UPESSC has opened two leadership recruitments for Uttar Pradesh's aided secondary schools together: 1,475 Principal posts in intermediate colleges (Advertisement No. 08/2026) and 1,172 Headmaster posts in high schools (Advertisement No. 09/2026), both dated 23 October 2026. That makes 2,647 posts in all. Online fee payment closes on 22 November 2026 and both written exams are on 7 January 2027. These are not entry-level jobs. Both need a postgraduate degree, a B.Ed and at least four years of teaching or headship experience, so the real question for most readers is whether their experience counts. This guide puts the two official advertisements side by side, with page references in brackets (P = Principal advertisement, H = Headmaster advertisement).
For the dates and apply links in one place, see the UP Principal online form and UP Headmaster online form pages.
Principal vs Headmaster at a Glance
| Principal (Advt 08/2026) | Headmaster (Advt 09/2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| School level | Intermediate college (classes up to 12) | High school (classes up to 10) |
| Total posts | 1,475 (P p.2) | 1,172 (H p.2) |
| Boys' / girls' schools | 1,318 / 157 | 1,037 / 135 |
| Pay | Level 12: ₹78,800 – ₹2,09,200 (P p.5) | Level 10: ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 (H p.5) |
| Fee (all categories) | ₹2,000 (P p.4) | ₹1,500 (H p.4) |
| Qualification | PG with 50% + B.Ed | PG with 50% + B.Ed or B.P.Ed |
| Experience | 4 years teaching classes 9–12, or 4 years as a High School Headmaster | 4 years teaching classes 9–12, or 4 years as a Junior High School Headmaster |
| Age | At least 30 on 01.07.2026; retirement age 62 | |
| Reservation | All posts unreserved | |
| Selection | 360-mark written exam (120 questions) + 40-mark interview = 400 | |
| Key dates | Apply from 23.10.2026 · fee by 22.11.2026 · corrections by 25.11.2026 · exam 07.01.2027 | |
The Posts and Where They Come From
Each advertisement's Table 01 gives the split between boys' (Balak) and girls' (Balika) schools: 1,318 + 157 = 1,475 Principal posts (P p.10) and 1,037 + 135 = 1,172 Headmaster posts (H p.10).
A large part of these numbers is older vacancies. Both advertisements say that, in compliance with a High Court order dated 15 April 2026 in Special Appeal No. 376/2026, the requisitions include posts from 2019-20 and 2021-22 (P p.4; H p.4):
| Older posts included | Principal | Headmaster |
|---|---|---|
| Boys' schools, 2019-20 | 530 | 434 |
| Boys' schools, 2021-22 | 114 | 84 |
| Girls' schools, 2019-20 | 69 | 58 |
| Girls' schools, 2021-22 | 8 | 10 |
Both advertisements also say the number of posts may go up or down (para 5.2), and the school-wise list is attached to each advertisement (Table 2).
All posts are unreserved
Paragraph 6(क)(i) of both advertisements states that all vacancies are unreserved, which is unusual. In practice:
- There are no category-wise seats. Everyone competes on one merit list.
- The fee is the same for everyone: ₹2,000 for Principal and ₹1,500 for Headmaster, including SC/ST and PwBD candidates.
- The advertisements do not list any upper-age relaxation either, since the limit is simply the retirement age of 62.
- Candidates with disabilities can compete for these unreserved posts, provided their disability sub-category is one identified for the post. Both advertisements list the identified sub-categories and quote the government order of 18 April 2022 on this.
Eligibility: The Three Conditions
Both posts need all three of the following, held by the last date for applications (para 2.9):
- A postgraduate degree with at least 50% marks from a university established by law or recognised by the government.
- A B.Ed from an NCTE-recognised course. For Headmaster, a B.P.Ed is also accepted (H p.5); the Principal advertisement mentions only B.Ed (P p.5).
- At least 4 years of experience, in one of two forms:
- as a Lecturer or Assistant Teacher teaching classes 9–12 in an institution recognised by the Central or State Government; or
- as a Headmaster for 4 years: of a High School for the Principal post, or of a Junior High School for the Headmaster post.
What this means:
- Teaching only classes 6–8 does not count as the teaching experience. The advertisement asks for experience in the higher classes, 9 to 12. The exception is the Headmaster post, where 4 years as Headmaster of a Junior High School counts.
- The experience must be certified at the right level. The certificate must be issued by the district-level officer and countersigned by the divisional officer; for Kendriya Vidyalayas the competent level is the regional officer. The certificate format is Annexure-2 of the advertisement, and you must bring the original to the interview.
- A 50% postgraduate degree is the floor. There is no relaxation in the percentage for any category.
Rules for men, women and girls' schools
Both advertisements contain two rules that decide which posts you can actually get (para 11.6–11.7):
- Men are not eligible for appointment in girls' institutions. A male candidate is effectively competing for the boys' school posts only: 1,318 Principal or 1,037 Headmaster posts.
- Women are eligible for both boys' and girls' schools, but must choose one category (boys or girls) in the application form.
One detail worth knowing: the Headmaster advertisement's paragraph 11.6 repeats the Principal wording ("Principal of a girls' institution"). The intent appears to be the same for Headmaster posts, but if this affects you, check with the commission's helpline (below) rather than rely on the wording.
Age and Pay
The minimum age is 30 years on 1 July 2026, and the retirement age for the post is 62. An application from anyone over 62 on 01.07.2026 is not accepted (para 2.7).
Pay is in the 7th CPC pay matrix: Level 12 (₹78,800 – ₹2,09,200) for Principal and Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) for Headmaster. These are basic-pay ranges; allowances are added on top and are not listed in the advertisements.
Selection: 360-Mark Exam + 40-Mark Interview
The merit list is out of 400 marks: a written exam of 360 marks (120 objective questions) and an interview of 40 marks (para 9(क)).
- Duration: 2 hours.
- Questions: multiple choice, four options each, marked on an OMR sheet with a black ballpoint pen.
- Marking: +3 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong answer or for marking more than one option.
- Language: Hindi and English, except the language sections.
- Tie-break: written-exam marks first, then interview marks, then postgraduate percentage, then B.Ed (or B.P.Ed) percentage, and finally the older candidate.
- Cut-offs and candidates' marks are published only after the selection is complete.
The written exam carries 90% of the total, so it decides most of the ranking; the interview's 40 marks matter mainly between close candidates. Candidates shortlisted on written marks get at least 10 days' notice of the interview.
What +3 / −1 means for guessing
With four options, a blind guess is worth zero on average (¼ × 3 − ¾ × 1 = 0). Ruling out one option makes a guess worth +⅓ mark on average, and ruling out two makes it worth +1. Skip what you don't know, but attempt any question where you can eliminate at least one option with confidence.
Syllabus: Three Parts, 120 Questions
UPESSC has published separate written-exam syllabi for Principal and Headmaster. They are almost identical and have three parts:
| Part | Questions | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | 30 | Current affairs; Indian history, polity, economy and geography; general science, ICT and educational technology |
| Part II | 30 | General Hindi; General English |
| Part III | 60 | Education history and policy, UP education law, the role of the head of school, and academic, office and financial administration |
Part III is half the paper, and it is the part that separates working teachers who know school administration from everyone else. Its units cover:
- Development of education before independence: Charter Act 1813, the Anglicist–Orientalist debate, Macaulay's Minute, Wood's Despatch, the Hunter Commission, the 1913 resolution, the Sadler Commission, the Hartog Committee, the Wardha scheme of basic education and the Sargent Plan, along with the educational ideas of Gandhi and Nehru.
- After independence: the Radhakrishnan and Kothari Commissions, the National Policy on Education 1968 and 1986, the RTE Act 2009, NEP 2020 and Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's views on education.
- UP Intermediate Education Act 1921 and related acts, rules and regulations; the bodies of secondary education (RMSA, UP Board, the Secondary Education Directorate, SCERT, UPESSC, CBSE, NCERT and others).
- The role and duties of the Principal / Headmaster: planning, supervision, leadership, decision-making and management skills.
- Academic administration: academic calendar, science and eco clubs, monthly and weekly split of the syllabus, assembly and timetable, teaching quality, ICT, and the PTA regulations 1986 (the Headmaster syllabus adds the SMC).
- Office administration: records, data, leave, transfer, promotion and seniority rules, the requisition and Manav Sampada portals, the RTI Act 2005, rights of persons with disabilities and other deprived groups, the 2013 law on sexual harassment at the workplace, the Janhit Guarantee Act 2011, school grading and monitoring, and provisions for minority schools.
- Financial administration: school budget, income sources and expenditure heads, accounts, TA rules, PFMS, the GeM portal, GST, salary, pension, income tax and NPS.
- Schemes and programmes: mid-day meal, Project Alankar, Kayakalp, DIKSHA, PARAKH, NIPUN Bharat (Mission Prerna), NISHTHA, School Chalo Abhiyan, Sharda, sports, NCC, NSS, Scouts & Guides, scholarships, and the eligibility and evaluation criteria for national, state and Chief Minister's teacher awards.
Download the syllabus for your post from the syllabus page on upessc.up.gov.in; both the Principal and Headmaster versions are listed there.
A 10-Week Plan to 7 January
| Weeks | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Get your experience certificate in the Annexure-2 format started with your district office, since it needs a district signature and a divisional countersignature. Finish the online form and fee well before 22 November. |
| 2–5 | Part III first: the education commissions and policies in order, then the UP Intermediate Education Act 1921 and the administration units. Working teachers should list the rules they already use (leave, transfer, PFMS, Manav Sampada) and fill the gaps. |
| 6–7 | Parts I and II: current affairs for the last 6–8 months, Indian polity and economy basics, and Hindi and English grammar. |
| 8–9 | Timed mocks: 120 questions in 120 minutes on a printed OMR-style sheet, with a black pen and no changes. |
| 10 | Revision of the schemes list, acts and years, and your own notes. |
How to Apply: Form Rules
- One Time Registration (OTR) on upessc.up.gov.in is compulsory before applying (para 2.2).
- Fill the form in English, with the date of birth exactly as in your High School certificate (paras 2.10–2.11).
- Upload a photo and signature as JPG/JPEG of 10–100 KB each (signature on white), and documents as PDFs of 20–200 KB (paras 2.13–2.14).
- Category, sub-category, date of birth and gender cannot be changed after the final submit (para 2.4).
- Pay the fee online (credit or debit card, or net banking) by 22 November 2026. It is not refunded. If you submit more than once, only the last application counts (para 2.12).
- Keep three printouts of the submitted form; two sets go with your documents at the interview (para 2.16).
At the interview you need two self-attested sets of your mark sheets and certificates (High School to postgraduate, B.Ed), the original experience certificate, an original no-objection certificate from your employer, an affidavit in the Annexure-3 format, and two character certificates (para 13.5). No TA/DA is paid for the exam or the interview.
Applying for both posts: both written exams are on the same date, 7 January 2027, and neither advertisement says whether one person may apply for both. If you meet both sets of conditions, decide which post fits your experience before you pay two fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many posts are there?
1,475 Principal posts (Advt 08/2026) and 1,172 Headmaster posts (Advt 09/2026), 2,647 in total.
What is the last date?
The online fee must be paid by 22 November 2026, and corrections can be made until 25 November 2026.
When is the exam?
7 January 2027, for both posts.
Is there reservation?
No. Both advertisements state that all vacancies are unreserved, and the fee is the same for every category.
Does teaching classes 6–8 count as experience?
Not as the teaching experience: the advertisements ask for 4 years teaching classes 9–12. For the Headmaster post only, 4 years as Headmaster of a Junior High School is accepted instead.
Can a man become Principal of a girls' school?
No. Men are not eligible for appointment in girls' institutions. Women can apply for either, but must choose boys' or girls' schools in the form.
What is the salary?
Principal: Level 12, ₹78,800 – ₹2,09,200. Headmaster: Level 10, ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500. Allowances are extra.
Where do I get help with the form?
Technical support: 08448573939 or Support@upessc.org (9:30 AM – 6 PM, Monday–Saturday). Commission support for qualification questions: 0532-2466851 or upesscprayagraj@gmail.com (10 AM – 5 PM, Monday–Saturday).
For UPESSC's teacher-level recruitment this year, see our UP TGT 2026 guide.
Official Sources
- UPESSC Advertisement No. 08/2026: Principal (aided schools)
- UPESSC Advertisement No. 09/2026: Headmaster (aided schools)
- UPESSC syllabus page (Principal and Headmaster written-exam syllabi)
- UPESSC official website: OTR and online application
Page numbers refer to each advertisement's own numbering. This guide was checked against both advertisements and syllabi on 30 October 2026; if UPESSC issues a corrigendum, the official notice takes precedence.
