PSTET Notification 2026 Out - Apply Online, Exam Date, Eligibility & Syllabus

PSTET Notification 2026 Out, Apply Online for Paper 1 & 2

The Punjab State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has released the PSTET Notification 2026 for Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test for Primary and Upper Primary teachers in government and aided schools of Punjab.The PSTET 2026 online application process has started on the official website pstet2025.org for both Paper 1 and Paper 2.

PSTET is a mandatory eligibility test for candidates aspiring to become teachers for Classes 1 to 5 and Classes 6 to 8 in Punjab schools.Candidates who fulfil the required educational qualifications can apply online within the given dates and appear for the offline OMR-based examination scheduled in March 2026. 

PSTET 2026 Overview

PSTET 2026 Important Dates

SCERT Punjab has announced the complete schedule for PSTET 2026 including application dates, exam date and result date.[web:4] Candidates should strictly adhere to the last date to apply online and fee payment.

PSTET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Nationality & Age Limit

• Applicants must be citizens of India to be eligible for PSTET 2026.
• There is no specified minimum or maximum age limit for appearing in PSTET 2026.

Educational Qualification for Paper 1 (Class 1–5)

Candidates who wish to appear in PSTET Paper 1 for primary teacher eligibility must meet the minimum academic and professional qualifications as prescribed by NCTE and mentioned in the detailed PSTET notification

• Senior Secondary (10+2) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in final year of 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) or equivalent teacher training programme.
• Senior Secondary with minimum 45–50% marks and 2-year D.El.Ed or equivalent, in accordance with NCTE regulations.
• Graduation with 2-year D.El.Ed or Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) as allowed in the official notification

Educational Qualification for Paper 2 (Class 6–8)

For PSTET Paper 2, candidates must have graduation along with prescribed teacher education qualifications for upper primary level.

• Graduation and 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed).
• 4-year integrated B.El.Ed / B.A.B.Ed / B.Sc.B.Ed or equivalent as specified by NCTE and PSTET notification.

Candidates are advised to carefully read the official PSTET 2026 notification PDF for complete and exact combinations of qualifications and relaxations for reserved categories.

PSTET 2026 Application Form

The PSTET 2026 application form is available only in online mode, and no offline forms will be accepted. The direct registration link is active on the PSTET official website for new registration, login and fee payment.

Direct Apply Online Link

• Main portal: https://pstet2025.org/
• Register & Apply: RegisterEmailIDwithOTPNew.aspx
• Official advertisement PDF: adv_pstet2025.pdf

Steps to Apply Online for PSTET 2026

1. Visit the official website pstet2025.org and click on the link for “PSTET 2026 Online Application”.
2. Click on “New Registration” and enter your valid email ID and mobile number to generate OTP.
3. Verify the OTP received on your mobile/email and create login credentials for PSTET 2026 application.
4. Login using your registered email ID and password and fill in personal details, address, educational qualifications and other required information correctly.
5. Select the paper(s) you wish to apply for – Paper 1, Paper 2 or both as per your eligibility.
6. Upload scanned copies of your recent passport size photograph and signature in the prescribed format and size as mentioned in the instructions.
7. Pay the required application fee online through debit/credit card, net banking or other available payment gateways.
8. After successful payment, submit the application form and download/print the confirmation page and fee receipt for future use.

A correction window will be activated between 21 and 23 February 2026 to edit limited fields such as name, date of birth, photograph, signature, contact details and exam centre city, as permitted by the portal.

PSTET 2026 Application Fee

The application fee for PSTET 2026 varies according to category and number of papers applied for. The fee is non-refundable and must be paid through online mode only.

Candidates are advised to check the fee status after payment and ensure that the application form is finally submitted and not left incomplete.

PSTET 2026 Exam Pattern

PSTET 2026 will be conducted as two separate papers – Paper 1 for primary level and Paper 2 for upper primary level. Both papers will consist of multiple-choice questions and will be conducted in offline mode.

PSTET Paper 1 Exam Pattern (Class 1–5)

All questions in Paper 1 will be objective type with four options, and each correct answer will carry 1 mark with no negative marking as per the PSTET pattern.

PSTET Paper 2 Exam Pattern (Class 6–8)

Paper 2 will also be conducted in offline mode and will test subject knowledge along with pedagogy at the upper primary level.

PSTET 2026 Syllabus (Brief)

The detailed PSTET syllabus is provided in the official notification and on the exam portal, covering child development, languages, mathematics, environmental studies and subject-specific content.

• Child Development & Pedagogy: Concept of development and learning, inclusive education, understanding children with special needs, pedagogy of learning and teaching at elementary level.
• Language I & II: Proficiency in the chosen language, comprehension passages, language skills, grammar and pedagogy of language development.
• Mathematics & Environmental Studies (Paper 1): Basic concepts, problem-solving, teaching-learning strategies and pedagogy relevant to primary level.
• Subject-specific (Paper 2): Content and pedagogy of Mathematics & Science or Social Studies or other applicable subjects for upper primary classes.

Applicants should refer to the topic-wise syllabus PDF to plan their preparation in a structured manner and focus on conceptual clarity and pedagogy sections.

PSTET 2026 Qualifying Marks & Certificate Validity

To qualify PSTET 2026, candidates must obtain the minimum qualifying marks as set by SCERT Punjab.

• General category: 60% marks i.e. 90 out of 150.
• OBC / SC / ST category: 55% marks i.e. 82 out of 150.

The PSTET qualifying certificate will be valid for 7 years from the date of issue for all categories. Qualifying PSTET does not guarantee a teaching job, but it is a mandatory eligibility requirement for applying to teacher recruitment in Punjab schools.

Important Instructions for PSTET 2026 Candidates

• Fill the online application form carefully; any incorrect or mismatched information may lead to rejection of candidature at a later stage.
• Use an active mobile number and email ID, as all communication such as OTP, registration details and alerts will be sent to these contacts.
• Non-Punjab domicile candidates will be considered under the General category for PSTET, as per notification guidelines.
• Keep copies of the application form, fee receipt, admit card and other important documents safely until the recruitment process is over.
• Regularly check the official website for any updates, notices, change in schedule or instructions related to PSTET 2026.