UPSSSC PET Notification 2026 Out – Apply Online for Preliminary Eligibility Test @upsssc.gov.in

The UPSSSC PET Notification 2026 has been officially released, and it’s one of the most important dates on the calendar for every UP government job aspirant this year. The Uttar Pradesh Adhinasth Seva Chayan Aayog (UPSSSC) published the notification on 1 August 2026 under Advertisement No. 16-Pariksha/2026, and the online application window opens on 3 August 2026.

Here’s why this matters: you cannot apply for any Group ‘C’ post under UPSSSC’s jurisdiction unless you clear PET first. It’s the mandatory first-tier screening exam — think of it as your entry ticket to every UPSSSC recruitment for the next three years. Candidates aged 18 to 40 with a High School (Class 10) qualification are eligible. Applications close on 1 September 2026, so there’s no reason to wait.

Below you’ll find the complete overview, important dates, eligibility, fee structure, exam pattern insights, and a step-by-step apply guide.

📌 Also Read: Get Latest Uttar Pradesh State Government Job Notification – All In One Place

📌 Also Read: Latest Government Job Notifications 2026 – All Sarkari Naukri in one Place

UPSSSC PET Notification 2026 – Quick Overview

UPSSSC PET 2026 Important Dates

⚠️ Don’t wait for the last day! UPSSSC’s OTR and payment gateway tend to slow down when traffic spikes close to deadlines — apply a few days early to avoid last-minute trouble.

Why PET Matters More Than You Think

Since November 2020, UPSSSC has followed a two-tier selection system for every Group ‘C’ post it recruits for. PET is Tier 1 — a common eligibility test that doesn’t fill a specific post by itself. Instead, your PET score qualifies you to apply for individual recruitments (Junior Assistant, Gram Panchayat Adhikari, Forest Guard, and dozens of other posts) that UPSSSC advertises separately through the year.

Under Government Order No. 316/47-Ka-3-2025, your score stays valid for 3 years from the date of result declaration. If you already hold a valid PET score from an earlier year, UPSSSC will automatically consider your highest normalized score when shortlisting you for any Main Examination — so if you’re not confident this year, your existing score still works. But if you don’t have one, skipping PET-2026 means you sit out of every UPSSSC Group C recruitment until the next cycle.

📌 Also Read: UPSSSC Lower PCS Recruitment 2026 — one of the Main Exams that a valid PET score can unlock.

UPSSSC PET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

You need a High School (Class 10) or equivalent certificate, completed before the application closing date. There’s no upper qualification cap — graduates and postgraduates can apply too, since PET is just the eligibility gateway, not a post-specific exam.

Age Limit (as on 1 July 2026)

✅ If you’re claiming relaxation under a court order or special service rule, you must enter the exact order/rule reference in your application — vague claims get rejected during verification.

UPSSSC PET 2026 Application Fee

💡 Pro Tip: Fees can be paid via Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or SBI e-Challan. If your payment goes through but the application form doesn’t appear, don’t panic and don’t pay again — use the “Update Your Transaction ID by Double Verification Mode” option on the UPSSSC homepage instead.

One Time Registration (OTR) Is Now Mandatory

This is the biggest procedural change for PET 2026. UPSSSC rolled out One Time Registration (OTR) from 14 July 2026, and you cannot apply for PET 2026 without completing it first. Here’s what to know:

• If you registered OTR using your PET-2025 registration number, your name, date of birth, and mobile number are locked and can’t be edited. Everything else can be updated.
• If you’re registering fresh, only your mobile number is locked.
• Once you get a PET-2026 registration number, no further changes are allowed to either your OTR or your application — there’s no offline correction window either.
• UPSSSC will verify your Aadhaar details at later stages of the process, so make sure your OTR details match your Aadhaar exactly.

⚠️ Double-check every field in OTR before you begin your PET application. A single typo in your name or category can’t be fixed later.

UPSSSC PET 2026 Exam Pattern

The PET is a 100-mark, objective-type multiple-choice test, to be completed in 2 hours. Based on past PET cycles, expect ¼ mark negative marking for each wrong answer, and questions spread across general knowledge, current affairs, reasoning, general science, elementary arithmetic, general Hindi, and general English. UPSSSC hasn’t published a fresh subject-wise breakup for 2026 yet — refer to the official notification PDF once the detailed syllabus is out.

💡 Pro Tip: Because PET covers such a wide range of subjects, aspirants who build a strong general-awareness habit (reading a daily newspaper, tracking government schemes) tend to do better than those who cram only static GK a week before the exam.

📌 Also Read: UPSSSC Technical Assistant Recruitment 2026 for a look at one of the Main Exams open to PET-qualified candidates.

How to Apply for UPSSSC PET 2026

The application has four stages — Authentication, Registration, Fee Payment, and Print Out. Here’s how to complete each one:

1. Log in via OTR: Go to upsssc.gov.in and enter your OTR number or registered mobile number. Click “Get OTP,” enter the OTP and verification code, and log in. Your form auto-fills with your OTR details.
2. Fill in the remaining details: Add your intermediate qualification (if any), marital status, EWS status, UP government employee status, freedom fighter dependent status, ex-servicemen status, sportsperson category, disability details, and any additional age relaxation claims.
3. Read and accept the declaration: Scroll to the bottom, read the declaration carefully, select “Yes,” enter the verification code, and submit. You’ll get an 11-digit Registration Slip — save it immediately.
4. Pay the fee and download your form: Click “Proceed for Payment” on your Registration Slip, choose your payment mode, and wait for confirmation without refreshing the page. Once confirmed, download and print your application form — your application isn’t complete until you do this.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep a scanned photo (20–50 KB) and signature (10–40 KB) ready in advance, along with your Aadhaar and educational certificates, so the OTR and application process goes smoothly in one sitting.

📌 Also Read: UPSSSC ASO/ARO Recruitment 2026 for another upcoming UPSSSC opportunity worth tracking alongside PET.

UPSSSC PET 2026 Important Links

For more state-level opportunities, browse our Sarkari Naukri – State Government Jobs section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summing Up…

The UPSSSC PET Notification 2026 is your entry point to every Group ‘C’ government job UPSSSC will advertise over the next three years — so treat it with the seriousness it deserves, even though it doesn’t fill a specific post by itself. Complete your OTR early, double-check every detail before you lock it in, and submit your application well before 1 September 2026.

Stay ahead of application deadlines — follow Govtserviceinfo.com for daily Sarkari Naukri alerts, UPSSSC exam updates, and admit card notifications as soon as they’re out.

Disclaimer: All information in this article has been sourced from the official recruitment notification published by UPSSSC. GovtServiceInfo.com is not a recruiting authority and does not accept job applications. We strongly recommend reading the full official notification before applying and verifying all details — especially dates, eligibility, and fees — directly from upsssc.gov.in. We are not responsible for any changes made by the recruiting authority after the date of publication.