UPESSC Principal Exam Date 2026 Out for 111 Posts, Written Exam on 24 Sep

Uttar Pradesh Shiksha Seva Chayan Ayog (UPESSC), Prayagraj, has announced a total of 111 vacancies for Principal (Prachary) posts in aided degree colleges of Uttar Pradesh. As per the schedule, the UPESSC Principal written exam will be conducted on 24 September 2026. Candidates who have registered for the exam can check the complete exam schedule from the article.

UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026- Highlights

UPESSC Principal is a senior-level academic post carrying a Level-14 pay scale, making it an attractive opportunity for eligible Professors and Associate Professors with substantial teaching and research experience.

UPESSC Principal Exam Date 2026 Out

Uttar Pradesh Shiksha Seva Chayan Ayog (UPESSC) has announced the UPESSC Principal Exam Date 2026 for Advt. No. 02/2026 through the official website www.upessc.up.gov.in. The UPESSC Principal written exam will be conducted on 24 September 2026, and the admit card will be released on 21 September 2026. The exam will be in a single shift from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at 2 exam centres in Lucknow.

UPESSC Principal Admit Card 2026 Out – Click to Download

UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

The complete schedule, including registration dates and the exam date for the UPESSC Principal Exam, has been released by officials along with the notification PDF. The UP Principal Exam will be conducted on 24 September 2026. Chcek important dates from the table below.

UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026 Notification

The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission has released its 2nd advertisement of the year, inviting applications for the post of Principal, for which a detailed UPESSC Principal Notification PDF is available at www.upessc.up.gov.in. The same can be downloaded directly from the link below.

Click to Download UPESSC Principal Recruitment Notification 2026 PDF

UPESSC Principal Vacancy 2026

UPESSC has invited online applications for 111 vacant posts of Principal in government-aided co-education and women’s degree colleges of Uttar Pradesh. The vacancies notified under this recruitment drive are distributed as follows:

UP Principal Eligibility Criteria 2026

Before applying, candidates must ensure they meet the age and educational qualification requirements laid down for this post.

Age Limit (as on 01/07/2026)

The maximum age limit for the post of Principal is 62 years as on 1st July 2026.
Applications will not be accepted if the date of birth is not mentioned, or if the candidate’s age exceeds 62 years as on the cut-off date.

Educational Qualification

Candidates applying for the post of Principal must fulfil all of the following conditions:

• A Ph.D. degree is mandatory.
• The candidate should hold the post of Professor/Associate Professor in a university, college, or other institution of higher education with at least 15 years of teaching/research experience.
• The candidate must have at least 10 research publications in peer-reviewed or UGC-listed journals.
• The candidate must have secured a minimum of 110 research/academic score as per the API (Academic Performance Indicator) proforma given in the notification.

For Principal posts in Law colleges, eligibility will additionally be assessed in accordance with Bar Council of India norms, and for B.Ed. colleges, NCTE norms will also be taken into consideration.

Tenure

A Principal will be appointed for a period of 5 years, which may be extended for a second term of 5 years based on performance evaluation by a committee constituted by the university. After completing the tenure as Principal, the incumbent will revert to their original post in the grade of Professor at their parent institution.

UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026 Application Fee

While filling the UPESSC Principal application form, candidates have to pay an application fee of Rs. 3000/-. The fee will be paid through an online payment gateway using Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking.

Steps to Apply Online for UPESSC Principal Vacancy 2026

1. Candidates have to visit the official website of Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission at www.upessc.up.gov.in
2. Firstly, fill in One-Time Registration (OTR) by providing a valid email ID and mobile number.
3. Fill in the online application form with your personal, educational, and professional details carefully.
4. Upload the required documents, including your recent passport-size photograph, signature, and other certificates.
5. Pay the application fee of Rs. 3,000 through the available online payment gateway.
6. Preview the application form and verify all the details entered before final submission.
7. Submit the application form and download or print the confirmation page and fee receipt for future reference.

UPESSC Principal Selection Process 2026

Selection for the post of Principal will be carried out through the following stages:

1. Written Examination: An objective-type exam of 360 marks, comprising 120 multiple-choice questions.
2. Interview: Carrying 40 marks.

Only those candidates who have secured a minimum research score (API) of 110 will be considered eligible for the post of Principal.

UPESSC Principal Written Exam Pattern 2026

The written exam for the Principal post will be divided into two parts, totalling 120 questions and 360 marks:

Marking Scheme

• Each correct answer will be awarded 3 marks.
• One mark will be deducted for every wrong answer or for marking more than one option (negative marking).
• The cut-off and scores of candidates will be published on the website after the selection process is completed.

UP Principal Salary Structure 2026

Candidates appointed for Principal posts will be offered the monthly salary in pay level 14. Along with monthly salary, candidates will be entitled to various allowances and perks.