UPSSSC PET 2026 dates revised: exam now on October 25, 30, November 1 for 35.42 lakh candidates

The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) has revised the schedule for the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) 2026. The examination, which serves as a qualifying test for various Group B and Group C government posts in Uttar Pradesh, will now be held on October 25, October 30, and November 1, 2026.

This revision impacts approximately 35.42 lakh candidates who have registered for the PET this year. The change in dates was announced through an official notice (No. 1423/36/3(Exam-1)/2026/Part-2) dated September 25, 2026, citing ‘unavoidable reasons’ or ‘in view of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council election schedule’ as the basis for the adjustment.

Revised PET 2026 Examination Schedule and Shifts

The PET 2026 was initially scheduled for October 23, 24, and 25, 2026. Under the new schedule, the examination will now span three non-consecutive days: Sunday, October 25; Friday, October 30; and Sunday, November 1, 2026. The exam will be conducted in two shifts on each of these days.

The first shift is scheduled from 10 am to 12 noon, and the second shift will run from 3 pm to 5 pm. Each shift will have an examination duration of two hours. Candidates are advised to refer to their individual admit cards for their specific allotted examination date, shift, and centre.

Admit Card Release and Application Process Details

The Commission has not yet specified the exact admit card release date in the revised schedule. Candidates will be informed separately regarding the availability of their admit cards. These documents will contain crucial information such as the examination date, shift, and centre specific to each candidate.

The application process for PET 2026, issued under Advertisement No. 16-Exam/2026, began on August 3, 2026. The application deadline was extended to September 7, 2026, to accommodate candidates facing technical and OTP-related problems. Applicants were required to complete One Time Registration (OTR) before submitting their PET applications.

Increased Registrations and Examination Format

The PET 2026 has seen a substantial increase in registrations, with 35.42 lakh candidates compared to approximately 25.3 lakh in the previous PET cycle. This surge in applicants has contributed to the examination being spread across three dates and multiple shifts, as noted by SN Sabat, who stated, "This year 35.42 lakh candidates have registered for the exam. Last year, this number was 25.3 lakh which is 10 lakh more than last year."

The Preliminary Eligibility Test is an objective, OMR-based examination comprising 100 questions for a total of 100 marks. There is a negative marking scheme, with 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer. The PET is a mandatory state-level screening exam for recruitment to various Group B and Group C government posts, including Lekhpal and Junior Assistant, under the Uttar Pradesh government. The minimum qualification for PET is Class 10 pass, and the age limit is 18-40 years as on July 1, 2026. The PET score is valid for a period of time, with sources indicating either one or three years from the result declaration date.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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