UPESSC Principal Recruitment 2026 Out For 2647 Posts, Apply Link , Eligibility

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The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC), Prayagraj, has released notifications for the recruitment of 2,647 Principal and Headmaster posts in non-government-aided schools under the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Department. The recruitment includes 1,475 Principal posts under Advertisement No. 08/2026 and 1,172 Headmaster posts under Advertisement No. 09/2026.

The online application process began on 23 October 2026. Eligible Indian citizens can apply through the official UPESSC website after completing the mandatory One Time Registration (OTR). The last date to pay the application fee is 22 November 2026, while the application correction deadline is 25 November 2026. The written examination is scheduled for 7 January 2027.

Candidates should check the respective notification for educational qualifications, teaching experience, age requirements, application fees and selection criteria before applying.

UP Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026 Notification Out

The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC), Prayagraj, has released the UP Principal Recruitment 2026 Notification (Advt. No. 08/2026) and the UP Headmaster Recruitment 2026 Notification (Advt. No. 09/2026) for a total of 2,647 vacancies in aided secondary schools across Uttar Pradesh.
Candidates should carefully review the respective advertisements, including post-wise eligibility criteria, age requirements, application fees, and selection procedures, before applying. The commission has scheduled the written examination for 7 January 2027. Applicants must complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process and submit their applications online within the prescribed deadlines.

UP Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026: Overview

Particulars	Details
Recruiting Commission	Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC)
Department	Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Department
Posts	Principal and Headmaster
Principal Advertisement No.	08/2026
Headmaster Advertisement No.	09/2026
Total Vacancies	2,647
Application Mode	Online
Official Website	upessc.up.gov.in
Principal Notification	Principal Short Principal detailed Principal Notification
Headmaster Notification	Headmaster short Headmaster detailed

UP Principal and Headmaster Vacancy 2026

The commission has announced vacancies in boys’ and girls’ non-government aided schools.A total of 1,475 Principal vacancies have been announced, including 1,318 posts in boys’ schools and 157 in girls’ schools.A total of 1,475 Principal vacancies have been announced, including 1,318 posts in boys’ schools and 157 in girls’ schools.

Post	Advertisement No.	Boys’ Schools	Girls’ Schools	Total
Principal	08/2026	1,318	157	1,475
Headmaster	09/2026	1,037	135	1,172
Total	—	2,355	292	2,647

Important Dates

The following schedule was provided for the Headmaster recruitment. Candidates should verify the Principal dates in Advertisement No. 08/2026.

Event	Date
Notification Publication	23 October 2026
Online Application Starts	23 October 2026
Last Date to Pay Application Fee	22 November 2026
Application Correction Deadline	25 November 2026
Examination Date	7 January 2027

UP Principal and Headmaster Eligibility Criteria

Candidates applying for UPESSC Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026 must meet the prescribed educational qualification and professional experience requirements. The post-wise eligibility criteria are given below.

Eligibility Criteria	Principal	Headmaster
Postgraduate Qualification	Master’s degree with at least 50% marks from a recognised university or institution	Master’s degree with at least 50% marks from a recognised university or institution
Professional Qualification	B.Ed. degree from a course recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)	B.Ed. or B.P.Ed. degree from a course recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
Teaching Experience	At least 4 years of teaching experience as a Lecturer or Assistant Teacher in Classes 9–12 at a recognised institution	At least 4 years of teaching experience as a Lecturer or Assistant Teacher in Classes 9–12 at a recognised institution
Alternative Experience	At least 4 years of experience as a High School Headmaster	At least 4 years of experience as a Junior High School Headmaster
Experience Certificate	Must be issued by the prescribed competent authority	Must be issued by the prescribed competent authority

Important points:

Candidates must possess the required qualifications and experience by the prescribed application deadline.
Experience certificates must follow the format specified in the recruitment notification.
For Kendriya Vidyalayas, the Regional Officer is the competent authority for issuing the experience certificate.
For other institutions, the certificate must meet the prescribed issuing and countersigning requirements.

UP Principal and Headmaster Apply Link

The online application process for UP Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026 starts on 23 October 2026. Candidates can use the apply link provided below to submit their applications for the respective posts. The last date to pay the application fee is 22 November 2026, and the application correction window closes on 25 November 2026. Candidates should select the correct advertisement: Advertisement No. 08/2026 for Principal or Advertisement No. 09/2026 for Headmaster.

How to Apply for UP Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026

Visit the official UPESSC website.
Open Advertisement No. 08/2026 for Principal or Advertisement No. 09/2026 for Headmaster.
Read the relevant notification and verify the eligibility requirements.
Complete the online application with the required details.
Pay the examination fee applicable to the selected post.
Review and submit the form, then save the confirmation page and payment receipt.

Application Fees

The application fee differs by post. The supplied notification details specify the following examination fees. Candidates should pay the fee applicable to their chosen post and follow the instructions on the official application portal.

Category	Principal Fee	Headmaster Fee
General / OBC / EWS	₹2,000	₹1,500
SC / ST	₹2,000	₹1,500
Persons with Disabilities (PwD)	₹2,000	₹1,500

Age Limit

The minimum age for both posts is 30 years as of 1 July 2026. The notifications specify 62 years as the superannuation age.

Criteria	Details
Minimum Age	30 years
Age Calculation Date	1 July 2026
Superannuation Age	62 years

UP Principal and Head Master Exam Pattern

The selection process for both posts consists of a written examination and an interview, carrying a combined total of 400 marks.Each question will have four options, and candidates must select the most appropriate answer. Answers must be marked on the answer sheet using a black ballpoint pen. The written examination cutoff and candidates’ marks will be published on the official website after the selection process is completed.

Exam Component	Details
Written Examination	360 marks
Total Questions	120
Question Type	Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Exam Duration	2 hours
Interview	40 marks
Total Marks	400
Correct Answer	+3 marks
Incorrect or Multiple Answers	−1 mark
Question Paper Language	Hindi and English, except for language-subject questions

Written Examination Instructions

Each question will have four options, of which candidates must select the most appropriate answer.
Candidates must mark their answers on the OMR answer sheet using a black ballpoint pen.
Incorrect answers and multiple answers attract a deduction of one mark.
Candidates must follow the examination-centre instructions and the rules for filling in the OMR sheet.
The written examination cutoff and candidates’ marks will be published on the official website after the selection process is completed.

UP Principal and Headmaster Selection Process

The selection process consists of the following stages:

Written Examination: Candidates appear for the objective-type examination carrying 360 marks.
Interview: Candidates shortlisted on the basis of the written examination are called for an interview carrying 40 marks.
Preparation of Final Merit List: The final merit list is prepared using the combined marks obtained in the written examination and interview.
Document Verification and Appointment Formalities: Shortlisted candidates must produce the prescribed educational, experience and other supporting documents. Final appointment is subject to the applicable verification and selection requirements.

Candidates should keep their original certificates and the required self-attested copies ready for the interview.

UP Principal and Headmaster Salary

The salary differs according to the post and pay level.

Post	Pay Level	Salary Range
Principal	Level 12	₹78,800–₹2,09,200
Headmaster	Level 10	₹56,100–₹1,77,500

UP Principal and Headmaster Merit List

The final merit list will be prepared using the combined marks obtained in the written examination and interview. If candidates have equal merit, the written examination marks will be considered first, followed by interview marks and postgraduate percentage.

For the Principal post, B.Ed. marks will be considered next. For the Headmaster post, B.Ed. or B.P.Ed. marks will be considered. If all the specified criteria remain equal, the older candidate will receive preference.

UP Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026: FAQs

How many vacancies are available under UP Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026?

There are 2,647 vacancies in total, including 1,475 Principal posts and 1,172 Headmaster posts.

What is the application fee for UP Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026?

The examination fee is ₹2,000 for Principal applicants and ₹1,500 for Headmaster applicants across the categories listed in the supplied notifications.

What is the age limit for UP Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026?

The minimum age is 30 years as of 1 July 2026. The specified superannuation age is 62 years.

What is the salary for UP Principal and Headmaster posts?

Principal posts carry Pay Level 12, with a salary range of ₹78,800–₹2,09,200. Headmaster posts carry Pay Level 10, with a salary range of ₹56,100–₹1,77,500.

What is the exam pattern for UP Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026?

Both examinations have 120 objective-type questions for 360 marks, followed by a 40-mark interview. The written examination lasts two hours, with 3 marks for a correct answer and a deduction of 1 mark for an incorrect or multiple answer.