UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026: 1,475 Pradhanacharya Vacancies, Eligibility and Salary
The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC), Prayagraj has released Advertisement No. 08/2026 for 1,475 Principal (Pradhanacharya) posts in aided non-government Intermediate Colleges of Uttar Pradesh. The pay is Level-12, ₹78,800 to ₹2,09,200. If you are an experienced teacher who wants to lead a school, this is a rare and big opening.
Online registration and application started on 23 October 2026, and the last date for online fee payment is 22 November 2026. All posts are unreserved, and the fee is the same for everyone. Read this guide to the end, because GovtJobsAlert.in has listed the conditions that can get an application rejected.
Key Highlights of UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission, Prayagraj |
| Advertisement Number | 08/2026 |
| Post | Principal (Pradhanacharya), aided non-government Intermediate Colleges |
| Total Vacancies | 1,475 |
| Pay Scale | Level-12, ₹78,800 – ₹2,09,200 |
| Job Location | Aided Intermediate Colleges across Uttar Pradesh |
| Mode | Online only, through One Time Registration (OTR) |
| Last Date (Fee Payment) | 22 November 2026 |
The notification gives no separate “last date to apply”. The only closing date it prints is the last date to pay the online fee, so treat 22 November 2026 as your deadline for the whole application.
How Many Principal Vacancies Are There in UPESSC Recruitment 2026?
| Post | Colleges | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Principal | Boys’ colleges | 1,318 |
| Principal | Girls’ colleges | 157 |
| Total | All colleges | 1,475 |
Every one of the 1,475 posts is Unreserved (UR), one post per college. The commission may increase or decrease the number of vacancies later. The total includes posts carried over from earlier requisitions, as the High Court ordered on 15 April 2026 in Special Appeal No. 376/2026.
| Requisition Year | Boys’ Colleges | Girls’ Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 530 | 69 |
| 2021-22 | 114 | 8 |
| 2026 | 674 | 80 |
The college-wise list of all 1,475 posts is given in the notification PDF, so check which district and college you may be allotted.
What Is the Eligibility for UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026?
You need all three of the following. Missing even one means you are not eligible.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Post-graduate degree | At least 50% marks from a recognised university, deemed university or institution |
| B.Ed. | From an NCTE-recognised course |
| Experience | At least 4 years as Lecturer or Assistant Teacher in Classes 9 to 12 of a Central or State Government recognised institution, or 4 years as Headmaster of a High School |
| Qualification cut-off | All three must be held by the last date for accepting applications |
| Exam admission | Provisional; if found ineligible at any stage, candidature is cancelled, even after recommendation |
The experience certificate must be issued at the competent level in the format of Appendix-2. That means it is issued by the district-level officer and countersigned by the divisional officer. For Kendriya Vidyalayas, the Regional Officer is the competent level. Keep it ready early, because getting these signatures takes time. Teachers can also browse other teaching and faculty government jobs and post-graduate government jobs on our site.
| Age Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 30 years as on 1 July 2026 |
| Upper limit | Not more than 62 years on 1 July 2026 |
| Age relaxation | Not given in the notification |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and check whether you are within the age limit. →
Only the High School or equivalent certificate’s date of birth is accepted. If you leave the date of birth blank, or you are over 62 on 1 July 2026, your application will not be accepted.
Who cannot apply
- A male candidate is not eligible for a post in a girls’ college. Women can apply for both boys’ and girls’ colleges, but must choose one category while applying.
- A candidate with more than one living spouse is not eligible, unless the Governor has exempted the restriction. This also applies to someone who marries a person who already has a living spouse.
- Candidates must disclose any court case or conviction. Hiding or misreporting it leads to cancellation of the candidature and selection.
- A serving employee needs a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the present employer.
What Is the Salary for UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026?
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Level | Level-12 |
| Pay Scale | ₹78,800 – ₹2,09,200 per month |
The notification states the pay level and scale only. It does not spell out allowances, so check the appointing authority for those details after selection.
What Is the Selection Process for UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 360 marks, 120 objective MCQs, 2 hours |
| Interview | 40 marks |
| Document verification | Done at the interview |
| Medical fitness | Certificate from a Government hospital or PHC medical officer before final selection |
The exam is in Hindi and English (except language subjects), with four options for each question. The written paper has negative marking.
| Exam Pattern | Detail |
|---|---|
| Correct answer | +3 marks |
| Wrong or multiple answer | −1 mark |
| Exam date | 7 January 2027 |
| Written plus interview marks | 360 + 40 |
| Misconduct (copying, indiscipline) | Candidature cancelled; may be debarred from this and future exams |
If marks tie, the order is written marks, then interview marks, then PG percentage, then B.Ed. marks. If still tied, the older candidate ranks higher. Use a black ball-point pen on the OMR sheet. Whitener, blade, eraser or nails on the sheet will cancel it, and an OMR with wrongly filled circles or wrong details will not be evaluated. The exam district is announced 10 days before the exam and the centre 3 days before, through an admit card link. You must sit at the centre on your admit card, otherwise your answer sheet is not checked and your candidature is cancelled. The centre cannot be changed. The syllabus is on the commission website, and you can also see our syllabus page for preparation help.
PwD candidates get a scribe and 20 extra minutes per hour. They must register for it at least one week before the exam and bring their own scribe.
How to Apply Online for UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the commission portal from the Essential Links below |
| 2 | Complete One Time Registration (OTR), which is mandatory before applying |
| 3 | Fill the application form in English |
| 4 | Upload photo and signature (JPG/JPEG, 10 to 100 KB each) and certificates (PDF, 20 to 200 KB) |
| 5 | Accept the declaration and pay the ₹2,000 fee online |
| 6 | Submit, then take three printouts of the application |
Category, sub-category, date of birth and gender cannot be changed after final submission. If you submit more than one application, only the last one counts. Corrections are allowed till 25 November 2026. A User Manual and tutorial videos are on the website.
An application is not valid if you finish OTR and payment but do not complete the form by the last date. It will also be rejected if the photo or signature is not uploaded, or the declaration is not accepted. A false declaration can lead to rejection and a ban from all commission exams. Hiding information at any stage cancels the candidature and also bars you from future selections.
Documents for the Interview
Carry originals and self-attested copies of the following. Without the originals, your interview will not be possible.
| Document | Note |
|---|---|
| Online application | 2 self-attested copies |
| Marksheets and degrees | High School, Intermediate, Graduation, B.Ed., Post-graduation |
| Experience certificate | Appendix-2, original and copy |
| NOC | Original and copy |
| Disability certificate | Appendix-1, if applicable |
| Affidavit | 2 copies, Appendix-3; you swear no criminal case is registered or pending against you |
| Character certificates | From last institution and two respectable persons |
| Court case affidavit | About pending cases or convictions |
What Are the Important Dates for UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement published | 23 October 2026 |
| Online registration (OTR) and application starts | 23 October 2026 |
| Last date for online fee payment | 22 November 2026 |
| Last date for corrections | 25 November 2026 |
| Written exam | 7 January 2027 |
| Interview | Date to be intimated at least 10 days in advance |
What Is the Application Fee for UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹2,000 |
| SC / ST | ₹2,000 |
| PwD | ₹2,000 |
There is no fee exemption. Pay online by credit card, debit card or net banking. The fee is not refunded for a faulty application and cannot be adjusted against another application. You get no TA or DA for the exam or interview.
Essential Links for UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF (Advt 08/2026)
- Apply Online for UPESSC Intermediate College Principal Recruitment 2026 (Advt 08/2026)
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Uttar Pradesh Govt Jobs Telegram Channel
If you hold a 50% PG degree, a B.Ed. and four years of Class 9 to 12 teaching or headmaster experience, don’t wait for the last week. Get the experience certificate signed, scan your documents to the right size, and finish payment well before 22 November 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more Uttar Pradesh government jobs and exam updates.