UP Shiksha Sewa Chayan Ayog (UPESSC) has released the UP Special TET 2026 notification (Advertisement No. 03/2026, dated 3 September 2026) — and this one isn’t for fresh job-seekers. It’s for already-serving teachers at primary and upper primary level government/aided schools, and for contract/daily-wage CWSN special educators, who now must clear this mandatory eligibility test following a Supreme Court order.
Online applications open 5 September 2026, fee payment closes 4 October 2026, and the exam itself is on 3 November 2026. If you’re a serving teacher or special educator in UP wondering whether this applies to you, this guide covers exactly who’s eligible, the fee, the full exam pattern and syllabus for both levels, and every date — straight from the official notification.
UP Special TET 2026: Quick Overview & Important Dates
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | UP Shiksha Sewa Chayan Ayog (UPESSC), Prayagraj |
| Exam Name | Special Teacher Eligibility Test (Special TET) 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | 03/2026 |
| Who Is It For | In-service teachers (Primary & Upper Primary level) and CWSN contract/daily-wage special educators |
| Application Mode | Online (OTR-based) |
| Advertisement Publish Date | 3 September 2026 |
| Online Registration (OTR)/Application Start Date | 5 September 2026 |
| Online Application Fee Last Date | 4 October 2026 |
| Online Application Correction Last Date | 8 October 2026 |
| Exam Date | 3 November 2026 |
| Exam Duration | 2:30 hours (150 minutes) |
| Total Questions/Marks | 150 MCQs / 150 marks |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Application Fee | ₹1,000 (Gen/OBC/EWS); ₹500 (SC/ST); ₹300 (PwBD) |
| Official Website | upessc.up.gov.in |
Why This Exam Exists: The Supreme Court Order Behind It
This notification traces back to two separate court matters:
- Civil Appeal No. 1385/2025 (Anjuman Ishaat-e-Talim Trust vs State of Maharashtra & Others) — the Supreme Court’s order dated 1 September 2025 made TET mandatory for all teachers. Following a review petition (Diary No. 53434/2025, UP State vs Anjuman Ishaat-e-Talim Trust) decided on 29 May 2026, all serving teachers must clear this mandatory teacher eligibility test by 31 August 2028. Given the large number of teachers affected, the UP Government decided to conduct a Special TET specifically for in-service teachers at primary and upper primary levels.
- Writ Petition No. 132/2016 (Rajneesh Kumar Pandey & Others vs Union of India & Others) — in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order dated 7 March 2025, a Special TET is also being conducted for approximately 2,500 CWSN special teachers/special educators at the primary and upper primary levels.
Applicability: Who Can Apply
Teachers/special educators working in the following categories of schools are eligible:
Primary Level
- All schools run/managed by the State Government.
- Local body schools, and schools affiliated/recognized by the State Government or Basic Shiksha Parishad from time to time.
- Schools receiving State Government aid.
- Special Educators, Primary Level (Class 1 to 5).
Upper Primary Level
- All schools run/managed by the State Government.
- Local body schools, and schools affiliated/recognized for operation by the State Government/Basic Shiksha Parishad/Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad from time to time.
- Schools receiving State Government aid.
- Special Educators, Upper Primary Level (Class 6 to 8).
Eligibility Criteria
| Category | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| In-service teacher, Primary Level | All teachers currently working in Primary-level schools listed above are eligible for the Primary-level Special TET. |
| In-service teacher, Upper Primary Level | All teachers currently working in Upper Primary/Junior High School-level schools listed above are eligible for the Upper Primary-level Special TET. |
| CWSN Special Educator, Primary Level (Class 1-5) | Special educators working on contract/daily-wage basis at primary-level schools, holding a graduate degree along with an RCI-recognized D.Ed in Special Education (or equivalent), with a mandatory active CRR number and Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) registration certificate. |
| CWSN Special Educator, Upper Primary Level (Class 6-8) | Same as above, but with a B.Ed in Special Education (or equivalent) instead of D.Ed. |
Regular in-service teachers applying must quote their eHRMS code; CWSN special educators must quote their active CRR number along with the RCI registration certificate number, while filling the online application.
Age Limit
Maximum age: 60 years (as on the exam date, 3 November 2026) — applicable specifically to contract/daily-wage CWSN special educators. NOT APPLICABLE for regular in-service teachers, since they are already serving government/aided-school employees and no separate age criterion is specified for them in the notification.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee (Primary Level) | Fee (Upper Primary Level) |
|---|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 |
| SC/ST | ₹500 | ₹500 |
| PwBD (Divyangjan) | ₹300 | ₹300 |
Fee can be paid via Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking, through the online payment gateway on the portal, immediately after registration. Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other application.
How to Apply: Online Application Guidelines
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the official website — www.upessc.up.gov.in. No application submitted through any other medium will be accepted.
- Regular teachers must quote their eHRMS code; CWSN special educators must quote their active CRR number and RCI registration certificate number.
- Refer to the User Manual (available in Hindi and English) and Tutorial Videos on the Commission’s website before applying, if needed.
- Fill the registration and application form — mandatorily in English.
- Upload your scanned photograph and signature as per the specified format (see Document Specifications below).
- Pay the applicable fee (Section above) after completing the form.
- Once submitted, category, sub-category, date of birth, and gender cannot be changed — verify all details carefully before final submission. Only the last submitted application is valid if multiple applications are submitted for the same post.
- The Date of Birth entered must exactly match your High School (or equivalent) certificate — no other document is accepted as DOB proof.
Document Specifications
| Document | Format | Size | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature | JPG/JPEG, white background | 10 KB – 200 KB | 140 × 110 pixels |
| Passport-size Photograph | JPG/JPEG | 30 KB – 300 KB | 300 – 600 pixels resolution |
| Certificates/Documents (all) | 50 KB – 500 KB | — |
Submitting a false declaration, or concealing information, at any stage will lead to rejection of candidature and debarment from future exams/selections, in addition to other penal action.
Exam Pattern
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes) |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice (MCQ), 4 options each |
| Total Questions | 150 |
| Marks per Question | 1 |
| Total Marks | 150 |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Medium of Question Paper | Hindi and English (except for language-subject papers) |
If the exam is conducted in a single shift, raw scores are used directly for the qualifying marks. If conducted across multiple shifts (due to a high number of applicants), scores will be normalized per the Commission’s notice No. Shi0Se0Ayog/2018/2025-26 dated 26 February 2026 — normalized scores alone will be considered for qualifying marks.
Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| General/Unreserved | 60% (90 out of 150) |
| SC/ST/OBC/Freedom Fighter Dependent/Ex-Servicemen/PwBD | 55% (82 out of 150) |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section, Unreserved) | 55% (82 out of 150) |
| CWSN Special Teacher (Special TET) — Unreserved & Reserved categories | Same qualifying marks as applicable to the respective category above |
Candidates meeting the qualifying marks are issued the eligibility certificate for the Special TET; there is no separate merit list or vacancy-based selection involved — this is a qualifying exam, not a recruitment against fixed vacancies.
Syllabus: Primary Level (Class 1-5)
All subjects below are compulsory for the Primary-level Special TET.
| # | Subject | Number of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Child Development & Pedagogy | 30 MCQ | 30 |
| 2 | Language 1 (Hindi) | 30 MCQ | 30 |
| 3 | Language 2 (English/Urdu/Sanskrit) | 30 MCQ | 30 |
| 4 | Mathematics | 30 MCQ | 30 |
| 5 | Environmental Studies | 30 MCQ | 30 |
| Total | 150 MCQ | 150 |
Syllabus: Upper Primary Level (Class 6-8)
All subjects below are compulsory for the Upper Primary-level Special TET.
| # | Subject | Number of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Child Development & Pedagogy | 30 MCQ | 30 |
| 2 | Language 1 (Hindi) | 30 MCQ | 30 |
| 3 | Language 2 (English/Urdu/Sanskrit) | 30 MCQ | 30 |
| 4 | (a) Mathematics/Science — for Math & Science teachers, OR (b) Social Studies — for Social Studies teachers, OR (c) either (a) or (b) — for any other teacher | 60 MCQ | 60 |
| Total | 150 MCQ | 150 |
Detailed topic-wise syllabus content for both levels is available on the official UPESSC website (www.upessc.up.gov.in).
Exam Centres
Exam centres will be determined at district headquarters, as required. Any centre may be allotted to a candidate. Information about the district of the exam centre will be released 10 days before the exam, and the specific exam centre (along with the admit card) will be available for download 3 days before the exam via a link on the Commission’s website. Centre, time schedule, and roll number details will be communicated in due course.
Note: A candidate appearing at any centre or for any subject other than what is mentioned on their admit card will have their answer sheet disqualified without evaluation, and their candidature will be rejected.
Written Exam Instructions
- Admit cards, once live, can be downloaded from upessc.up.gov.in by entering registration number/mobile number and date of birth.
- Admission to the exam is provisional; if found ineligible at any later stage, candidature will be cancelled even after provisional admission.
- Malpractice (cheating, indiscipline, misbehavior, or any objectionable conduct) in the exam hall will lead to rejection of candidature and possible debarment from this and future exams.
- Candidates must bring their own black ball-point pen — OMR sheet circles must be filled only in black; use of any other pen (fountain, gel, sketch pens), HB pencil, or whitener is prohibited. Once a circle is filled, no correction is allowed; filling more than one circle for a question means it won’t be evaluated or scored.
- No eraser, blade, or whitener may be used on the OMR sheet — doing so cancels that OMR sheet entirely.
- Scribe (Shrutlekhak) facility is available to PwBD (Divyang) candidates as per government orders dated 4 December 2019 and 8 September 2022 — the candidate must arrange their own scribe and register full scribe details with the Commission office at least one week before the written exam, so seating arrangements can be made. Scribe-eligible candidates get 20 minutes extra per hour. No travel allowance is paid to the scribe.
- No travel allowance is payable to candidates for appearing in the exam.
Instructions for Reserved Category Candidates
- Candidates must correctly mention their category in the application.
- If a candidate qualifies for more than one reserved category, only one relaxation (the more beneficial one) will be given.
- Reserved-category candidates who are not original domicile residents of UP are not entitled to reservation benefits and will be treated as General category. For women candidates, the caste certificate must be issued based on the father’s side.
- Caste certificates must be in the UP Government-prescribed format only; a woman’s caste certificate stating she belongs to the SC/ST/OBC category by virtue of her husband’s caste will not be accepted.
- Freedom Fighter dependents must submit certificates per the format prescribed under the Disabled Persons, Dependents of Freedom Fighters and Ex-Servicemen Reservation Act, 1993, as amended by the UP Government order dated 7 April 2015.
- Persons with Disability claimants must submit certificates in the UP Government-prescribed format.
- EWS certificates must be valid for the year preceding the year of application, per Karmik Anubhag Office Memorandum No. 1/2019/4/1/2002/Ka-2/19 T.C.-II dated 18 February 2019, submitted per the format prescribed by UP Government Karmik Anubhag-2’s Office Memorandum No. 3/2019/4/1/2002/Ka-2/19T.C.-II dated 14 March 2019.
Helpline / Support Contacts
| Support Type | Contact | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Support (Application-Related Issues) | 08448573939 / Support@upessc.org | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Monday–Saturday) |
| Bank Payment Support — ICICI Bank | 8879370946, 8657723283 / Amita.kurmi@icici.bank.in, Pawan.si@icici.bank.in | 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM (Working Days) |
| Bank Payment Support — Union Bank | 9137551970 / pgsupport@billdesk.com | 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM (Working Days) |
| UPESSC Commission Support | 0532-2466851 / upmsscball@gmail.com | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Monday–Saturday) |
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official UPESSC Website | https://upessc.up.gov.in/ |
| UP Special TET 2026 Apply Link | Link Active 05.09.2026 |
| UP Special TET 2026 Official Notification (Advt No. 03/2026) | Download Official PDF |
| For Any Educational Updates Join Telegram Channel | Notify U |
| For Study Material Subscribe YouTube Channel | Subscribe Notify U |
| For Any Educational Updates On Whatsapp | Join Whatsapp Channel |
FAQ
What is the exam date for UP Special TET 2026 ?
The Special TET 2026 exam is scheduled for 3 November 2026.
When does the UP Special TET 2026 online application start and end ?
Online registration/application starts 5 September 2026; the fee payment last date is 4 October 2026, and the correction window closes 8 October 2026.
What is the application fee for UP Special TET 2026 ?
₹1,000 for General/OBC/EWS candidates, ₹500 for SC/ST candidates, and ₹300 for PwBD (Divyangjan) candidates — the same fee applies at both Primary and Upper Primary levels.
What are the qualifying marks for UP Special TET 2026 ?
60% (90 out of 150) for General/Unreserved candidates, and 55% (82 out of 150) for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Freedom Fighter Dependent/Ex-Servicemen/PwBD candidates.
Is there negative marking in UP Special TET 2026 ?
No, there is no negative marking in this exam.
Who is eligible for UP Special TET 2026 — in-service teachers or CWSN special educators ?
Both. All currently serving teachers at eligible Primary or Upper Primary level schools are eligible, and separately, CWSN special educators working on contract/daily-wage basis (with the prescribed qualification and RCI registration) are also eligible.
What is the age limit for CWSN special educators applying for UP Special TET 2026 ?
Maximum 60 years as on the exam date (3 November 2026). This age limit applies specifically to contract/daily-wage CWSN special educators; no separate age criterion is specified for regular in-service teachers.
What is the exam pattern for UP Special TET 2026 ?
150 MCQs for 150 marks, to be completed in 2 hours 30 minutes, with no negative marking. The question paper is in Hindi and English (except for language-subject papers).
Why is UP Special TET 2026 being conducted — what’s the Supreme Court order behind it ?
It follows the Supreme Court’s order dated 29 May 2026 (in a review petition tied to Civil Appeal No. 1385/2025) making TET mandatory for all serving teachers by 31 August 2028, and a separate Supreme Court order dated 7 March 2025 (Writ Petition No. 132/2016) directing a Special TET for around 2,500 CWSN special teachers.
How is UP Special TET 2026 different from the regular UPTET ?
Regular UPTET is a general teacher eligibility test open to all eligible candidates (including fresh applicants). UP Special TET 2026 is specifically for candidates already serving as teachers or CWSN special educators, conducted to help them meet a court-mandated eligibility requirement.
Is UP Special TET mandatory for all serving teachers in UP ?
Per the Supreme Court’s order, all serving teachers must clear a mandatory teacher eligibility test by 31 August 2028 — this Special TET 2026 is the exam conducted by UPESSC toward meeting that requirement for those covered under this notification.
What documents are needed to apply for UP Special TET 2026 ?
Regular teachers need their eHRMS code; CWSN special educators need their active CRR number and RCI registration certificate number, along with scanned photograph, signature, and relevant certificates (educational, category, disability, etc. as applicable) in the specified format.
Is there a correction window for the UP Special TET 2026 application form ?
Yes, corrections to the online application are allowed until 8 October 2026, the date fixed by the Commission for this purpose.
What is the RCI/CRR registration requirement for CWSN special educators ?
CWSN special educators must hold an active CRR (Central Rehabilitation Register) number along with a valid Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) registration certificate, in addition to the required D.Ed/B.Ed in Special Education qualification, to be eligible.
How is normalization applied if the exam runs in multiple shifts ?
If the number of applications is very high and the exam has to be conducted across multiple shifts, scores will be normalized as per the Commission’s notice No. Shi0Se0Ayog/2018/2025-26 dated 26 February 2026, and only the normalized scores will be used for determining qualifying marks.
Author’s Suggestion
If you’re a serving teacher unsure whether this specific Special TET applies to you versus the regular UPTET cycle, check your employment status first — this exam exists specifically to help already-employed teachers and CWSN educators meet the Supreme Court’s mandatory eligibility deadline, not as a fresh recruitment exam.
Disclaimer
This article is based on UPESSC’s official Advertisement No. 03/2026, dated 3 September 2026. Candidates should verify all dates and eligibility details directly on upessc.up.gov.in before applying, as the Commission’s decision on eligibility matters is final.
