UPESSC Recruitment 2026

UPESSC Recruitment 2026: 2,647 Principal and Headmaster Vacancies, Eligibility, Salary, Apply Online

The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC), Prayagraj, has released two recruitment notifications for Principal and Headmaster posts in non-government aided schools under the Secondary Education Department of Uttar Pradesh. The recruitment advertisements are numbered 08/2026 and 09/2026.

According to the two official notifications, a total of 2,647 vacancies have been announced. These include 1,475 Principal vacancies and 1,172 Headmaster vacancies in boys’ and girls’ schools.

Eligible Indian citizens who meet the prescribed educational qualifications, teaching experience and age requirements can apply online through the commission’s official website. Candidates should carefully read the relevant advertisement because the qualifications, experience requirements, salary scales and application fees differ between the two posts.

UPESSC Recruitment 2026 Overview

Vacancy Details

The two notifications announce vacancies for Principal and Headmaster positions in non-government aided schools.

The commission states that vacancy numbers may change. Candidates should check the school-wise vacancy lists included in the respective official notifications.

Important Dates

The important dates provided in both advertisements are listed below.

Candidates should check the official website for any changes to the examination schedule or application procedure.

UPESSC Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria differ depending on whether the candidate is applying for Principal or Headmaster.

1. Principal Educational Qualification

As stated in Advertisement No. 08/2026, applicants must possess:

1. A postgraduate degree with at least 50% marks from a legally established or government-recognised university, deemed university or institution.
2. A Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree from an NCTE-recognised programme.
3. At least four years of qualifying professional experience through either of the following routes:
   • Teaching experience as a lecturer or assistant teacher in Classes 9 to 12 at a Central or State Government-recognised institution; or
   • Experience working as a high school Headmaster.

The prescribed experience must be supported by a certificate issued and authenticated by the competent authority in accordance with the notification.

2. Headmaster Educational Qualification

According to Advertisement No. 09/2026, applicants must possess:

1. A postgraduate degree with at least 50% marks from a legally established or government-recognised university, deemed university or institution.
2. A Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) or Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed.) degree from an NCTE-recognised programme.
3. At least four years of qualifying professional experience through either of the following routes:
   • Teaching experience as a lecturer or assistant teacher in Classes 9 to 12 at a Central or State Government-recognised institution; or
   • Experience working as a Headmaster in a junior high school.

Experience certificates must meet the prescribed issuance and authentication requirements.

Important: Candidates should consult the exact wording of the applicable advertisement to confirm that their qualifications, experience and certificates satisfy the eligibility requirements.

Age Limit

The age requirements specified in the two notifications are the same.

The commission specifies that the date of birth recorded on the High School or equivalent certificate is the accepted proof of date of birth. Candidates should review the official notification for all applicable age and eligibility provisions.

Application Fee

The application fees differ between the two posts.

Payment can be completed through the online payment gateway using a credit card, debit card or net banking. Candidates should retain the fee receipt for future reference.

Salary Details

The pay scales mentioned in the notifications are as follows.

The applicable allowances and other service benefits will be governed by the relevant service rules.

Selection Process

The selection process for both Principal and Headmaster posts consists of a written examination and an interview.

Written Examination Pattern

The examination pattern described in both notifications includes the following:

Candidates must select the most appropriate answer from the options provided. The commission will publish the cutoff marks and candidates’ scores after completion of the selection process, as specified in the notification.

The final merit list will be prepared according to the prescribed criteria. Tie-breaking provisions include consideration of written examination marks, interview marks, postgraduate marks, professional degree marks and age, as applicable.

Candidates should download the relevant examination syllabus from the official website and prepare according to the prescribed subjects.

How to Apply Online for UPESSC Recruitment 2026

Eligible candidates can follow these steps to apply for the relevant post:

1. Visit the official UPESSC website.
2. Complete the mandatory One Time Registration (OTR).
3. Log in to the online application portal.
4. Select the relevant advertisement:
   • Advertisement No. 08/2026 for Principal.
   • Advertisement No. 09/2026 for Headmaster.
5. Enter personal information, educational qualifications and professional experience in English.
6. Upload the photograph, signature and supporting documents in the prescribed formats.
7. Pay the applicable application fee for the selected post.
8. Review the application carefully before final submission.
9. Save and print the submitted application form and payment receipt.
10. Keep three copies of the submitted application for future reference. The notification requires two separate sets of specified documents at the interview stage.

Candidates must ensure that their application is fully completed within the prescribed period. Incorrect details, unsupported qualifications or incomplete applications may lead to rejection.

Documents Required

Candidates should prepare the following documents, as applicable:

• High School certificate showing date of birth.
• Postgraduate degree certificate and marksheets.
• B.Ed. or B.P.Ed. certificate, as applicable to the post.
• Teaching experience certificate.
• Headmaster experience certificate, where applicable.
• Recent passport-size photograph.
• Scanned signature on a white background.
• Identity proof and other supporting documents required by the commission.
• Disability certificate, where applicable.
• Online application confirmation.
• Application fee payment receipt.

The notifications prescribe JPG/JPEG format for the photograph and signature, with file sizes between 10 KB and 100 KB. Supporting certificates must be uploaded in PDF format within the prescribed file-size limits.

Candidates should also prepare the required original documents and photocopy sets for verification at the interview stage.

Important Links

UPESSC Recruitment 2026 provides an opportunity for eligible and experienced educators to apply for Principal and Headmaster positions in non-government aided schools across Uttar Pradesh. The two advertisements together list 2,647 vacancies.

Before applying, candidates should carefully verify their educational qualifications, teaching or administrative experience, age eligibility and applicable application fee. Applicants should complete OTR, submit the relevant online application and retain all documents required for verification.