Uttar Pradesh government jobs attract very large numbers of applicants, and 2026 has kept all three of the state's main recruiting bodies busy. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), Prayagraj, is recruiting for PCS-2026 while finishing PCS-2025. The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), Lucknow, has fixed new dates for its Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET)-2026. The UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) is running physical tests for its 2025 constable recruitment.
This guide sets out where each stood on 9 October 2026, the main rules from their own notices, and a way to decide which route fits you. It does not repeat unofficial vacancy or date predictions.
Checked against uppsc.up.nic.in, upsssc.gov.in and uppbpb.gov.in on 9 October 2026. Several notices are in Hindi; the summaries are our translations.
Where the main recruitments stand
| Recruitment | Body | Official position on 9 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Exam-2026, Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026 | UPPSC | About 500 vacancies; applications ran from 25 June to 27 July 2026; preliminary exam listed for 6 December 2026 in UPPSC's calendar |
| PCS Exam-2025, Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2025 | UPPSC | Interview stage: interview letters, the interview schedule and a preference-sheet format are on UPPSC's homepage |
| Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET)-2026, Advt. No. 16-Exam/2026 | UPSSSC | Written exam rescheduled to 25 October, 30 October and 1 November 2026 |
| Constable (Civil Police) and equivalent posts, Direct Recruitment-2025 | UPPRPB | Written exam held 8–10 June 2026; 76,184 candidates called for document verification and physical standards; physical efficiency tests under way in September and October 2026 |
UPPSC PCS-2026
UPPSC's advertisement A-1/E-1/2026, dated 25 June 2026, says the number of vacancies is "about 500" and may increase or decrease. The UPPSC examination calendar of 30 January 2026 lists the preliminary exam for Sunday, 6 December 2026, and notes that its dates are tentative and can change.
Eligibility highlights from the advertisement:
- Age: at least 21 and not over 40 on 1 July 2026. Relaxations include 5 years for SC, ST and OBC candidates of UP and UP government employees, and 15 years for persons with disabilities of UP.
- Domicile: SC, ST, OBC, EWS and other reserved-category candidates who are not permanent residents of UP do not get reservation or age relaxation.
- Fee: ₹125 for unreserved, EWS and OBC candidates; ₹65 for SC, ST and ex-servicemen; ₹25 for persons with disabilities (each including a ₹25 online processing fee).
Scheme:
- Preliminary: two objective papers of 200 marks and two hours each, with 150 questions in Paper I and 100 in Paper II. Paper II is qualifying (33% minimum), so merit for the Main exam depends on Paper I. A wrong answer costs one-third of that question's marks; a blank costs nothing. About 15 times the vacancies are declared successful for the Main.
- Main: conventional papers in General Hindi (150), Essay (150) and six General Studies papers (200 each).
- Interview: 100 marks, with about three times the vacancies called. Minimum efficiency standards are 40%, or 35% for SC/ST candidates.
For the full PCS syllabus and pattern, see our UP PCS exam pattern and eligibility guide.
Worked example: PCS prelims penalty
Illustrative only. In Paper I, 150 questions carry 200 marks, so each question is worth 4/3 marks and a wrong answer costs 4/9 of a mark (one-third of 4/3).
- 100 right, 30 wrong, 20 blank: (100 × 4/3) − (30 × 4/9) = 133.33 − 13.33 = 120.00 out of 200
- Each wrong answer cancels one-third of a right one. Assuming four options per question, a pure guess is worth (1/4 × 4/3) − (3/4 × 4/9) = 0.33 − 0.33 = 0 on average; if you can rule out two options, it is worth (1/2 × 4/3) − (1/2 × 4/9) = 0.67 − 0.22 = +0.44.
For Paper II, 33% of 200 is 66 marks. Each of its 100 questions carries 2 marks, so 40 right and 15 wrong gives 80 − 10 = 70, clearing the line.
UPSSSC PET-2026
The PET (प्रारम्भिक अर्हता परीक्षा) is UPSSSC's Preliminary Eligibility Test. Its 2026 written exam had been set for 23, 24 and 25 October 2026. A UPSSSC notice dated 25 September 2026 moved it, "for unavoidable reasons", to:
| Day | Date | Shifts |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 25 October 2026 | 10:00 am–12:00 noon and 3:00–5:00 pm |
| Friday | 30 October 2026 | Same two shifts |
| Sunday | 1 November 2026 | Same two shifts |
UPSSSC says admit-card details will be announced separately on its website.
Separately, UPSSSC's notifications page listed five main-exam advertisements, 17-Exam/2026 to 21-Exam/2026, with application windows in September and October 2026. Read each advertisement for its eligibility conditions, including any PET score requirement, and check the PET-2026 advertisement itself for the exam pattern and how long the score can be used; we did not find those rules in a document we could open.
UP Police constable recruitment
UPPRPB's Direct Recruitment-2025 for Constable (Civil Police) and equivalent posts held its written exam on 8, 9 and 10 June 2026. Its result notice of 31 July 2026 called 76,184 candidates, about 2.33 times the advertised posts, for document verification and physical standards. Physical efficiency tests followed, and a notice of 8 October 2026 moved some sessions because of waterlogging at one venue. Our UP Police constable guide covers the cut-offs, physical standards and running targets.
Which route fits you?
| Your situation | Where to look first |
|---|---|
| Graduate aged 21–40 aiming for officer-level state posts | UPPSC PCS |
| Looking for Group 'C' posts through UPSSSC | PET, then the main-exam advertisements that match your qualification |
| Interested in the police and able to meet the physical standards | UPPRPB constable recruitments |
| Specialist graduate (medical, engineering, teaching) | UPPSC's subject-specific advertisements |
These are starting points only; each advertisement sets its own qualification, age and domicile rules.
A tracking checklist
Body, advertisement number and post:
Age on the reference date (1 July 2026 for PCS-2026) and any UP relaxation I can claim:
UP domicile and category certificates (if claiming reservation):
PET-2026 shift and admit-card date (if applicable):
Latest exam-date notice (not just the calendar):
Date I last checked the official websites:
For general state exam preparation, see our state PSC preparation guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the UPPSC PCS 2026 prelims?
UPPSC's examination calendar lists 6 December 2026. The calendar says dates are tentative, so confirm with the admit-card notice.
When is UPSSSC PET 2026?
On 25 October, 30 October and 1 November 2026, in two shifts each day, according to UPSSSC's notice of 25 September 2026.
Can candidates from other states apply for UP PCS?
Yes, but the advertisement says reserved-category candidates who are not permanent residents of UP do not get reservation or age relaxation.