The Uttar Pradesh Education Services Selection Commission (UPESSC), Prayagraj, has released the full detailed notification for the Special Teacher Eligibility Test (Special TET) 2026. This test is for teachers already working at the primary and upper primary levels, and for Special Educators who teach Children With Special Needs (CWSN) on a contract basis. Online registration (OTR) starts on 5 September 2026, and the exam is scheduled for 3 November 2026. Here is the complete breakdown of dates, fee, eligibility, exam pattern, and syllabus straight from the official bulletin.
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UPESSC Special TET 2026 Notification
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Advertisement No. 03/2026
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Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 03 September 2026 |
| Online Registration (OTR) / Application Starts | 05 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Pay Application Fee | 04 October 2026 |
| Last Date for Application Correction | 08 October 2026 |
| Exam Date | 03 November 2026 |
| District of Exam Centre Notified | 10 days before the exam |
| Exact Exam Centre Notified | To be announced later |
| Admit Card | To be announced later |
| Answer Key | To be announced later |
| Result Declaration | To be announced later |
Application Fee & Payment Mode
| Category | Fee (Primary Level) | Fee (Upper Primary Level) |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 |
| SC / ST | ₹500 | ₹500 |
| Divyangjan (PwD) | ₹300 | ₹300 |
Fee must be paid online through Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking, using the payment gateway on the portal right after registration. Payment is confirmed only once the bank confirms it – keep the fee receipt safe, and note that the fee is not refunded or adjusted for any other application, even if you make a mistake in your form.
Age Limit as on 03 November 2026
| Candidate Type | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Regular In-Service Teachers (Primary / Upper Primary) | No separate age limit specified – they are already serving employees, not fresh applicants |
| Contract / Deliverables-Based Special Educators (CWSN) | Maximum 60 years as on the exam date. |
| Check your actual Age | Age Calculator |
UPESSC Special TET 2026 Total Number of Posts
This is a teacher eligibility test, not a recruitment drive, so it does not carry a fixed number of vacancies or posts. Clearing the Special TET makes a candidate eligible under the applicable rules – it does not by itself create or fill a job. For background: the Special TET for CWSN Special Educators is being held to cover roughly 2,500 special teachers/assistant teachers already working at the primary and upper primary levels, as per the Supreme Court order in Writ Petition No. 132/2016 (Rajneesh Kumar Pandey & Others vs Union of India & Others, dated 7 March 2025) – this is context on who the exam serves, not a vacancy count.
Eligibility
| Who Can Apply | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Level Teachers | All teachers currently working in primary-level schools are eligible for the Primary Level Special TET |
| Upper Primary Level Teachers | All teachers currently working in upper primary / junior high school level schools are eligible for the Upper Primary Level Special TET |
| Special Educator (CWSN) – Primary Level (Class 1–5) | Working on contract/deliverables basis at primary level; must be a graduate with an RCI-recognised D.Ed in Special Education (or equivalent) and hold an active CRR number with an RCI registration certificate |
| Special Educator (CWSN) – Upper Primary Level (Class 6–8) | Working on contract/deliverables basis at upper primary level; must be a graduate with an RCI-recognised B.Ed in Special Education (or equivalent) and hold an active CRR number with an RCI registration certificate |
Which Schools Qualify (Applicability)
Primary Level:
- All schools run by the state government
- Schools of local bodies, or schools affiliated/recognised from time to time by the state government or Basic Shiksha Parishad
- Schools aided by the state government
- Special Educators working at primary level (Class 1 to 5)
Upper Primary Level:
- All schools run by the state government
- Schools of local bodies, or schools recognised/affiliated from time to time by the state government, Basic Shiksha Parishad, or Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad
- Schools aided by the state government
- Special Educators working at upper primary level (Class 6 to 8)
Salary Details
Not applicable. The Special TET is an eligibility test, not a job posting, so it does not carry its own pay scale. Pay continues to be governed by the teacher’s existing service rules and post.
Vacancy Details
| Exam Name | Target Level | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Special TET 2026 | Primary Level, Upper Primary Level & Special Educators (CWSN) | Not applicable – it is a qualifying/eligibility test, not a fixed-vacancy recruitment |
Selection Process
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Complete One Time Registration (OTR) and submit the online application |
| Step 2 | Appear for the written Special TET (150 MCQs, 150 minutes, no negative marking) |
| Step 3 | Candidates scoring at or above the qualifying marks receive a Special TET Eligibility Certificate/Marksheet |
How to Fill the UPESSC Special TET 2026 Application Form
- Go to the official UPESSC website: upessc.up.gov.in
- Click on the One Time Registration (OTR) link if you have not registered before
- Complete OTR by entering your basic personal, contact, and education details
- Log in using your OTR credentials
- Find and open Advertisement No. 03/2026: Special Teacher Eligibility Test (Special TET)
- Fill in the application, and select your exam level (Primary / Upper Primary / Special Educator)
- Regular teachers must enter their eHRMS code; Special Educators (CWSN) must enter their active CRR number along with their RCI registration certificate number
- Upload your scanned signature (JPG/JPEG, 10–200 KB, 140×110 pixel resolution) and photograph (30–300 KB, 300–600 pixel resolution)
- Upload all required certificates/documents in PDF format, each between 50 KB and 500 KB
- Fill the entire form carefully – category, sub-category, date of birth, and gender cannot be changed once you click final Submit
- Pay the application fee through the online payment gateway
- Check every entered detail carefully in the preview screen, since the fee is not refunded for a mistaken submission, and only your last submitted form is considered final if you submit more than once
- Click Submit and download the confirmation page for your records
The application must be filled entirely in English. A Hindi and English user manual, along with tutorial videos, is available on the commission’s website if you need help.
Exam Pattern
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes) |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), 4 options each |
| Total Questions | 150, each worth 1 mark |
| Total Marks | 150 |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Medium | Hindi and English (except for language-subject questions) |
Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 60% (90 out of 150) |
| SC / ST / OBC / Freedom Fighter Dependent / Ex-Servicemen / Divyangjan | 55% (82 out of 150) |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 55% (82 out of 150) |
| Special Educator (CWSN) – Unreserved & Reserved Categories | Same as above, based on category |
If the exam is conducted in a single shift, raw scores are used directly for qualifying marks. If the number of applications is very high and the exam has to be held in more than one shift, a score normalisation process will be applied as per UPESSC Notice No. Shiksha Sewa Aayog/2018/2025-26, dated 26 February 2026 – normalised scores will then be used for qualifying marks instead of raw scores.
Syllabus
Primary Level (Class 1 to 5) – All subjects compulsory:
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development & Teaching Methods | 30 | 30 |
| Language First (Hindi) | 30 | 30 |
| Language Second (English / Urdu / Sanskrit) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Upper Primary Level (Class 6 to 8) – All subjects compulsory:
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development & Teaching Methods | 30 | 30 |
| Language First (Hindi) | 30 | 30 |
| Language Second (English / Urdu / Sanskrit) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics & Science (for Maths/Science teachers) OR Social Studies (for Social Studies teachers) OR either one (for any other teacher) | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
The full detailed syllabus for both levels is available on the commission’s website, upessc.up.gov.in.
Why This Exam Is Being Conducted
This Special TET follows two separate court matters. First, the Supreme Court, in Civil Appeal No. 1385/2025 (Anjuman Ishaat-e-Talim Trust vs State of Maharashtra & Others, order dated 1 September 2025), made TET compulsory for all serving teachers, and in a review petition (Diary No. 53434/2025, UP State vs Anjuman Ishaat-e-Talim Trust, order dated 29 May 2026), directed that all currently working teachers must clear this mandatory eligibility test by 31 August 2028. Second, the Supreme Court’s order dated 7 March 2025 in Writ Petition No. 132/2016 (Rajneesh Kumar Pandey & Others vs Union of India & Others) directed that around 2,500 special teachers/assistant teachers (CWSN) at the primary and upper primary levels also be covered by a Special TET. The UP government’s directive of 2 September 2026 put both requirements into motion, and UPESSC has released this notification in response.
Exam Centre
Exam centres are decided at district headquarters as needed, and any centre may be allotted to a candidate. The district of your centre will be announced 10 days before the exam, and the exact centre 3 days before the exam, both on the commission’s website. Candidates must appear only at their allotted centre – appearing at a different centre or for a different subject means the answer sheet will not be evaluated and the candidature will be cancelled.
Written Exam Instructions
- Admit card download details are sent via SMS, email, newspaper, and the website; download it using your registration number/mobile number and date of birth
- Provisional admission to the exam is based on the information you provide – if you’re later found ineligible, your candidature will be cancelled even after appearing
- Only a black ball-point pen is allowed for marking the OMR sheet – no other pen colour, fountain pen, gel pen, sketch pen, HB pencil, or whitener is permitted
- Once a bubble is filled on the OMR sheet, it cannot be changed; darkening more than one bubble for a question means no marks for that question
- Using an eraser, blade, whitener, or nail to alter the OMR sheet will get the sheet rejected and not evaluated
- Divyangjan (PwD) candidates are entitled to a scribe as per government orders dated 4 December 2019 and 8 September 2022; the candidate must arrange their own scribe and register at the commission office at least one week before the exam, and will get 20 extra minutes per hour – no travel allowance is given to the scribe
- No travel allowance is payable to any candidate for appearing in the exam
- Malpractice, indiscipline, or misbehaviour in the exam hall leads to cancellation of candidature and possible debarment from this and future exams
Instructions for Reserved Category Candidates
- UP-domiciled reserved category candidates must clearly mark their category in the application
- If a candidate is eligible for more than one type of reservation, only the single most beneficial relaxation will be given
- Reserved category candidates who are not original residents of Uttar Pradesh do not get category-based relaxation, and are treated as General category
- For women candidates, only a caste certificate issued from the father’s side is valid; a caste certificate that identifies a woman only through her husband’s SC/ST/OBC category is not accepted
- Caste certificates must be in the format prescribed by the UP government
- Freedom fighter dependent certificates must follow the format attached to UP government order dated 7 April 2015
- Physically handicapped certificates must be in the UP government’s prescribed format
- EWS certificates must follow the format prescribed in the Karmik Anubhag office memo dated 14 March 2019, and must be valid for the financial year before the year of application, per the memo dated 18 February 2019
General Instructions
- For any dispute, candidates must first send a representation to the Commission
- If the exam date changes for any unavoidable reason, candidates will be informed via SMS, email, and the website/portal
- Formats for Appendix 1 (SC/ST certificate), Appendix 2 (OBC certificate), Appendix 3 (EWS certificate), Appendix 4 (Freedom Fighter dependent certificate), and Appendix 5 (Disability certificate) are all available on the commission’s website
- The Commission’s decision on a candidate’s eligibility or ineligibility is final
Documents Required
- Valid mobile number and email ID for OTR
- Aadhaar Card or another recognised government photo ID
- High school (or equivalent) certificate for date of birth – no other document is accepted for DOB
- eHRMS code (regular teachers) or active CRR number with RCI registration certificate (Special Educators)
- Educational mark sheets and certificates (graduation, D.Ed/B.Ed Special Education qualifications where applicable)
- Category/caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS), if claiming reservation, in the prescribed UP government format
- PwD/disability certificate, if applicable, in the prescribed format
- Scanned recent photograph and signature meeting the size/resolution specifications above
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website / OTR Portal | upessc.up.gov.in |
| Official Notification PDF | Click Here |
| Super TET Syllabus | Click Here |
| UPTET 2026? Complete Overview | Click Here |
| UPTET Syllabus 2026 | Click Here |
| UPTET Result 2026 | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the starting date to apply for UP Special TET 2026?
Online registration and application submission start on 5 September 2026.
2. What is the application fee for Special TET 2026?
₹1,000 for General/OBC/EWS, ₹500 for SC/ST, and ₹300 for Divyangjan (PwD), for both Primary and Upper Primary levels.
3. Is there an age limit for Special TET 2026?
Regular in-service teachers don’t have a separate age limit. Contract-based Special Educators (CWSN) must be no older than 60 years as on the exam date, 3 November 2026.
4. What is the exam pattern for Special TET 2026?
150 MCQs worth 150 marks, to be completed in 2 hours 30 minutes, with no negative marking.
5. What are the qualifying marks for Special TET 2026?
60% (90/150) for General category, and 55% (82/150) for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Freedom Fighter dependents/Ex-servicemen/Divyangjan.
6. When will the UP Special TET 2026 exam be held?
The written exam is scheduled for 3 November 2026.
7. Is OTR compulsory for applying to UP Special TET 2026?
Yes, candidates must complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the official website before filling the exam form.
8. Can I correct mistakes in my application form?
Yes, the correction window stays open until 8 October 2026, but category, sub-category, date of birth, and gender cannot be changed once you have submitted the form.
9. Why is the Special TET 2026 being conducted?
It follows Supreme Court orders in Civil Appeal No. 1385/2025 and the related review petition, making TET compulsory for all serving teachers, and a separate Supreme Court order in Writ Petition No. 132/2016 covering roughly 2,500 CWSN special teachers.
10. Which organisation is conducting the Special TET 2026?
The Uttar Pradesh Education Services Selection Commission (UPESSC), Prayagraj.
