Uttar Pradesh Government Exam
UPSSSC PET 2026: Notification, Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Complete Guide
The mandatory gateway exam for all Group B & C posts in Uttar Pradesh — 100 questions, 100 marks, 2 hours, 15 subjects. Score valid for 3 years. Know everything before you apply.
✅ 10th Pass Eligible ⚠️ −0.25 Negative Marking 🏛️ UPSSSC Conducts 📅 Exam: Sep 2026 (Expected)
The UPSSSC PET 2026 — Preliminary Eligibility Test — is conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) as a mandatory screening exam for all Group B and Group C government posts in Uttar Pradesh. Introduced in 2021, PET has become the single entry point for coveted posts like UP Lekhpal, VDO, Junior Assistant, Forest Guard, X-Ray Technician, and dozens more. Candidates who clear PET 2026 earn a scorecard valid for 3 years, opening the door to multiple UPSSSC mains exams without reappearing. The exam has 100 MCQs across 15 subjects, 100 marks, 2 hours, and a negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer.
🔑 Key Fact: UPSSSC PET is not a recruitment exam — it is a qualifying screening test. Clearing PET makes you eligible to apply for specific Group B & C mains exams. PET score alone does not guarantee a job.
📋 UPSSSC PET 2026 — Quick Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Full Name | Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) |
| Conducting Authority | Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) |
| Exam Type | Qualifying / Screening Test (not direct recruitment) |
| Posts Covered After PET | Group B & Group C — Lekhpal, VDO, Junior Assistant, Forest Guard, X-Ray Technician, etc. |
| Notification Expected | May–June 2026 |
| Exam Date (Expected) | September 2026 (6–7 Sep 2025 in previous cycle) |
| Mode of Exam | Offline — OMR-based (Pen & Paper) |
| Total Questions | 100 (MCQ) |
| Total Marks | 100 Marks |
| Duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
| Negative Marking | −0.25 marks per wrong answer |
| Number of Subjects | 15 Sections |
| Difficulty Level | NCERT Class 10–12 Level (for sections 1–9) |
| PET Score Validity | 3 Years from Result Date (increased from 1 year from PET 2025) |
| Minimum Qualification | Class 10 (High School) pass from a recognised Board |
| Age Limit | 18 to 40 Years |
| Official Website | upsssc.gov.in |
🔍 What is UPSSSC PET?
UPSSSC PET stands for Preliminary Eligibility Test, introduced by the Uttar Pradesh government in 2021 to streamline Group B and C recruitment. Before PET was introduced, UPSSSC conducted separate written exams for each post — causing operational delays and duplication. PET standardised the process by acting as a single gateway score.
🎯
NOT a Recruitment Exam
PET only qualifies you for mains exams — it does not directly give you a job. Post-specific mains exams follow PET.
🔓
Gateway to 20+ UP Posts
One PET score opens the door to Lekhpal, VDO, Junior Assistant, Forest Guard, Clerk, Stenographer, and more.
⏳
3-Year Scorecard Validity
From PET 2025 onwards, your score stays valid for 3 years — apply to multiple UPSSSC recruitments without reappearing.
🔄
No Attempt Limit
No restrictions on the number of times you can appear for PET — attempt every year until the age limit.
✅ UPSSSC PET 2026 — Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have passed Class 10 (High School / Matriculation) or an equivalent examination from a recognised Board in India on or before the application closing date. There is no upper qualification bar — graduates, postgraduates, and diploma holders are all eligible.
Age Limit
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 18 Years | 40 Years |
| OBC (UP) | 18 Years | 43 Years (+3 years relaxation) |
| SC / ST (UP) | 18 Years | 45 Years (+5 years relaxation) |
| PwD | 18 Years | 55 Years (+15 years relaxation) |
| Ex-Servicemen | 18 Years | As per UP Government norms |
Note: Age relaxation applies only to domicile candidates of Uttar Pradesh as per current UP Government orders. Candidates from other states are treated as General (UR) category.
📊 UPSSSC PET 2026 — Exam Pattern
100
Total Questions
100
Total Marks
2 Hrs
Duration
−0.25
Neg. Marking
15
Subjects
Subject-Wise Marks Distribution (15 Sections)
| Sr. No. | Subject / Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian History | 5 | 5 |
| 2 | Indian National Movement | 5 | 5 |
| 3 | Geography | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | Indian Economy | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Indian Constitution & Public Administration | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | General Science | 5 | 5 |
| 7 | Elementary Arithmetic | 5 | 5 |
| 8 | General Hindi | 5 | 5 |
| 9 | General English | 5 | 5 |
| 10 | Logic & Reasoning | 5 | 5 |
| 11 | Current Affairs | 10 | 10 |
| 12 | General Awareness | 10 | 10 |
| 13 | Analysis of Hindi Unseen Passage (2 Passages) | 10 | 10 |
| 14 | Graph Interpretation — 2 Graphs | 10 | 10 |
| 15 | Table Interpretation & Analysis — 2 Tables | 10 | 10 |
| TOTAL | 100 | 100 | |
⚠️ High-Weightage Sections: Sections 11–15 together carry 50 marks (50% of total) — Current Affairs (10), General Awareness (10), Hindi Passages (10), Graph Interpretation (10), Table Analysis (10). These must be the highest-priority preparation areas.
📚 UPSSSC PET 2026 — Complete Syllabus (15 Sections)
Difficulty level for Sections 1–9: NCERT Class 10 (Secondary/Senior Secondary) level.
5 Marks
1. Indian History
- Ancient India — Indus Valley Civilisation, Vedic Age, Maurya Empire, Gupta Period
- Medieval India — Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Vijayanagara Kingdom, Bhakti and Sufi movements
- Modern India — British colonial administration, social reform movements
- Important rulers, their reign periods, and achievements
- Cultural developments — literature, architecture, religion
5 Marks
2. Indian National Movement
- Freedom struggle — 1857 Revolt (Sepoy Mutiny), causes and consequences
- Indian National Congress — formation and key sessions
- Major movements — Swadeshi, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India
- Key leaders — Gandhi, Nehru, Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose, Tilak, Gokhale
- Partition of Bengal, communal politics, and Independence (1947)
- Role of UP in the freedom movement — Lucknow Pact, UP-specific events
5 Marks
3. Geography
- Physical geography of India — Himalayan region, Northern Plains, Deccan Plateau, coastal areas
- Major rivers — Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery
- Climate — monsoon, seasons, rainfall distribution
- Natural resources — forests, minerals, water bodies
- Economic geography — agriculture zones, industries, transport
- World Geography — continents, oceans, important countries and capitals
- Uttar Pradesh geography — districts, rivers, climate, agriculture
5 Marks
4. Indian Economy
- Indian economic system — GDP, per capita income, inflation, fiscal deficit
- Five Year Plans and NITI Aayog
- Agriculture — Green Revolution, agricultural reforms, irrigation
- Industries — public and private sector, cottage and small industries
- Banking and Finance — RBI, commercial banks, financial inclusion
- Union Budget highlights and important economic schemes
- UP Economy — agriculture, sugarcane, leather industry, IT parks, MSME
5 Marks
5. Indian Constitution & Public Administration
- Preamble and key features of the Indian Constitution
- Fundamental Rights (Articles 12–35) and Fundamental Duties
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Parliament — Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, legislative process
- President, Vice-President, Prime Minister — powers and functions
- Supreme Court and High Courts — judiciary basics
- State Government — Governor, Chief Minister, Vidhan Sabha (UP focus)
- Panchayati Raj — 73rd and 74th Amendments
- Public administration basics — governance, decentralisation
5 Marks
6. General Science (Class 10–12 Level)
- Physics: Laws of motion, gravity, light (reflection/refraction), electricity, heat, sound
- Chemistry: Periodic table basics, acids/bases/salts, chemical reactions, metals and non-metals, carbon compounds
- Biology: Human body systems (digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous), diseases, nutrition, reproduction
- Everyday science applications — technology in daily life
- Environmental science — pollution, ecosystem, biodiversity
5 Marks
7. Elementary Arithmetic
- Number System — integers, fractions, decimals, LCM, HCF
- Percentage and its applications
- Profit and Loss, Discount
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Ratio and Proportion
- Time and Work, Pipes and Cisterns
- Time and Distance
- Average and Ages
- Mensuration — Area, Perimeter, Volume of basic shapes
5 Marks
8. General Hindi
- Sandhi and Sandhi-Vicchheda (Union and separation of words)
- Samas (Compound words — all 6 types)
- Upsarg (Prefixes) and Pratyay (Suffixes)
- Paryayvachi (Synonyms) and Vilom (Antonyms)
- Muhavare (Idioms) and Lokoktiyan (Proverbs)
- Vakya Shuddhi (Sentence Correction) and Shabd Shuddhi (Word Correction)
- Karak, Ling, Vachan, Kaal (Grammar basics)
5 Marks
9. General English
- Basic Grammar — Tenses, Subject-Verb Agreement, Articles, Prepositions
- Vocabulary — Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word Substitution
- Error Detection / Spotting Errors
- Fill in the Blanks
- Idioms and Phrases
- Reading Comprehension — short passage
5 Marks
10. Logic & Reasoning
- Analogies — Verbal and Non-Verbal
- Number and Alphabet Series
- Coding-Decoding
- Blood Relations
- Direction and Distance
- Syllogism (Statement-Conclusion)
- Ranking and Ordering
- Venn Diagrams
- Logical sequence and Odd One Out
🔥 High-Weightage Sections (50 Marks Total) — Must-Focus Areas
Section 11: Current Affairs (10 Marks)
- National & international events (last 6 months)
- Sports achievements
- Government schemes & policies
- Awards & appointments
- UP-specific current events
Section 12: General Awareness (10 Marks)
- Static GK — countries, capitals, currencies
- Important organizations & HQ
- National symbols, days, events
- Science discoveries & inventions
- Famous personalities
Section 13: Hindi Unseen Passages (10 Marks)
- 2 Hindi passages — 5 questions each
- Vocabulary-based questions
- Understanding and comprehension
- Main idea identification
Sections 14 & 15: Graph & Table (20 Marks)
- 2 Graphs — Bar, Line, Pie charts (10 marks)
- 2 Tables — data reading & analysis (10 marks)
- Calculation-based questions
- Percentage, ratio, averages from data
🏛️ Posts Available After UPSSSC PET Qualification
Once you have a valid PET score, you can apply for any of the following Group B and C posts when UPSSSC releases recruitment notifications:
| Post Name | Department | Approx. Pay Level |
|---|---|---|
| UP Lekhpal | Revenue Department | Level-5 |
| Village Development Officer (VDO) | Panchayati Raj | Level-5 |
| Junior Assistant | Various Departments | Level-2 |
| Forest Guard & Wildlife Guard | Forest Department | Level-4 |
| X-Ray Technician | Health Department | Level-4 |
| Lower PCS / Lower Subordinate | Various | Level-5 to 6 |
| Stenographer (Group C) | Various | Level-4 |
| Mukhya Sevika & ANM | Women & Child Development | Level-4 |
🎯 UPSSSC PET 2026 — Best Preparation Strategy
📊 Priority 1: Sections 11–15 (50 Marks)
- Current Affairs: Read daily news; make a 2-page monthly summary of key events, appointments, schemes
- General Awareness: Build static GK bank — countries, capitals, inventions, symbols
- Hindi Passages: Practice 1–2 passages daily; improve reading speed
- Graph & Table: Practice 20–25 DI questions daily — fastest marks to gain
📖 Priority 2: Sections 1–6 (30 Marks)
- History: NCERT Class 8–10 History; focus on freedom struggle timeline
- Geography: NCERT Class 9–10 Geography; map-based UP geography
- Polity: NCERT Civics Class 9–10; key Constitutional articles
- Economy: Basic concepts + recent budget highlights
- Science: NCERT Class 9–10 Science — all three branches
✏️ Priority 3: Sections 7–10 (20 Marks)
- Arithmetic: Percentage, Ratio, SI/CI, Time & Work — 15 questions daily
- Hindi Grammar: Sandhi, Samas, Muhavare — revise daily
- English: Grammar basics + 5–10 vocabulary words daily
- Reasoning: Series, Coding-Decoding, Syllogism — 10 questions daily
⚠️ Negative Marking Strategy (Critical)
- Every wrong answer costs 0.25 marks — 4 wrong answers = 1 mark lost
- Never guess randomly in History, Geography, or Science — these are fact-based
- In Current Affairs and GK — educated guesses are acceptable since options are often narrow
- In Graph/Table sections — attempt only if you understand the data clearly
- Safe target: Attempt 80–85 questions with high accuracy rather than attempting all 100 with guesses
- Previous year PET cut-offs: 60–80 marks (for Lekhpal/VDO eligibility) — set this as your floor target
📅 Study Plan — 90 Days Before Exam
| Phase | Duration | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Days 1–30 | NCERT revision (History, Geography, Polity, Science); Build Arithmetic & Reasoning basics; Start daily current affairs reading |
| Intensive | Days 31–60 | Daily Hindi grammar + English practice; Graph & Table DI — 2 sets per day; Previous year PET papers; Build GK static notes |
| Mock Test & Revision | Days 61–90 | 3 full mock tests per week; Hindi passage speed improvement; Current affairs — last 6 months comprehensive revision; Analyse mock test accuracy |
📈 UPSSSC PET Previous Year Cut-Off Reference
Cut-off marks in UPSSSC PET vary based on the post you apply for after qualifying. The PET merit list cut-off (to qualify for any further mains) typically ranges between 60–80 marks out of 100 for General category candidates.
| Category | PET 2025 Cut-Off (Approximate) | Safe Score Target |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 70–80 | 85+ |
| OBC | 65–75 | 80+ |
| SC | 60–70 | 75+ |
| ST | 55–65 | 70+ |
Note: These are approximate PET merit list cut-off ranges for eligibility in subsequent recruitments (like Lekhpal, VDO). Post-specific mains cut-offs differ. Scoring 90+ gives you a strong competitive advantage across all posts.
📕 Important Books for UPSSSC PET 2026 Preparation
| Subject | Recommended Resource | Author / Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| History & National Movement | NCERT History (Class 8, 9, 10) | NCERT |
| Geography | NCERT Geography (Class 9, 10) + UP Geography | NCERT / Local Publishers |
| Indian Polity & Constitution | Indian Polity | M. Laxmikanth (simplified) |
| General Science | NCERT Science (Class 9, 10) | NCERT |
| Elementary Arithmetic | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Logic & Reasoning | A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
| General Hindi | Samaanya Hindi | Thakur Prasad |
| General English | Objective General English | S.P. Bakshi |
| Current Affairs & GK | Monthly GK & Current Affairs Digest | Pratiyogita Darpan / GK Today |
| Previous Year Papers | UPSSSC PET Solved Papers | Arihant / Kiran Prakashan |
UPSSSC PET 2026 — Official Website & How to Apply
UPSSSC PET 2026 applications are submitted online through the official website upsssc.gov.in. Candidates must first complete the One-Time Registration (OTR), then log in, fill the PET application form, upload the required documents, pay the fee and submit. Always verify dates, eligibility and notification details on the official site upsssc.gov.in before applying.