The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), Lucknow, has released Advertisement No. 16-Exam/2026 dated 1 August 2026 for the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) – 2026, the mandatory first-stage screening examination for various Group C posts under the Government of Uttar Pradesh. One Time Registration (OTR) on the official UPSSSC website is mandatory before applying. Online registration and fee payment open on 3 August 2026 and close on 1 September 2026. The application correction window runs from 10 August 2026 to 8 September 2026. The exam is conducted offline (OMR-based), with 100 objective MCQs, 100 marks, 2 hours duration, and 1/4 negative marking. Any candidate who holds a High School (Class 10) or equivalent qualification and is aged 18 to 40 years as on 1 July 2026 is eligible. A valid PET score remains usable for applying to UPSSSC Group C Main Examinations for 3 years from the date of result declaration.
Important Note: UPSSSC PET is not a direct recruitment – it is a qualifying screening test. Clearing PET does not give you a government job; it gives you eligibility to apply for post-specific Main Examinations when UPSSSC releases them separately (for posts like UP Lekhpal, Junior Assistant, VDO, X-Ray Technician, Assistant Accountant, Auditor, Stenographer, etc.). The exam date for PET 2026 has not been announced in this notification – it will be released separately on upsssc.gov.in. Based on past cycles, the exam is expected around October-November 2026, but no official date exists yet. Also note that the notification PDF hosted on FreeJobAlert’s CDN (
img2.freejobalert.com) is a third-party copy – candidates must download the official PDF from upsssc.gov.in only.
UPSSSC PET 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), Lucknow |
| Advertisement No. | 16-Exam/2026 (16-परीक्षा/2026) |
| Notification Date | 1 August 2026 |
| Exam Name | Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) – 2026 |
| Purpose | Qualifying/screening exam for UPSSSC Group C Main Examinations |
| Educational Qualification | High School (Class 10) or equivalent from a recognised board |
| Age Limit | 18 to 40 years as on 1 July 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only (OTR mandatory before applying) |
| Registration and Fee Payment Opens | 3 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 1 September 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | 10 August 2026 to 8 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Reconciliation and Correction | 8 September 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Exam Pattern | 100 MCQs, 100 marks, 2 hours, 1/4 negative marking |
| PET Score Validity | 3 years from result declaration |
| Exam Date | Not yet announced; to be released separately |
| Official Website | upsssc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 1 August 2026 |
| OTR / Online Application and Fee Payment Opens | 3 August 2026 |
| Application Correction Window Opens | 10 August 2026 |
| Last Date for Application and Fee Payment | 1 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Reconciliation and Application Correction | 8 September 2026 |
| PET 2026 Exam Date | To be announced separately on upsssc.gov.in |
| Result Date | To be announced |
Educational Qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Qualification | High School (Class 10) or equivalent from a recognised board |
| Higher Qualifications | Candidates with Class 12, Diploma, Graduation, Post-Graduation are also eligible |
| Not Eligible | Candidates awaiting Class 10 results or who have not yet passed Class 10 |
The PET score serves as a common screening score – post-specific Main Examinations will have their own additional qualification requirements as per the relevant service rules, published separately when those vacancies are notified.
Age Limit (as on 1 July 2026)
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General / UR (Minimum) | 18 years |
| General / UR (Maximum) | 40 years |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / OBC and other reserved categories | As per Government of Uttar Pradesh rules from time to time |
| Classified / Skilled Sportspersons (as per G.O. dated 28.11.1985) | 5 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years (after deducting actual military service from the candidate’s age; net relaxation not exceeding 3 years) |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities / Divyangjan (as per G.O. dated 03.02.2008) | 15 years (upper age limit up to 55 years) |
| UP State Government Employees working in state services (as per G.O. dated 27.08.2013) | 5 years |
Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee | Online Processing Fee | Total Payable |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / UR | 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 |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD / Divyangjan) | Nil | Rs. 25 | Rs. 25 |
Fee is payable online via Credit Card, Debit Card, Internet Banking, UPI or SBI e-Challan only. No other mode is accepted.
Exam Pattern
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Question Type | Objective MCQs |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
| Negative Marking | 1/4 mark (0.25) deducted per wrong answer |
| Difficulty Level | Academic subjects (Sl. No. 1 to 9) at Secondary/Senior Secondary (NCERT) level |
Subject-wise Marks Distribution
| S.No. | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian History | 5 |
| 2 | Indian National Movement | 5 |
| 3 | Geography | 5 |
| 4 | Indian Economy | 5 |
| 5 | Indian Constitution and Public Administration | 5 |
| 6 | General Science | 5 |
| 7 | Elementary Arithmetic | 5 |
| 8 | General Hindi | 5 |
| 9 | General English | 5 |
| 10 | Logic and Reasoning | 5 |
| 11 | Current Affairs (Indian and Global) | 10 |
| 12 | General Awareness | 10 |
| 13 | Analysis of Hindi Unseen Passages (2 passages, 5 questions each) | 10 |
| 14 | Graph Interpretation and Analysis (2 graphs, 5 questions each) | 10 |
| 15 | Table Interpretation and Analysis (2 tables, 5 questions each) | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Detailed Syllabus
Indian History (5 marks)
Indus Valley Civilization; Vedic culture; Buddhism (Gautam Buddha – biography and teachings); Jainism (Mahavir – biography and teachings); Mauryan dynasty (Emperor Ashoka); Gupta dynasty (Samudragupta, Chandragupta II); Harshavardhana; Rajput period; Sultanate period; Mughal empire; Marathas; rise of British Raj and the First War of Independence; socio-economic impact of British Raj.
Indian National Movement (5 marks)
Early years of the freedom movement; Swadeshi and Civil Disobedience movements – role of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders; revolutionary movement and rise of extreme nationalism; legislative reforms and the Government of India Act, 1935; Quit India Movement, Azad Hind Fauj, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Geography (5 marks)
Physical geography of India and the world – rivers and river valleys, groundwater resources, mountains/hills/glaciers, deserts and arid regions, forests, mineral resources (especially in India); political geography of India and the world; climate and weather; time zones; demographic change and migration.
Indian Economy (5 marks)
Indian economy 1947-1991 – Planning Commission and Five-Year Plans, development of the mixed economy (private and public sectors), the Green Revolution, White/Milk Revolution and Operation Flood, bank nationalisation and reforms; economic reforms of 1991 and the economy thereafter; economic reforms post-2014 – agricultural reforms, infrastructural reforms, labour reforms, economic reforms, and GST.
Indian Constitution and Public Administration (5 marks)
Main features of the Indian Constitution – Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Parliamentary system, Federal system, Union and Union Territories, Centre-State relations, judicial structure (Supreme Court, High Courts); district administration; local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions.
General Science (5 marks)
Elementary Physics; Elementary Chemistry; Elementary Biology.
Elementary Arithmetic (5 marks)
Whole numbers, fractions and decimals; percentages; simple arithmetic equations; squares and square roots; exponents and powers; averages.
General Hindi (5 marks)
Sandhi; antonyms; synonyms; one word for a phrase; gender; homophones; idioms and proverbs; common errors; authors and their works (prose and poetry).
General English (5 marks)
English grammar; questions based on unseen passages.
Logic and Reasoning (5 marks)
Bigger and smaller; order and ranking; relationships; odd one out; calendar and clock; cause and effect; coding-decoding (numbers and letters); deductive reasoning, statement analysis and conclusions.
Current Affairs (10 marks)
Indian and global current affairs.
General Awareness (10 marks)
India’s neighbouring countries; countries, capitals and currencies; states and Union Territories of India; Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and Vidhan Parishad; national and international days; world organisations and their headquarters; Indian tourist places; art and culture of India; sports of India and the world; Indian research organisations; famous books and authors; awards and their winners; climate change and environment.
Hindi Unseen Passage Analysis (10 marks)
2 passages with 5 questions each – reading comprehension and analytical reasoning in Hindi.
Graph Interpretation and Analysis (10 marks)
2 graphs with 5 questions each – data interpretation from bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, etc.
Table Interpretation and Analysis (10 marks)
2 tables with 5 questions each – data analysis and comparison from tabular data.
PET Score Validity and Normalization
- A PET score is valid for 3 years from the date of result declaration, as per Government Order No. 316/47-Ka-3-2025 dated 28.04.2025.
- If a candidate holds more than one valid PET score, they may apply for Main Examinations using the highest valid normalised score.
- If the number of applications is very large and the exam cannot be held in a single shift or day, UPSSSC may conduct it across multiple shifts/days with normalisation.
Posts That Require a Valid UPSSSC PET Score
A valid PET score is mandatory to apply for the Main Examination of these and other UPSSSC Group C posts (as notified separately):
UP Lekhpal, Junior Assistant, Village Development Officer (VDO / Gram Vikas Adhikari), Assistant Accountant, Auditor, X-Ray Technician, Stenographer, Mandi Parishad Sachiv, Assistant Store Keeper, and other Group C posts released by UPSSSC.
How to Apply for UPSSSC PET 2026
- Visit the official UPSSSC website – Click Here
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR) at the OTR section – Click Here – if not already registered. OTR is mandatory before applying for PET 2026.
- Log in using your OTR number or mobile number, click “Get OTP”, and verify with the OTP and Verification Code sent to your registered number.
- Your basic details from OTR will auto-populate in the application form.
- Fill in the remaining details: Intermediate qualification (if any), marital status, EWS status, UP state employee status, freedom fighter dependent status, ex-serviceman status, outstanding sportsperson status, disability category, and applicable age relaxation.
- Read the declaration carefully, select “Yes” if you agree, enter the Verification Code, and click “Submit” to generate your 11-digit Registration Slip – save this number.
- Click “Proceed for Payment” on the Registration Slip page and pay the fee via Credit Card, Debit Card, Internet Banking, UPI or SBI e-Challan.
- Once payment is confirmed, download and print the application form – the process is complete only after this step.
- Complete the entire process on or before 1 September 2026. Fee reconciliation and corrections can be made until 8 September 2026.
Application Correction
After submission, candidates can modify permissible details (email, Intermediate qualification, marital status, EWS status, UP state employee status, freedom fighter dependent status, ex-serviceman/sportsperson status, disability category and age relaxation details) via the “Modify Submitted Application” option on the UPSSSC homepage, using OTP verification. The correction window is open from 10 August 2026 to 8 September 2026. Name, Date of Birth and Mobile Number entered via OTR cannot be changed once the PET 2026 registration number has been generated.
Important Instructions
- OTR is mandatory – applications without a valid OTR profile are not accepted.
- Only one application per candidate is allowed for PET 2026.
- The date of birth on the High School certificate is the only valid proof of age – no other document is accepted for this purpose.
- Exam date, time, district and centre details will be communicated via admit card – no change in exam centre, date or shift is permitted under any circumstances.
- Submitting incorrect information that cannot be verified through certificates may lead to debarment from PET and all future UPSSSC examinations and selections.
- Malpractice, indiscipline or misconduct at the exam venue leads to cancellation of candidature under the UP Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
- UPSSSC does not correspond individually with candidates – all information is published on the official website.
- For helpdesk support: contact 0522-2720814 or the official helpdesk on upsssc.gov.in.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF – Advt. No. 16-Exam/2026 | Click Here |
| Apply Online / OTR Registration | Click Here |
| UPSSSC Official Website | Click Here |
Note: The official UPSSSC website hosts the notification PDF directly. Navigate to the latest notifications section on upsssc.gov.in to download Advertisement No. 16-Exam/2026 from the official source.
UPSSSC PET 2026 – FAQs
Q1. What is UPSSSC PET 2026?
✅ The Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) – 2026 (Advt. No. 16-Exam/2026) is a mandatory qualifying/screening exam conducted by UPSSSC to determine eligibility for Group C Main Examinations in Uttar Pradesh. It is not a direct recruitment test.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for UPSSSC PET 2026?
✅ 1 September 2026. Application correction and fee reconciliation can be done until 8 September 2026.
Q3. What is the minimum educational qualification for PET 2026?
✅ High School (Class 10) or equivalent from a recognised board. Candidates awaiting Class 10 results are not eligible.
Q4. What is the age limit for UPSSSC PET 2026?
✅ 18 to 40 years as on 1 July 2026, with relaxation for SC/ST/OBC, PwBD (15 years), sportspersons (5 years), Ex-Servicemen (3 years) and UP state government employees (5 years).
Q5. What is the application fee for UPSSSC PET 2026?
✅ Rs. 185 for General and OBC candidates; Rs. 95 for SC and ST; Rs. 25 (processing fee only) for PwBD / Divyangjan candidates. Payment is online only.
Q6. Is OTR (One Time Registration) mandatory for PET 2026?
✅ Yes. OTR must be completed on upsssc.gov.in before applying for PET 2026. Applications without a valid OTR profile are not accepted.
Q7. What is the exam pattern for UPSSSC PET 2026?
✅ 100 objective MCQs, 100 marks, 2 hours, offline (OMR-based). Negative marking of 1/4 mark per wrong answer. Covers 15 subjects including Indian History, Geography, General Science, General Hindi, General English, Logic and Reasoning, Current Affairs, General Awareness, and Data Interpretation.
Q8. What is the exam date for UPSSSC PET 2026?
✅ Not yet announced. The exam date will be published separately on upsssc.gov.in. Based on past cycles, it is expected around October-November 2026.
Q9. How long is the UPSSSC PET 2026 score valid?
✅ 3 years from the date of result declaration, as per Government Order No. 316/47-Ka-3-2025 dated 28.04.2025. Candidates can use the score to apply for eligible UPSSSC Group C Main Examinations during this period.
Q10. Does clearing UPSSSC PET guarantee a government job?
✅ No. PET is a qualifying test only. Clearing it makes you eligible to apply for UPSSSC Group C Main Examinations when they are announced separately. Each Main Examination has its own eligibility conditions, vacancy count and selection process.
Disclaimer
The information above is compiled from Advertisement No. 16-Exam/2026 dated 1 August 2026, issued by the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), Lucknow, for the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) – 2026, and corroborated with Testbook’s coverage of the same official notification. The exam date has not been announced in this notification and will be released separately. Candidates are strongly advised to download the official notification PDF and verify all details directly at upsssc.gov.in before applying. All links above lead only to the official UPSSSC website.
