The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC), Prayagraj, has released two notifications on 23 October 2026 for Principal (Pradhanacharya) and Headmaster (Pradhanadhyapak) posts in aided non-government schools of the Secondary Education Department, Uttar Pradesh. Advt. No. 08/2026 has 1,475 Principal posts and Advt. No. 09/2026 has 1,172 Headmaster posts, a total of 2,647 posts.
This is a recruitment for experienced teachers, with a Master’s degree, a B.Ed. and 4 years of teaching experience. All posts are unreserved, there is no age relaxation and the fee is the same for every category. This guide explains the rules in simple words, shows where the vacancies are (boys’ and girls’ schools), gives the marking maths of the 400-mark selection, and lists the papers you must arrange before 22 November. UPESSC has also published a separate notice for Assistant Teacher (TGT) posts, which is not covered here.
UPESSC Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026 (Advt. 08/2026 and 09/2026) — Complete Guide
2,647 Posts in UP Aided Schools | Apply Online 23 October to 22 November 2026 | Exam 7 January 2027
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| Particulars | Details |
| Organization | Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC), 23 Elganj, Prayagraj |
| Advertisement Numbers | 08/2026 (Principal) and 09/2026 (Headmaster) |
| Total Vacancies | 2,647 (Principal 1,475 + Headmaster 1,172) |
| Reservation | All vacancies are unreserved |
| Qualification | Master’s degree (50%) + B.Ed. (B.Ed./B.P.Ed. for Headmaster) + 4 years’ teaching experience |
| Age Limit | 30 to 62 years as on 1 July 2026 |
| Pay | Principal: Level 12 (₹78,800 – ₹2,09,200). Headmaster: Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) |
| Application Fee | Principal ₹2,000, Headmaster ₹1,500 (same for all categories) |
| Selection | Written exam (360 marks) + interview (40 marks) = 400 marks |
| Application Start | 23 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Pay Fee | 22 November 2026 |
| Last Date for Corrections | 25 November 2026 |
| Exam Date | 7 January 2027 |
| Official Website | upessc.up.gov.in |
Important Dates and Countdown
| Event | Date |
| Advertisement and Application Start | 23 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Deposit Online Fee | 22 November 2026 |
| Last Date for Corrections in the Application | 25 November 2026 |
| District of Exam Centre Shown on Website | 10 days before the exam |
| Admit Card Download | 3 days before the exam |
| Written Examination | 7 January 2027 |
| Interview Date | To be informed at least 10 days in advance |
From 24 October, you have 29 days to finish your application and fee, and about 75 days to the exam. The real time pressure is not the form but the paperwork, because the experience certificate must be issued by a district-level officer and countersigned by the divisional officer, which can take days. Start that first.
Vacancy Details — Boys’ and Girls’ Schools
| Post | Boys’ Schools | Girls’ Schools | Total |
| Principal (Advt. 08/2026) | 1,318 | 157 | 1,475 |
| Headmaster (Advt. 09/2026) | 1,037 | 135 | 1,172 |
| Total | 2,355 | 292 | 2,647 |
About 89% of the posts (2,355) are in boys’ schools and only 11% (292) are in girls’ schools. The number of vacancies can go up or down, and the school-wise list (division, district, school name, boys/girls and number of posts) is in Table-2 of each notification: pages 15 to 62 of the Principal PDF and pages 15 to 54 of the Headmaster PDF.
Posts Linked to a High Court Order
The list includes posts linked to Special Appeal No. 376/2026 (Rajkumar Singh and others versus State of U.P. and others), following the Allahabad High Court order dated 15 April 2026. These are already counted in the totals above.
| Post | School Type | Requisition 2019–20 | Requisition 2021–22 | Total |
| Principal | Boys’ | 530 | 114 | 644 |
| Principal | Girls’ | 69 | 8 | 77 |
| Headmaster | Boys’ | 434 | 84 | 518 |
| Headmaster | Girls’ | 58 | 10 | 68 |
| Total | 1,091 | 216 | 1,307 |
1,307 of the 2,647 posts, almost half (49%), come from older requisition years (2019–20 and 2021–22), and 1,091 of them are from 2019–20. This shows that a large number of these seats were pending for years and are now being filled.
Qualification and Experience — Principal vs Headmaster
| Point | Principal (Advt. 08/2026) | Headmaster (Advt. 09/2026) |
| Master’s Degree | At least 50% marks from a recognised university or institution | At least 50% marks from a recognised university or institution |
| Teaching Degree | B.Ed. recognised by NCTE | B.Ed. or B.P.Ed. recognised by NCTE |
| Experience (Option 1) | 4 years as Lecturer or Assistant Teacher in Class 9 to 12 of a Central or State Government recognised institution | 4 years as Lecturer or Assistant Teacher in Class 9 to 12 of a Central or State Government recognised institution |
| Experience (Option 2) | 4 years as Headmaster in a High School | 4 years as Headmaster in a Junior High School |
| Age (1 July 2026) | 30 to 62 years | 30 to 62 years |
- All qualifications must be held on or before the last date of application. A candidate who applies without them is fully responsible for the result
- Experience certificate: issued by the district-level officer and countersigned by the divisional officer, in the format of Appendix-2. For Kendriya Vidyalayas, the Regional Officer is the competent authority
- Health: before final selection, a health certificate from a government hospital or primary health centre is needed
- Employed candidates: a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer must be produced at the interview
- Marital rule: a candidate with more than one living spouse, or married to a person who already has a living spouse, is not eligible unless the Governor has granted an exemption
- Court cases: state clearly whether any case is pending in court and whether you have been punished. Hiding or wrongly giving this leads to cancellation
Who Can Apply for Which School? Gender Rules
| Candidate | Principal | Headmaster |
| Male | Boys’ schools only. A male candidate is not eligible for Principal in a girls’ institution | As per the notification, apply for the school category you are eligible for |
| Female | Boys’ or girls’ schools, but you must choose only one category in the form | Boys’ or girls’ schools, but you must choose only one category in the form |
A woman candidate has the widest choice of seats, but she must pick either boys’ or girls’ schools in the application, and she cannot change it later. Since boys’ schools have 2,355 posts against 292 in girls’ schools, a woman with an average rank may find a seat more easily in the boys’ category, though she should decide with her location preference in mind.
Age Limit — No Relaxation for Anyone
| Rule | Details |
| Minimum Age | 30 years as on 1 July 2026 |
| Maximum Age | 62 years as on 1 July 2026 |
| Age Relaxation | None for any category |
| Proof of Date of Birth | Only the date of birth in the High School (Class 10) or equivalent certificate |
To reach the minimum age you must have completed 30 years on 1 July 2026, which means you must have been born on or before 1 July 1996. Applications without a date of birth, or from anyone above 62 on 1 July 2026, are not accepted, and no SC, ST, OBC or EWS relaxation is given.
Pay and Posting
| Post | Pay Level | Pay Scale |
| Principal | Level 12 | ₹78,800 to ₹2,09,200 |
| Headmaster | Level 10 | ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 |
- The notification gives only the pay level and the range. Allowances and other benefits are not mentioned
- Schools are allotted to selected candidates by the Director, Secondary Education, U.P., Prayagraj
Application Fee
| Category | Principal | Headmaster |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹2,000 | ₹1,500 |
| SC / ST | ₹2,000 | ₹1,500 |
| Divyangjan (PwBD) | ₹2,000 | ₹1,500 |
- Pay online by credit card, debit card or net banking, right after registration. The payment counts only after the bank confirms it
- The fee is not refunded in any case and is not adjusted against another application
- If you apply for both Principal and Headmaster, you need separate applications and fees (₹3,500 together)
Selection Process — 400 Marks Explained
| Stage | Details | Marks | Share |
| Written Examination | 120 MCQs, 2 hours | 360 | 90% |
| Interview | For candidates shortlisted on the written exam | 40 | 10% |
| Total | 400 | 100% |
- Each question has four options, and only one is the most suitable answer
- +3 marks for each correct answer and −1 mark for each wrong or multiple answer
- The question paper is in Hindi and English, except for language subjects
- The cut-off and the marks obtained will be displayed on the Commission’s website after the selection is over
- The syllabus is available on upessc.up.gov.in
Marking Maths
| Correct | Wrong | Left Blank | Written Marks |
| 100 | 20 | 0 | 280 |
| 90 | 30 | 0 | 240 |
| 85 | 20 | 15 | 235 |
| 110 | 10 | 0 | 320 |
You get 60 seconds per question (120 questions in 120 minutes). Each wrong answer takes away one third of what a correct answer gives. A blind guess among four options gives 0.25 × 3 − 0.75 × 1 = 0 marks on average, so it is neither a gain nor a loss. If you can remove one wrong option, a guess among three options gives about +0.33 marks on average, so guess only when you can cut at least one option.
Tie-Breaking Order
- Marks in the written examination
- Marks in the interview
- Higher percentage in the Master’s degree
- Marks in B.Ed. (Principal) or B.Ed./B.P.Ed. (Headmaster)
- If all are equal, the older candidate is placed higher
Exam Centre, Admit Card and OMR Rules
- Centres are fixed at district headquarters, and a candidate can be allotted any centre. The district is shown on the website 10 days before the exam
- The admit card can be downloaded 3 days before the exam, using the registration number or mobile number and date of birth
- You must appear only at the centre printed on your admit card. If you write at another centre, your answer sheet is not evaluated and the candidature is cancelled
- Use only a black ball point pen on the OMR sheet. Blue pens, gel pens, pencils and whitener are not allowed, and an eraser, blade or nail cannot be used on the sheet
- A bubble once darkened cannot be changed, and an answer with more than one bubble gets no marks
- You can download the OMR format from the Commission’s website to practise
- Candidates with disabilities can take a scribe (the candidate brings the scribe), must register the scribe details at the Commission office at least one week before the exam, and get an additional 20 minutes per hour
Interview and Documents — Arrange These Now
Shortlisted candidates are informed at least 10 days before the interview, and they must bring two sets of self-attested photocopies with the originals. If originals are not brought, the interview is not held. No travel or daily allowance is paid for the exam or the interview.
| No. | Document (Two Self-Attested Sets) |
| 1 | Online application form |
| 2 | High School marksheet and certificate |
| 3 | Intermediate marksheet and certificate |
| 4 | Graduation first, second and third year marksheets and degree |
| 5 | B.Ed. marksheet and degree (Principal); B.Ed./B.P.Ed. marksheet and degree (Headmaster) |
| 6 | Postgraduate first and second year marksheets and degree |
| 7 | Experience certificate in Appendix-2 format, original plus self-attested copy |
| 8 | No Objection Certificate, original plus self-attested copy |
| 9 | Disability certificate (Appendix-1), if applicable |
| 10 | Affidavit in Appendix-3 format |
| 11 | Character certificate from the last educational institution |
| 12 | Character certificates from two respectable persons |
| 13 | Affidavit stating whether any court case is pending and whether punished |
Of the 13 items, the experience certificate (7) and the NOC (8) depend on other offices, and the Appendix-3 and court-case affidavits (10 and 13) need a notary or oath, so these four take the longest. Start them as soon as you register.
How to Apply for UPESSC Principal Headmaster 2026
- Open www.upessc.up.gov.in and complete One Time Registration (OTR). It is compulsory
- Read the User Manual (Hindi and English) and watch the tutorial videos on the website
- Fill in the application in English only
- Upload your signature (on a white background) and a passport size photograph in JPG/JPEG, each between 10 KB and 100 KB
- Upload certificates and documents in PDF, each between 20 KB and 200 KB
- Pay the fee online for your post
- Submit the application, take three printouts and keep the fee receipt safe
- After final submission, category, sub-category, date of birth and gender cannot be changed. The correction window is open up to 25 November 2026
- If you submit more than one application for the same post, only the last one counts. An application is also rejected if the photograph or signature is not in the right size, or the declaration is not accepted
- Keep three copies of the application, because two copies with two sets of documents are to be given at the interview
- Apply in the Commission’s system only. Applications through any other mode are not accepted
Study Guide — What to Prepare
The syllabus is on the UPESSC website, and the notification page does not list the topics. Based on the nature of the post, the following areas are a sensible starting point, and the official syllabus should be your final list.
| Area | Suggested Topics |
| School Administration and Leadership | Role of a Principal or Headmaster, school management, timetable and discipline, staff and student records, working with the management committee |
| Education Laws and Policy | Right to Education Act, 2009; National Education Policy 2020; rules and regulations for aided schools in Uttar Pradesh; the law under which UPESSC works |
| Teaching and Learning | Child development, teaching methods, assessment and evaluation, inclusive education, guidance and counselling |
| General Studies | Current affairs, Indian polity, history, geography, economy and general science |
| Reasoning and Aptitude | Logical reasoning, data interpretation and basic numerical ability |
| Language | Hindi and English comprehension, since the paper is in both languages |
75-Day Plan for the 7 January 2027 Exam
| Dates | Plan |
| 24 October – 7 November | Register, get the experience certificate and NOC started, read the notification fully, and download the syllabus |
| 8 – 22 November | Pay the fee before 22 November. Start education law and administration topics. Practise 40 MCQs daily |
| 23 November – 15 December | Complete teaching and learning topics, general studies and reasoning. Correct the application by 25 November if needed |
| 16 – 31 December | Full mock tests of 120 questions in 120 minutes, with the +3 and −1 scheme. Practise with the OMR format and a black ball point pen |
| 1 – 7 January | Revision, admit card download (3 days before), centre check and travel plan, and prepare the interview file |
Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting for the last week to get the experience certificate countersigned by the divisional officer
- Submitting the application with a wrong category or date of birth, since these cannot be changed after final submission
- Choosing the wrong school type (boys’ or girls’) as a woman candidate, or applying for Principal in a girls’ school as a man
- Using a pen other than black ball point on the OMR sheet
- Going to a centre other than the one on your admit card
- Not bringing the original documents to the interview
- Paying the fee after 22 November, when the system closes
Important Links |
|
| Apply Online (23 October to 22 November 2026) | click here |
| Principal Notification PDF (Advt. 08/2026) | click here |
| Headmaster Notification PDF (Advt. 09/2026) | click here |
| UPESSC Official Website | click here |
| firstjob24 jobs | click here |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | click here |
| Subscribe on YouTube | click here |
UPESSC Principal Headmaster Recruitment 2026 — FAQs
Q. How many posts are there?
There are 2,647 posts: 1,475 Principal (Advt. 08/2026) and 1,172 Headmaster (Advt. 09/2026).
Q. What is the last date to apply?
22 November 2026 is the last date to deposit the online fee, and corrections are allowed up to 25 November 2026.
Q. When is the exam?
The written examination is on 7 January 2027.
Q. Is there any reservation?
No. All vacancies are unreserved, and no age relaxation is given.
Q. What is the age limit?
30 to 62 years as on 1 July 2026, as per the date of birth in the High School certificate.
Q. What is the fee?
₹2,000 for Principal and ₹1,500 for Headmaster, the same for every category.
Q. What is the exam pattern?
120 MCQs in 2 hours for 360 marks (+3 for correct, −1 for wrong), plus a 40-mark interview.
Q. Can a man apply for Principal in a girls’ school?
No. A male candidate is not eligible for Principal in a girls’ institution.
Q. What experience is needed?
4 years as Lecturer or Assistant Teacher in Class 9 to 12, or 4 years as Headmaster (High School for Principal, Junior High School for Headmaster).
Q. Who issues the experience certificate?
The district-level officer, countersigned by the divisional officer, in the Appendix-2 format.
Q. What salary will I get?
Principal: Level 12, ₹78,800 to ₹2,09,200. Headmaster: Level 10, ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500.
