UPSSSC PET 2026 Notification: Online Form, Dates and Eligibility

PET 2026 Quick Highlights

• Conducting Body: Uttar Pradesh Adhinasth Seva Chayan Ayog, Lucknow
• Advertisement Number: 16-Pariksha/2026
• Exam Name: Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) 2026
• Mode Of Application: Online only
• Educational Qualification: High School or equivalent
• Age Limit: 18 to 40 years as on 1 July 2026
• Exam Duration: 2 hours for 100 questions
• Official Website: upsssc.gov.in

About UPSSSC PET 2026

PET works as the first stage of a two-tier selection process that UPSSSC follows for Group C recruitment, a system approved by the Uttar Pradesh government's Karmik department. Since the notification issued on 20 November 2020, every recruitment for Group C posts under the Commission's purview requires candidates to hold a valid PET score before they can appear in the relevant main examination. Merely holding a valid PET score does not by itself give a candidate the right to apply for or be selected in any particular recruitment; each main exam advertisement will separately specify its own eligibility conditions.

If a candidate holds more than one valid PET score at the time of applying for a main examination, the Commission will consider the highest normalized score among them for both the application and the shortlisting process.

One Time Registration (OTR) Is Compulsory

UPSSSC has implemented a One Time Registration system, effective from 14 July 2026, so that candidates do not need to re-enter their basic details every time they apply for a new advertisement. Before applying for PET 2026, every candidate must complete OTR registration through the guidelines published on the official website. A few points to keep in mind:

• Candidates who complete OTR using their PET-2025 registration number cannot change their name, date of birth or mobile number, though other details can be edited.
• Candidates registering fresh under OTR also cannot change their mobile number later, though other fields remain editable.
• Once a candidate receives their PET 2026 registration number, no further changes can be made to the OTR or the PET application through offline or online representation.
• Applications submitted through any mode other than the online system will not be accepted.

UPSSSC PET 2026 Important Dates

No request for correction or fee adjustment will be considered by the Commission after 8 September 2026, so candidates should download and check their submitted form well within this period.

UPSSSC PET 2026 Application Fee

Dependents of freedom fighters, ex-servicemen, outstanding sportspersons and women candidates pay the fee applicable to their own original category as listed above. Fee can be paid through credit card, debit card, internet banking, UPI or SBI e-challan; no other payment mode is permitted.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Candidates who hold High School (Class 10) or an equivalent qualification are eligible to apply for PET 2026. This qualification must be held before the last date fixed for submitting the online application.

Age Limit

Candidates must have completed 18 years of age and must not have crossed 40 years of age as on 1 July 2026 to apply for PET 2026.

Age Relaxation

• SC, ST, OBC and other notified categories get relaxation in the upper age limit as prescribed by the state government from time to time.
• Skilled sportspersons in classified games get a 5-year relaxation as per the government order dated 28 November 1985.
• Ex-servicemen get a 3-year relaxation, subject to their actual service period being deducted from their age and the resulting age not exceeding the upper limit by more than 3 years.
• Divyangjan (persons with disability) get a 15-year relaxation as per the latest government order dated 3 February 2008.
• Uttar Pradesh state government employees working in state services get a 5-year relaxation as per the Karmik department order dated 27 August 2013.

UPSSSC PET 2026 Exam Pattern And Syllabus

PET 2026 will be an objective type, multiple choice exam consisting of 100 questions worth 100 marks, to be attempted in 2 hours. One-fourth mark will be deducted for every wrong answer. Difficulty for the academic subjects will be at a secondary or senior secondary level as prescribed by NCERT. The subject-wise mark distribution is as follows.

If the number of applications for PET 2026 turns out to be very high, the Commission may conduct the exam across multiple shifts or days. In that case, scores will be normalized so that candidates across different shifts can be compared fairly, following the procedure UPSSSC already notified on 22 May 2019.

Validity Of PET Score

As per the Uttar Pradesh government order dated 28 April 2025, a candidate's PET score remains valid for 3 years from the date the result is declared or uploaded on the official website. Only candidates who appeared in PET and hold a valid normalized score card can apply online for the main examinations that UPSSSC releases during this validity period.

How To Apply For UPSSSC PET 2026

The application process involves four broad stages: authentication, registration, fee payment and printing the final form.

1. Complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the official UPSSSC website, upsssc.gov.in, if you have not already done so. Read the OTR guidelines carefully before registering, since your basic details will be picked up automatically for future applications.
2. Log in for PET 2026 using your OTR number or your registered mobile number, then click Get OTP to receive a one time password. Enter the OTP along with the verification code and click login to open your application form, which will already carry your OTR details.
3. Fill in the remaining details in the application form, including intermediate qualification if applicable, marital status, EWS status, UP state employee status, freedom fighter dependent status, ex-servicemen or outstanding sportsperson status, and any additional age relaxation you are claiming.
4. Read the declaration shown at the bottom of the form carefully. If you agree with it, select Yes, enter the verification code and click Submit. On successful submission, a Registration Slip carrying your 11-digit registration number will be generated. Save this number for future reference.
5. Click Proceed for Payment on the Registration Slip page and pay the application fee applicable to your category through credit card, debit card, internet banking, UPI or SBI e-challan. Do not click any button repeatedly or refresh the browser while payment is being processed.
6. Once the fee payment is confirmed, download and print your completed application form. Your application process is considered complete only after you have downloaded and printed this form, so do not skip this step.

General Instructions For Candidates

• Only fully eligible candidates should begin the online application process; the Commission does not offer any personal advice on a candidate's eligibility.
• Reserved category candidates must clearly mention their category in the application form.
• The date of birth recorded in the High School or equivalent certificate will be treated as final; no other document will be accepted for this purpose.
• Candidates may be asked to submit self-attested copies of mark sheets, certificates and other documents to verify age and educational qualification.
• The exam date, time, city and centre will be communicated through the admit card; no change of centre, date or time will be permitted under any circumstances.
• Providing incorrect information, or engaging in indiscipline, misconduct or unfair means during the exam can lead to rejection of candidature and debarment from this and future UPSSSC exams, in line with the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
• Only the last submitted application will be accepted if a candidate submits more than one application; all earlier ones will be treated as cancelled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What Is UPSSSC PET 2026?

UPSSSC PET 2026, or Preliminary Eligibility Test 2026, is a screening exam conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Adhinasth Seva Chayan Ayog for candidates who want to apply for Group C posts that come under the Commission. It is not a recruitment for a specific post by itself. Instead, the score a candidate earns in PET 2026 is used to shortlist applicants when the Commission later releases separate advertisements for individual Group C posts.

Q2. Is One Time Registration (OTR) Compulsory Before Applying For PET 2026?

Yes. UPSSSC has made One Time Registration compulsory for all candidates. Anyone who wants to apply for PET 2026 must first complete OTR registration on the official website, upsssc.gov.in, by following the OTR guidelines published there. Only after OTR is completed can a candidate proceed to fill the online application form for the Preliminary Eligibility Test.

Q3. What Is The Educational Qualification For UPSSSC PET 2026?

Candidates who have passed High School, that is Class 10, or an equivalent examination are eligible to apply for PET 2026. Any candidate who holds this qualification on or before the last date of submitting the online application can apply for the Preliminary Eligibility Test.

Q4. What Is The Age Limit For UPSSSC PET 2026?

Candidates must be at least 18 years old and not more than 40 years old as on 1 July 2026 to apply for PET 2026. Age relaxation is available for reserved categories, ex-servicemen, divyangjan and other eligible groups as per prevailing Uttar Pradesh government rules.

Q5. How Many Questions Are Asked In UPSSSC PET 2026?

The PET 2026 exam consists of 100 objective type questions carrying 100 marks in total, to be completed within a duration of 2 hours. There is negative marking of one-fourth of a mark for every wrong answer.

Q6. How Long Is The UPSSSC PET Score Valid?

As per the Uttar Pradesh government order dated 28 April 2025, the score obtained in the Preliminary Eligibility Test remains valid for 3 years from the date the Commission declares the result or uploads it on the official website. Candidates can use their valid PET score to apply for various main examinations conducted by UPSSSC during this period.

Q7. Can The PET 2026 Application Form Be Corrected After Submission?

Yes, but only within the correction window. UPSSSC will open application correction from 10 August 2026, and candidates can modify permissible details such as email, intermediate qualification, marital status, EWS status and age relaxation claims until 8 September 2026. No correction request will be entertained after this date.

Q8. What Is The Application Fee For UPSSSC PET 2026?

General and OBC candidates need to pay a total of Rs 185, which includes Rs 160 application fee and Rs 25 online processing fee. SC and ST candidates pay a total of Rs 95, made up of Rs 70 application fee and Rs 25 processing fee. Divyangjan candidates only need to pay the Rs 25 processing fee. Candidates belonging to freedom fighter dependents, ex-servicemen, outstanding sportspersons and women pay according to their original category.

Source

This article is based on the official UPSSSC PET 2026 notification, Advertisement No. 16-Pariksha/2026, published by the Uttar Pradesh Adhinasth Seva Chayan Ayog. Candidates should verify all details and check for updates on the official website, upsssc.gov.in, before applying.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is based on the official notification available at the time of writing. Candidates are advised to cross-check all dates, fees and eligibility conditions on the official UPSSSC website before applying, as the Commission's own notification remains the final authority in case of any discrepancy.