UPSC Recruitment 2026: Apply for Principal & Vice Principal Positions – Last Date Soon
UPSC Special Advertisement No. 51/2026 opens applications for 124 Principal and 704 Vice Principal posts in Delhi's Education Department — here's everything on eligibility, pay, the CRT exam, and how to apply before 14 August 2026.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released Special Advertisement No. 51/2026, inviting online recruitment applications for 828 vacancies across two senior teaching-administration posts in the Education Department, Government of NCT of Delhi: Principal (124 posts) and Vice Principal (704 posts).
Applications must be submitted through UPSC’s Online Recruitment Application portal at upsconline.nic.in/ora. Selection for both posts will be made through a Combined Recruitment Test (CRT) followed by an interview.
UPSC Recruitment 2026 for Principal & Vice Principal Job Details
Before getting into eligibility specifics, here’s a quick summary of the two posts, their scale, and the recruitment timeline.
| Particulars | Principal | Vice Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Advertisement No. | 51/2026 | 51/2026 |
| Vacancy No. | 26075101725 | 26075102725 |
| Total Vacancies | 124 | 704 |
| Pay Level | Level-12 (7th CPC) | Level-10 (7th CPC) |
| Age Limit | 50 yrs (UR/EWS), 53 (OBC), 55 (SC/ST) | 35 yrs (UR/EWS), 38 (OBC), 40 (SC/ST) |
| Application Start | 25 July 2026 | 25 July 2026 |
| Application Close | 14 August 2026, 1800 hrs | 14 August 2026, 1800 hrs |
| Combined Recruitment Test (CRT) | 1 November 2026 | 1 November 2026 |
| Post Nature | Permanent, Group ‘A’ Gazetted, Non-Ministerial | Permanent, Group ‘A’ Gazetted, Non-Ministerial |
| Probation | 1 year | 1 year |
| Headquarters | Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi | Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi |
UPSC Recruitment 2026 Category-Wise Vacancy Breakup
Vacancies for both posts are distributed across UR, EWS, OBC, SC, and ST categories, with a further male/female split. The table below shows the full breakup for the Principal post.
| Category | UR | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Vacancies | 69 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 124 |
| Male | 37 | 07 | 07 | 13 | 08 | 72 |
| Female | 32 | 04 | 11 | 03 | 02 | 52 |
Of the 124 Principal vacancies, 7 are reserved for PwBD candidates (5 fresh + 2 backlog).
For the Vice Principal post, the category-wise distribution is as follows:
| Category | UR | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Vacancies | 287 | 71 | 189 | 103 | 54 | 704 |
| Male | 150 | 37 | 96 | 52 | 29 | 364 |
| Female | 137 | 34 | 93 | 51 | 25 | 340 |
Of the 704 Vice Principal vacancies, 28 are reserved for PwBD candidates (27 fresh + 1 backlog).
UPSC Recruitment 2026 for Principal & Vice Principal PwBD Reservation Details
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) with 40% or more disability are eligible for reservation and age relaxation. The table below shows which disability categories qualify for suitability and reservation benefits for these posts.
| Disability Category | Type | Eligible for Suitability | Eligible for Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blindness & Low Vision | Blind (B), Low Vision (LV) | Yes | Yes |
| Deaf & Hard of Hearing | Deaf (D), Hard of Hearing (HH) | Yes | Yes |
| Locomotor Disability | Both legs affected, One arm/leg affected, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victims | Yes | Yes |
| Locomotor Disability | Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Spinal Deformity/Injury, Both legs + arm affected | No (Vice Principal: CP=Yes) | No (Vice Principal: CP=Yes) |
| Autism/Intellectual/Learning/Mental Illness | Specific Learning Disability, Mental Illness | Yes | Yes |
| Autism/Intellectual/Learning/Mental Illness | Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability | No | No |
| Multiple Disabilities | Combination of above, incl. deaf-blindness | Yes | Yes |
Note: Cerebral Palsy is marked “No” for the Principal post but “Yes” for the Vice Principal post — check the exact category against the post you’re applying for.
UPSC Recruitment 2026 for Principal & Vice Principal Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification & Experience Principal
- Master’s Degree from a recognized University/Institute
- Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) from a recognized university/institute
- 10 years’ teaching experience as Vice Principal / Post Graduate Teacher / Trained Graduate Teacher in a recognized High School/Higher Secondary School/Senior Secondary School/Intermediate College
- Desirable: Doctorate degree; experience of administrative charge of a recognized school
Educational Qualification & Experience Vice Principal
- Master’s Degree from a recognized University/Institute
- Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) from a recognized university
- 2 years’ experience as Post Graduate Teacher OR 3 years’ experience as Trained Graduate Teacher
Age Limit
Age is reckoned as on the closing date, 14 August 2026. Relaxations of up to 5 years (SC/ST), 3 years (OBC), and 10 years (PwBD, capped at 56 years) apply as per government norms. Ex-servicemen get 5 years’ relaxation; Central/UT government employees get up to 5 years.
Citizenship
Candidates must be an Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who arrived before 1 January 1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries with intent to permanently settle in India (subject to an eligibility certificate from the Government of India for the latter categories).
Application Fee
The fee structure is straightforward, but exemptions apply to several categories, check whether you qualify before proceeding to payment.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR/OBC/EWS Male candidates | ₹25/- |
| Women (all categories) | Nil (exempted) |
| SC/ST candidates | Nil (exempted) |
| PwBD candidates | Nil (exempted) |
Fee is payable via Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, UPI, or Internet Banking. Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other exam.
UPSC Recruitment 2026 for Principal & Vice Principal Selection Process
Selection for both Principal and Vice Principal follows a two-stage process:
- Combined Recruitment Test (CRT), a pen-and-paper objective test scheduled for 1 November 2026
- Interview/Personality Test, schedule to be communicated separately
Weightage: CRT and Interview marks are combined in a 75:25 ratio for final merit.
Minimum qualifying marks in interview (out of 100):
| Category | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|
| General/EWS | 50 |
| OBC | 45 (relaxed standard) |
| SC/ST/PwBD | 40 (relaxed standard) |
CRT Exam Pattern
The Combined Recruitment Test structure is common to both posts. Here’s what to expect on exam day.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Question Type | Objective, multiple choice |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Medium | English and Hindi |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer |
| Test Centres | Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Dispur (Guwahati), Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Port Blair, Ranchi, Visakhapatnam |
CRT Syllabus
- General Knowledge, including contemporary social, economic, and cultural issues
- Hindi and English language skills
- Reasoning ability and quantitative aptitude
- Educational policies, educational measurement and evaluation
- Management and financial administration
- Office procedure
- Pedagogy in education
- Digital literacy
How to Apply for UPSC Principal & Vice Principal
UPSC’s Online Recruitment Application (ORA) portal works through four linked modules. Understanding this structure first will make the application process much smoother.
- Account Creation — one-time signup on the portal
- Universal Registration (URN) — generates a Universal Registration Number common to all UPSC recruitment applications
- Common Application Form (CAF) — personal, educational, and category details
- Post/Vacancy-specific module — select Principal and/or Vice Principal and submit post-specific details
Steps to apply:
- Visit upsconline.nic.in/ora
- Create your account and complete the Universal Registration (URN) profile, use your Aadhaar Card as the ID document for smoother verification
- Fill the Common Application Form (CAF), including a live photo capture in addition to your uploaded photograph
- Upload your signature (signed three times on plain white paper in black ink)
- Complete the post-specific module for Principal and/or Vice Principal
- Pay the application fee (if applicable) and submit
- Download and retain the printout of your final submitted application
Important: Applications cannot be withdrawn or edited after final submission, so review every field carefully before submitting.
Documents to Upload
Each claim you make in the application; age, category, qualification, experience needs supporting proof. The table below lists what’s required against each claim.
| Claim | Document Required |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Matriculation/10th certificate or mark sheet showing DOB |
| Educational Qualification | Degree/Diploma certificate (or provisional certificate + mark sheets) |
| Experience | Certificate in prescribed proforma from Head of Organization, showing duration, pay, and nature of duties |
| SC/ST/OBC Category | Caste certificate in prescribed proforma from competent authority |
| OBC Candidates | Non-creamy-layer declaration (in addition to caste certificate) |
| PwBD | Disability certificate from a Medical Board (min. 3 members, incl. 1 specialist) |
| Age Relaxation | Certificate from competent authority (Ex-servicemen/Govt. employee, as applicable) |
Note: OBC certificates must be issued by the Government of NCT of Delhi — certificates from other states/UTs will be treated as General/Unreserved.
Important Dates
Mark these dates carefully — UPSC does not entertain late submissions or extensions as a rule.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Starts | 25 July 2026 |
| Online Application Closes | 14 August 2026, 1800 hrs |
| Combined Recruitment Test (CRT) | 1 November 2026 |
| Interview Date | To be intimated separately |
Documents Required at Interview
Shortlisted candidates must bring the following originals, along with self-attested copies, to the interview:
- Printout of the online application
- All original certificates/documents submitted in support of claims made online
- A valid Photo ID (Aadhaar/Voter ID/PAN/Passport/Driving License)
- E-Admit Card printout
Failure to produce these documents will disqualify the candidate from the interview, and travel allowance will not be reimbursed.
Travel Allowance for Interview
Outstation candidates appearing for interview at UPSC, Delhi are reimbursed Second/Sleeper Class train fare (Mail/Express) for both onward and return journeys, restricted as per SR 132 guidelines. Payment is made only via NEFT/bank transfer, so candidates should carry their bank account details (passbook front page or a cancelled cheque) to the interview.
General Conditions
- Canvassing in any form leads to disqualification
- Candidates in government/PSU service must inform their employer in writing before applying
- The Commission may hold shortlisting criteria (higher qualifications, more experience, or a Recruitment Test) if the number of applicants is large
- Mobile phones and electronic devices are strictly banned inside the examination/interview hall
- Face authentication is mandatory at the examination/interview venue
- All correspondence will be via registered e-mail only, no postal or telephonic status updates
Contact / Helpdesk
For queries related to the application process, fee payment, or document uploads, reach out through the official helpdesk below.
| Query Type | Contact |
|---|---|
| Helpline Numbers | 011-24041001 / 011-40303444 |
| upscsoap@nic.in | |
| Helpline Hours | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM (working days) |
