UPSC Principal & Vice Principal Online Form 2026 – 828 Posts
UPSC has opened online applications for 828 posts of Principal and Vice Principal under Advertisement No. 51/2026, and the window closes on 14 August 2026 (up to 6:00 PM). There are 124 Principal posts and 704 Vice Principal posts, so this is one of the biggest school-leadership recruitments through UPSC in recent years. If you hold a Master's degree and have teaching or administrative experience in a school setup, this is a direct route into a senior government teaching-leadership role. Applications are submitted through the UPSC online recruitment portal, and the application fee is just ₹25 for General/OBC/EWS and nil for SC/ST/PwD candidates. Full details on vacancies, eligibility, dates, fee, pay and how to apply are given below.
Vacancy Details
| Post | Post |
|---|---|
| Principal | 124 |
| Vice Principal | 704 |
| Total | 828 |
Eligibility
| Educational Qualification | For both posts you need a Master's degree from a recognised Indian university. Principal candidates additionally need about 10 years of relevant experience. Vice Principal candidates need experience as a teacher — 2 years as a PGT or 3 years as a TGT. Check the exact subject, experience and equivalence conditions in the official Advt 51/2026 notification before applying. |
| Age Limit | The maximum age is calculated as on 14 August 2026. For Principal the upper age limit is 50 years, and for Vice Principal it is 35 years. Age relaxation applies as per UPSC rules for reserved categories under Advertisement 51/2026 — refer to the notification for exact relaxation for OBC, SC, ST, EWS and PwD candidates. |
| Age Relaxation | Max age is on 14/08/2026 — Vice Principal up to 35 years, Principal up to 50 years; relaxation as per UPSC rules. |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Start | 25 July 2026 (verify) |
| Last Date to Apply | 14 August 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Fee Payment Last Date | Refer official notification |
| Exam Date | 01 November 2026 |
Application Fee
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹25 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹0 |
Salary / Pay
The exact pay scale / Pay Level for the Principal and Vice Principal posts is not stated in the available source, so treat any figure as indicative until you check the official notification. Pay will be as per the relevant government rules for the parent department/organisation given in Advt 51/2026. Refer to the official notification for the confirmed Pay Level and in-hand salary.
Selection Process
Selection is through a UPSC Recruitment Test as described in the notification, followed by the Commission's normal shortlisting and verification process. The exact structure, marking and any interview/document-verification stage should be confirmed from Advt 51/2026, as the source describes the test only in general terms.
How to Apply
Apply online only through the UPSC Online Recruitment Application portal at upsconline.nic.in/ora/ between the opening date and 14 August 2026 up to 6:00 PM. Register with your basic details, log in and fill the application form for Principal or Vice Principal, upload the required documents/photo/signature, pay the fee (₹25 for General/OBC/EWS; nil for SC/ST/PwD), and submit. Take a printout of the final submitted form for your records.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many total posts are there in UPSC Principal & Vice Principal 2026?
A total of 828 posts — 124 Principal and 704 Vice Principal — under Advertisement No. 51/2026.
What is the last date to apply?
14 August 2026, up to 6:00 PM, through the UPSC online portal.
What qualification is required?
A Master's degree from a recognised Indian university, plus relevant experience — about 10 years for Principal, and 2 years PGT / 3 years TGT teaching experience for Vice Principal.
What is the application fee?
₹25 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and nil (₹0) for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
What is the age limit?
Maximum 50 years for Principal and 35 years for Vice Principal, calculated as on 14 August 2026, with relaxation as per UPSC rules.