UPTET 2026 results: candidates demand review of OMR rejection, normalisation

In short

Candidates protested overnight in Prayagraj, demanding a review of rejected OMR sheets and the normalisation process for UPTET 2026 results.
The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) rejected these demands on September 16, 2026, citing established protocols.
A 6-member high-level expert committee evaluated all candidate appeals regarding the UPTET 2026 exam results.
UPESSC approved online corrections for typographical errors on UPTET 2026 pass certificates, with a portal opening soon.
Around 60,000 candidates reportedly had their UPTET 2026 results rejected due to OMR errors.

Candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test (UPTET) 2026 are protesting in Prayagraj today, 7 October 2026, demanding a review of rejected OMR sheets and adjustments to the normalisation process. These protests follow the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission’s (UPESSC) decision on September 16, 2026, to reject such requests, a decision officially announced on September 17, 2026.

The UPTET 2026 examination, which marked a return after a five-year gap, saw 1,994,661 candidates appear across primary and upper-primary levels. The results, declared on August 26, 2026, have led to significant dissatisfaction among candidates, particularly those whose OMR sheets were rejected or whose marks were affected by the normalisation process.

Reasons for Candidate Protests

The ongoing protests stem from several key grievances raised by candidates following the UPTET 2026 results. These include the rejection of OMR sheets due to perceived errors, concerns over marks after the normalisation process, and questions regarding the overall evaluation methodology. UPESSC received over 45,000 representations from candidates concerning OMR bubble errors and drops in scores due to normalisation.

Reportedly, around 60,000 candidates had their UPTET 2026 results marked as rejected due to OMR errors. The examination was conducted on July 2, July 3, and July 4, 2026, over three days and across five shifts, a factor that led to deploying a normalisation process.

UPESSC’s Stance on Demands

The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission has maintained its position on the UPTET 2026 results, rejecting requests for OMR re-evaluation and normalisation adjustments. A 6-member high-level expert committee evaluated all candidate appeals before UPESSC announced its decisions. The commission stated that demands for OMR errors in roll numbers and booklet series were rejected because automated software cannot process manual mistakes. Similarly, demands for changes to reduced marks due to the normalisation process were rejected, with UPESSC asserting that the scientific method used is upheld by court precedents. The official UPTET 2026 notification included a provision for score normalisation for exams conducted in multiple shifts or on multiple days.

Complaints regarding scores mismatching with the answer key were also rejected, as evaluations were finalised according to the set standard. However, UPESSC did approve online corrections for typographical errors on UPTET 2026 pass certificates for successful candidates. These permitted corrections include the candidate’s name, father’s name, husband’s name, date of birth, and category or class, with an online portal window expected to open shortly.

Category	Complaints Raised by Candidates	UPESSC Decisions	Action Status
Category 1	OMR errors in roll number and booklet series	Rejected on the basis that the automated software cannot process manual mistakes	No relief granted
Category 2	Reduced marks due to Normalisation Process	This demand was rejected on the basis scientific method is upheld by court precedents	Marks Retained
Category 3	Candidates have complained that the score mismatches with the answer key	Rejected based on the fact that the evaluations were finalised as per the set standard	No-Re-evaluation
Category 4	Typo errors in Name, DOB, Category on Certificate	Approved based on the online portal window opening shortly	Correction Portal Opening Soon

UPTET 2026 Qualification Overview

The UPTET 2026 examination saw a significant number of candidates qualify across both primary and upper-primary levels. For the primary level, 571,435 out of 713,648 candidates qualified, resulting in a qualification rate of 80.07%. At the upper-primary level, 759,513 out of 1,057,021 candidates qualified, with a qualification rate of 71.85%.

General category candidates were required to secure 90 marks out of 150 to qualify, while reserved category candidates needed 82 marks out of 150. These passing marks are consistent across various reserved categories including SC, ST, OBC, EWS, Ex-servicemen, Freedom Fighter Dependents, and Divyang Candidates.

Level	Total Candidates Appeared	Candidates Qualified	Qualification Rate
Primary	713,648	571,435	80.07%
Upper-Primary	1,057,021	759,513	71.85%

Category	Minimum Marks	Percentage
General	90 out of 150	60 percent
SC	82 out of 150	55 percent
ST	82 out of 150	55 percent
OBC	82 out of 150	55 percent
EWS	82 out of 150	55 percent
Ex-servicemen	82 out of 150	55 percent
Freedom Fighter Dependents	82 out of 150	55 percent
Divyang Candidates	82 out of 150	55 percent

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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