Applications are open. Apply before 14 Aug 2026 — 1 day left. Read the official notification in full before you submit the form.
About This Recruitment
Union Public Service Commission has notified recruitment for 828 posts under Advt. No. 51/2026 (Special Recruitment). Applications are accepted online from 25 Jul 2026 to 14 Aug 2026. The prescribed qualification is Master's degree with a B.Ed., plus the teaching experience prescribed for the post, and the age limit is 35 to 50 years before category relaxation is applied. The vacancies are spread across 2 distinct posts, and the category-wise split for each is set out in the vacancy table below.
Selection is made through Combined Recruitment Test, Personality Test and Document Verification. Selected candidates are placed in the pay scale of Level 12 of the 7th CPC matrix for Principal and Level 10 for Vice-Principal. The place of posting is All India. The examination is currently scheduled for 01 Nov 2026, which leaves a defined window to work back from when planning preparation.
The application fee is ₹25 for General, OBC and EWS (male candidates), and no fee is payable by All women candidates, SC, ST and PwBD. The entire process is completed online, from registration through to fee payment and the final printout of the confirmation page. Check the notification for whether a correction window is offered, because most fields cannot be amended once the form is submitted.
Read the official notification in full before you begin the form. Eligibility, fees and dates are revised through corrigenda more often than candidates expect, and an application submitted against the wrong criteria is rejected at document verification rather than at submission — by which point the cycle is over.
Key Highlights
- 828 vacancies notified
- Qualification: Master's degree with a B.Ed., plus the teaching experience prescribed for the post
- Age limit: 35 to 50 years, with relaxation by category
- Pay scale: Level 12 of the 7th CPC matrix for Principal and Level 10 for Vice-Principal
- Application fee: ₹25 for General, OBC and EWS (male candidates), no fee for All women candidates, SC, ST and PwBD
- Last date to apply: 14 Aug 2026
- Examination expected on 01 Nov 2026
- Application mode: online
Quick Overview
The notification's own particulars, at a glance.
- Organization
- Union Public Service Commission
- Advertisement No.
- Advt. No. 51/2026 (Special Recruitment)
- Total Vacancies
- 828
- Job Location
- All India
- Qualification
- Master's degree with a B.Ed., plus the teaching experience prescribed for the post
- Age Limit
- 35 – 50 years
- Salary
- Level 12 of the 7th CPC matrix for Principal and Level 10 for Vice-Principal
- Application Mode
- Online
- Official Website
- upsc.gov.in
Important Dates
Every date below is taken from the official notification. Portals close at the time stated in the notification, not at midnight, and the fee payment window often closes a day after the form does.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 24 Jul 2026 |
| Online application opens | 25 Jul 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 14 Aug 2026The portal closes at 6:00 pm |
| Combined Recruitment Test | 01 Nov 2026 |
| Interview | To be intimated separately |
Application Fee
Fee is paid on the official portal only. Category-wise exemptions are applied automatically once the category is declared correctly in the form.
| Category | Fee | Payment Mode |
|---|---|---|
| General, OBC and EWS (male candidates) | ₹25 | Online |
| All women candidates, SC, ST and PwBD | Nil | — |
Vacancy Details
Vacancy counts are provisional and are revised through corrigenda. The category-wise split determines the cut-off you will actually be measured against.
| Post Name | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal | 69 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 11 | 124 |
| Vice-Principal | 287 | 189 | 103 | 54 | 71 | 704 |
| Total | 356 | 207 | 119 | 64 | 82 | 828 |
Educational Qualification
The qualification must be held on or before the cut-off date stated in the notification. Final-year candidates should check whether provisional applications are permitted for this recruitment.
| Post | Required Qualification |
|---|---|
| Principal | A master's degree with a B.Ed., together with ten years of teaching experience as Vice-Principal, Post Graduate Teacher or Trained Graduate Teacher. |
| Vice-Principal | A master's degree with a B.Ed., together with two years' experience as a Post Graduate Teacher or three years as a Trained Graduate Teacher. |
- Teaching experience is not optional. Ten years as Vice-Principal, PGT or TGT is required for Principal, and two to three years for Vice-Principal.
- The portal closes at 6:00 pm on 14 August 2026, not at midnight.
- Applications go through the UPSC Online Recruitment Application (ORA) portal, which requires a one-time Universal Registration before the form itself can be filled.
Age Limit & Relaxation
Upper age limits are relaxed by category. Read the row that applies to you before you conclude you are ineligible.
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | 10 years, subject to a maximum age of 56 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 5 years |
| Central Government and UT Government employees | Up to 5 years |
Age is reckoned as on 14 August 2026, and is relaxable by up to 10 years for PwBD candidates.
Pay Scale
Figures are the pay scale, not take-home pay. Dearness allowance, house rent allowance and other allowances are paid over and above the basic pay shown.
| Post | Pay Level | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Principal | Level 12 | ₹78,800 – ₹2,09,200 (7th CPC) |
| Vice-Principal | Level 10 | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 (7th CPC) |
Selection Process
Each stage is qualifying for the next. Clearing a stage does not carry marks forward unless the notification says so.
- 1Combined Recruitment Test — a 300-mark paper of two hours, carrying 75% weight in the final result
- 2Personality Test — the interview, carrying the remaining 25%
- 3Document Verification — experience and qualification certificates checked against the claims in the form
Exam Pattern
Understanding the marking scheme is worth as much as the syllabus — attempt strategy depends on the negative marking below.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Recruitment Test | — | 300 | 2 hours |
The written test carries **75% of the final weight** and the interview the remaining **25%**, so the paper on 1 November effectively decides the outcome.
How to Apply
Complete the form in one sitting where possible, and check the preview page carefully. Most fields cannot be changed once submitted, except during the correction window.
- 1Create an account on the UPSC ORA portal and complete the one-time Universal Registration.
- 2Fill in the Common Application Form, which is reused across UPSC recruitments.
- 3Complete the post-specific module for Advt. No. 51/2026.
- 4Upload your photograph, a live photo and your signature.
- 5Pay the ₹25 fee if applicable — women and SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempt.
- 6Submit before 6:00 pm on 14 August 2026.
Important Links
Official Links
Links go to the recruiting body’s own website- UPSC Online Recruitment Application portalApply Online
- Official notification (Advt. 51/2026)Download
- Union Public Service CommissionVisit
Verify before you apply. Eligibility, vacancy counts, fees and dates change through corrigenda. Job Times 24 is an information service, not a recruiter, and never charges candidates. Always confirm every detail in the official notification above.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Principal and Vice-Principal posts have been advertised?
828 in total — 124 Principal posts and 704 Vice-Principal posts.
When is the Combined Recruitment Test?
1 November 2026. It carries 75% of the final weight, with the interview carrying 25%.
Who is exempt from the application fee?
All women candidates, and SC, ST and PwBD candidates. Everyone else pays ₹25.