UPSSSC PET 2026 – Complete Guide
The Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) is your mandatory entry ticket to Group B and C government jobs in Uttar Pradesh. Conducted by UPSSSC, it covers 15 subjects in a single 2-hour paper (100 MCQs, 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer). Score valid for 3 years from result date — clear PET 2026 and unlock access to Lekhpal, VDO, Forest Guard and dozens more UP sarkari posts.
📅 Last Updated: 28 May 2026
What is UPSSSC PET 2026?
UPSSSC PET (Preliminary Eligibility Test) is a pre-screening written exam made mandatory by the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission since 2021. Any candidate wishing to apply for Group B and C posts under UPSSSC must clear this test first — it is not a recruitment exam by itself, but a gateway score that qualifies you for subsequent main exams.
The exam tests 15 subjects in 100 MCQ questions over 2 hours. There is negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer, so accuracy matters alongside speed. UPSSSC releases a merit list of qualified candidates; only those who meet the cut-off for a specific recruitment are called for that exam's next stage. Note: UPSSSC has not fixed a single minimum qualifying mark for PET — actual category-wise cut-offs for subsequent main recruitments typically range between 60 to 80 out of 100 (PET 2025 cut-offs were in this range).
💡 Key fact: From PET 2025 onwards, your PET score is valid for 3 years from the result date (previously 1 year). During this window, you can apply for multiple UPSSSC main recruitment exams (Lekhpal, VDO, Junior Assistant, etc.) without reappearing for PET.
Important Dates – 2026 Timeline
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| UPSSSC PET 2021 Exam Held | 24 August 2021 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2021 Result Released | 28 October 2021 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2022 Exam Held | 15 & 16 October 2022 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2022 Result Released | 25 January 2023 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2023 Notification Released | August 2023 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2023 Exam Held | 28 & 29 October 2023 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2023 Result Released | 29 January 2024 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2025 Notification Released | 2 May 2025 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2025 Application Window | 14 May – 17 June 2025 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2025 Exam Held | 6 & 7 September 2025 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2025 Answer Key Released | 9 September 2025 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2025 Result Released | 5 December 2025 | ✅ Done |
| UPSSSC PET 2025 Revised Scorecard | 9 December 2025 | ✅ Done |
| 🆕 UPSSSC PET 2026 – Notification | To Be Notified (TBN) | ⚠️ TBN |
| UPSSSC PET 2026 – Application Window | To Be Notified (TBN) | ⚠️ TBN |
| UPSSSC PET 2026 – Admit Card | To Be Notified (TBN) | ⚠️ TBN |
| UPSSSC PET 2026 – Exam Date | To Be Notified (TBN) | ⚠️ TBN |
| UPSSSC PET 2026 – Result | To Be Notified (TBN) | ⚠️ TBN |
Eligibility Criteria 2026
Nationality
Indian citizen. Domicile of Uttar Pradesh is required for most UPSSSC posts (though PET itself is open to all Indians).
Educational Qualification
Minimum 10th Pass (High School) from a recognised Board. Graduates/PG candidates are also eligible — no upper bar on qualification.
Age Limit (General)
Minimum 18 years. Maximum 40 years as on 1 July of the notification year. Age is counted as on the date specified in the PET notification.
Age Relaxation
OBC: +3 years | SC/ST: +5 years | PwBD (General): +10 years | PwBD (OBC): +13 years | PwBD (SC/ST): +15 years | Ex-Serviceman: as per UP Govt. rules. Relaxation applies only to UP domicile categories.
PET Cycle History (2021–2026)
UPSSSC PET has been conducted since 2021 (held in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025 — no PET was held in 2024). From PET 2025 onwards, score validity was extended from 1 year to 3 years.
| Cycle | Exam Date | Result | Applicants | Score Valid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PET 2021 | Aug 2021 | Oct 2021 | ~17.99 Lakh (appeared) | 1 Year |
| PET 2022 | Oct 2022 | Jan 2023 | ~25 Lakh (appeared) | 1 Year |
| PET 2023 | Oct 2023 | Jan 2024 | 12.58 Lakh (appeared) | 1 Year |
| PET 2025 | Sep 6–7, 2025 | Dec 5, 2025 | 19.43 Lakh (appeared) | 3 Years ✅ |
| PET 2026 (upcoming) | TBN | TBN | TBN | 3 Years (Expected) |
UPSSSC PET 2026 Exam Pattern
| S.No | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Indian History | 5 |
| 02 | Indian National Movement | 5 |
| 03 | Geography (India + World) | 5 |
| 04 | Indian Economy | 5 |
| 05 | Indian Constitution & Public Admin | 5 |
| 06 | General Science | 5 |
| 07 | Elementary Mathematics (Up to 8th) | 5 |
| 08 | General Hindi | 5 |
| 09 | General English (Up to 8th) | 5 |
| 10 | Reasoning & Mental Ability | 5 |
| 11 | General Awareness (Current Affairs) | 10 |
| 12 | Hindi Apathit Gadyansh (2 passages) | 10 |
| 13 | English Apathit Gadyansh (2 passages) | 10 |
| 14 | Graph Interpretation (2 graphs) | 10 |
| 15 | Table Interpretation (2 tables) | 10 |
| Total | 100 | |
Detailed Syllabus – All 15 Subjects
01Indian History5 marks
02Indian National Movement5 marks
03Geography5 marks
04Indian Economy5 marks
05Indian Constitution & Public Administration5 marks
06General Science5 marks
07Elementary Mathematics5 marks
08General Hindi5 marks
09General English5 marks
10Reasoning & Mental Ability5 marks
11General Awareness10 marks
12Apathit Hindi Gadyansh10 marks
13Apathit English Gadyansh10 marks
14Graph Interpretation10 marks
15Table Interpretation10 marks
Previous Year Cut-offs (Out of 100)
| Category | PET 2021 | PET 2022 | PET 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | ~65–70 | ~60–65 | ~58–63 |
| OBC | ~58–63 | ~53–58 | ~51–56 |
| SC | ~45–50 | ~41–46 | ~39–44 |
| ST | ~40–45 | ~37–42 | ~35–40 |
After PET – Posts You Can Apply For
Once you clear UPSSSC PET, your score remains valid for 3 years and you can apply for these major Group B and C recruitment exams without reappearing for PET:
| Post | Department | Pay Level | Salary | Vacancies 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lekhpal (Revenue Patwari) | Revenue & Land Records, UP | Pay Level 3 | ₹21,700–₹69,100/month | 7,994 (Advt 02/2025, Mains 21 May 2026) |
| Junior Assistant / Clerk | Various State Departments | Pay Level 3 | ₹21,700–₹69,100/month | Varies (released post-wise) |
| VDO (Village Development Officer) | Panchayati Raj, UP | Pay Level 3 | ₹21,700–₹69,100/month | 1,468 (Advt 01/2023) |
| Forest Guard / Wildlife Guard | Forest Department, UP | Pay Level 2 | ₹19,900–₹63,200/month | 708 (Advt 12-Pariksha/2026) |
| Supply Inspector | Food & Civil Supplies, UP | Pay Level 6 | ₹35,400–₹1,12,400/month | Notified Separately |
| Group C Posts (Various) | Multiple Departments, UP | Level 2–6 | ₹19,900–₹1,12,400/month | 10,000+ annually |
- UP Lekhpal 2025-26 (7,994 posts) — Mains Exam scheduled 21 May 2026 (Advt 02-Exam/2025)
- UPSSSC Forest Guard & Wildlife Guard 2026 (708 posts) — Apply online 30 June – 20 July 2026 (Advt 12-Pariksha/2026)
- UPSSSC Combined Lower Subordinate (Graduate Level) 2026 (2,285 posts) — Apply online 29 May – 18 June 2026 (Advt 07-Exam/2026)
- UPSSSC ASO / ARO 2025 (929 posts) — Applications opened April 2026 for PET 2025-qualified candidates
All notifications open only to candidates with a valid PET 2025 scorecard. Verify all dates and details at upsssc.gov.in.
How to Apply for UPSSSC PET 2026
Register on UPSSSC Portal
Visit upsssc.gov.in. Click "Apply" → "New Registration". Enter your name, mobile number and email. You will receive an OTP. Verify and create a password. Save your Registration Number.
Fill Application Form
Login with your credentials. Fill personal details, educational qualification, category, gender and UP domicile details accurately. Cross-check everything before proceeding — corrections are only allowed in the correction window.
Upload Photo & Signature
Upload a recent colour passport-size photo (20–50 KB, JPEG) and your handwritten signature (10–20 KB, JPEG). Dimensions: Photo 3.5×4.5 cm, Signature 3.5×1.5 cm.
Pay Application Fee
General/OBC: ₹185 | SC/ST: ₹95 | PwBD: ₹25. Payment via SBI Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card or Challan. Keep payment receipt for records. (Fees as per PET 2025 — may be revised for PET 2026.)
Submit & Print
Submit the form and download/print the confirmation page. Store it safely along with your payment receipt. Your application ID will be needed for admit card and all future correspondence.
4-Month Study Plan for UPSSSC PET 2026
Foundation: History, Geography & Polity
- ✓Indian History: Complete Class 6–10 NCERT books first (2 weeks)
- ✓Geography: India & World – NCERT Class 9–10 (1 week)
- ✓Indian Constitution: Basics of Preamble, FRs, DPSPs (1 week)
- ✓Daily: 30 min General Hindi grammar practice
Core Subjects: Economy, Science & Maths
- ✓Indian Economy: NCERT Class 9–10 + UP Economy focus (1 week)
- ✓General Science: Class 8–10 NCERT (1 week)
- ✓Maths: Percentage, SI/CI, Profit/Loss, Time-Work (2 weeks)
- ✓Daily: 20 questions from previous year papers
Language & Reasoning
- ✓Hindi: Vyakaran (Sandhi, Samas, Vilom, Paryayvachi) – all 3 weeks mixed with daily practice
- ✓English: Tense, Voice, Narration, Comprehension (1 week)
- ✓Reasoning: Series, Analogy, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations (2 weeks)
- ✓Daily: 1 full passage reading with comprehension
Data & Current Affairs + Full Mock Tests
- ✓Graph & Table Interpretation: 25 questions/day from previous papers
- ✓Current Affairs: Last 6 months – read monthly compilation PDF
- ✓Weekly: 2 full mock tests (100 Q / 2 hrs each)
- ✓Final 2 weeks: Revise weak topics only, no new material
Best Books for UPSSSC PET 2026
| Book | Author | Subject | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samanya Hindi | Dr. Hardev Bahri | General Hindi | — |
| Wren & Martin – High School Grammar | P.C. Wren & H. Martin | General English | — |
| Modern Indian History | Vipin Chandra | Indian History | — |
| Indian Polity (Laxmikanth) | M. Laxmikanth | Indian Polity | Buy |
| Geography of India | Majid Husain | Geography | — |
| Lucent's General Science | Lucent Publications | General Science | Buy |
| Rakesh Yadav Class Notes Maths | Rakesh Yadav | Mathematics | Buy |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal | Reasoning | Buy |
| Monthly Current Affairs Capsule | GK Today / Affairscloud | Current Affairs | — |
| UPSSSC PET Previous Year Papers | Arihant / Kiran | UPSSSC PET Practice | — |
Free Study Resources
Official notifications, admit cards, results and answer keys.
Free Hindi lectures on History, Polity, Science for PET.
Detailed UP PET subject-wise classes in Hindi. Very popular.
Free daily current affairs and monthly PDF compilations.
Free and paid mock tests matching actual PET pattern.
Free live classes and doubt sessions for all PET subjects.
Expert Tips to Crack UPSSSC PET 2026
Graph & Table = 20 Marks – Don't Ignore
Sections 14 and 15 (Graph & Table Interpretation) together carry 20 marks but are often skipped. Practice 20–25 DI questions daily from last year's papers — it's the fastest way to add marks.
Current Affairs: Last 6 Months Is Enough
10 marks in Section 11 come purely from the last 6 months of national and UP-level news. Make a short 2-page handwritten notes sheet of key appointments, awards and schemes before the exam.
PET Score Is Valid for 3 Years Now
From PET 2025 onwards, your UPSSSC PET score is valid for 3 years from the date of result. This gives you multiple chances to apply for UPSSSC main recruitment exams (Lekhpal, VDO, Junior Assistant, etc.) — plan strategically across recruitment cycles.
Beware of Negative Marking (–0.25)
UPSSSC PET deducts 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. Don't blindly guess — but don't leave too many blank either. If you can eliminate 2 options, attempt the question. UPSSSC has not fixed a single minimum qualifying mark — actual category-wise cut-offs typically fall in the 60–80 range out of 100.
Section-Wise Target: 70+ Out of 100
A score of 70+ is typically safe for General category for most subsequent recruitments. Aim for 8–9 correct in every 10-mark subject rather than trying to ace one and neglect others.
Master UP-Specific GK
Questions on UP districts, rivers, schemes (UP Lekhpal, UP Ration, UP Bhumi), UP Chief Minister's initiatives, and state capitals appear every year. Dedicate one dedicated week to UP-specific GK before the exam.
UPSSSC PET 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPSSSC PET and why is it important?
Who is eligible for UPSSSC PET 2026?
What is the exam pattern for UPSSSC PET 2026?
Is there negative marking in UPSSSC PET?
How long is the UPSSSC PET score valid?
What is the application fee for UPSSSC PET?
The information provided on this page is compiled from the official UPSSSC website (upsssc.gov.in), the UPSSSC PET 2025 notification, and reputable aggregator sources (Careers360, Testbook, FreeJobAlert, Adda247) as of 28 May 2026. While we strive to keep all dates, vacancies, salary figures, eligibility criteria and exam patterns accurate and up to date, government recruitment information can change without notice — particularly fees, vacancies, dates and pay-commission revisions.
UPSSSC PET 2026 notification has not been released as of this update — all 2026 dates are marked "To Be Notified (TBN)". Salary figures shown reflect the 7th Pay Commission matrix currently in effect (the 8th Pay Commission was constituted in November 2025 and its report is expected mid-2027; until then, all UP government salaries remain under the 7th CPC structure).
Before applying for UPSSSC PET 2026 or any linked recruitment, candidates must verify all details — including eligibility, fees, age limits, and important dates — directly from the official notification PDF on upsssc.gov.in. TaiyarHo.in is an independent free preparation guide and is not affiliated with UPSSSC or the Government of Uttar Pradesh.