along with 6–12 months of monthly current affairs digests covering UP state schemes and international summits.
• Refine Elementary Math & Reasoning: Practice basic arithmetic operations (percentage, average, fractions, square roots) to quickly solve DI questions without losing time.
• Take Offline Mock Tests: Because the exam is conducted in OMR offline mode, practicing full-length mock papers with an OMR sheet helps build time management skills and eliminates bubbling errors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the validity period of the UPSSSC PET 2026 scorecard?
The UP PET 2026 scorecard remains valid for 3 years from the date of official result declaration.

Q2: Is One Time Registration (OTR) mandatory for applying to UP PET 2026?
Yes, completing OTR on the UPSSSC portal is mandatory for all applicants before submitting the UP PET online form.

Q3: Is there negative marking in the UP PET 2026 written exam?
Yes, a negative marking penalty of 0.25 (1/4th) mark applies for every incorrect answer.

Q4: Can candidates outside Uttar Pradesh apply for UP PET 2026?
Yes, Indian citizens from any state can apply, provided they meet the minimum 10th-pass qualification. However, out-of-state candidates will be treated under the Unreserved (General) category regardless of their home state reservation status.

Q5: What is the minimum educational qualification required for UP PET 2026?
Candidates must have passed Class 10th (High School) or an equivalent examination from a recognized board in India.