Principal and Vice-Principal Recruitment 2026

📋 Job Description

- Recruitment drive for 828 teaching positions in the Education Department, Government of NCT of Delhi.
- Open for Principal (124 posts) and Vice-Principal (704 posts) roles.
- Positions are permanent and based in New Delhi.
- Offers competitive pay scales as per 7th CPC Pay Matrix.
- Selection involves a Combined Recruitment Test (CRT) followed by an interview.
- Application window opens on 25th July 2026 and closes on 14th August 2026.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

- For Principal: Master's Degree + B.Ed from a recognized university/institute with 10 years of teaching experience as Vice Principal/PGT/TGT.
- For Vice-Principal: Master's Degree + B.Ed from a recognized university with 2 years as PGT or 3 years as TGT.
- Desirable: Doctorate Degree for Principal post and administrative experience in a recognized school/college.
- Qualifications and experience may be relaxed for well-qualified candidates or SC/ST candidates if sufficient experienced candidates are unavailable.

🏆 Selection Process

- Stage 1: Combined Recruitment Test (CRT) on 1st November 2026, conducted in 15 designated centers across India.
- CRT is a 2-hour objective-type (MCQ) test in English and Hindi, carrying 300 marks with negative marking (1/3 mark deduction per wrong answer).
- Stage 2: Interview (Personality Test) with 75:25 weightage for CRT and interview respectively.
- Minimum suitability standards in interview: 50 marks (General/EWS), 45 marks (OBC), 40 marks (SC/ST/PwBD).
- Final merit list based on combined CRT and interview scores.

📊 Key Information

Organization	Union Public Service Commission
Location / State	All India
Job Location	New Delhi
Category Eligibility	All categories (UR, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, PwBD) with age relaxations as per government norms.
Experience Required	- Principal: 10 years of teaching experience as Vice Principal/PGT/TGT. - Vice-Principal: 2 years as PGT or 3 years as TGT.
Application Start	25 July 2026
Last Date to Apply	14 August 2026
Exam Date	01 November 2026

📊 UPSC Recruitment - Vacancy Details

Post Name	Total Posts
Principal	124
Vice-Principal	704
Total	828

📁 Required Documents

- Matriculation/10th certificate or equivalent (proof of date of birth).
- Degree/Diploma certificate (Master's Degree, B.Ed).
- Experience certificate(s) in prescribed proforma from Head(s) of Organisation/Department.
- Caste certificate (for SC/ST/OBC candidates) in prescribed proforma.
- OBC non-creamy layer declaration (for OBC candidates).
- Certificate of Disability (for PwBD candidates).
- Age relaxation certificates (Ex-Servicemen, Government employees, PwBD, etc.), if applicable.
- Documents for change of name, if applicable.

🎓 Required Qualifications

📊 Vacancy Details

Principal: 124 vacancies (UR: 69, EWS: 11, OBC: 18, SC: 16, ST: 10).
Vice-Principal: 704 vacancies (UR: 287, EWS: 71, OBC: 189, SC: 103, ST: 54).
7 PwBD vacancies reserved for Principal (5 fresh, 2 backlog).
28 PwBD vacancies reserved for Vice-Principal (27 fresh, 1 backlog).
Reservation under OBC category applies only to candidates with OBC certificates issued by the Govt. of NCT of Delhi.

🎂 Age Limits & Relaxation

Principal: 50 years (UR/EWS), 53 years (OBC), 55 years (SC/ST).
Vice-Principal: 35 years (UR/EWS), 38 years (OBC), 40 years (SC/ST).
Age relaxation: Up to 10 years for PwBD candidates (max 56 years), 5 years for Ex-Servicemen, and up to 5 years for Central/UT Government employees.

💰 Salary & Allowances

Principal: Level-12 (Rs. 78,800 - 2,09,200) as per 7th CPC Pay Matrix.
Vice-Principal: Level-10 (Rs. 56,100 - 1,77,500) as per 7th CPC Pay Matrix.

💳 Application Fee Details

General/OBC/EWS male candidates: Rs. 25/-.
Female/SC/ST/PwBD candidates: Exempted (No Fee).
Fee payment modes: Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, UPI, or Internet Banking.

📝 Exam Pattern

Combined Recruitment Test (CRT) is objective-type (MCQ) with 300 marks.
Duration: 2 hours.
Medium: English and Hindi.
Negative marking: 1/3 mark deduction per wrong answer.
Syllabus includes General Knowledge, Hindi/English language skills, Reasoning ability, Quantitative Aptitude, Educational policies, Management, Financial administration, Office Procedure, Pedagogy in Education, and Digital Literacy.

📚 Syllabus

General Knowledge: Contemporary social, economic, and cultural issues.
Hindi and English language skills: Grammar, comprehension, and writing ability.
Reasoning ability and Quantitative Aptitude: Logical reasoning, data interpretation, and numerical ability.
Educational policies: National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, RTE Act, and other relevant policies.
Educational measurement and evaluation: Assessment techniques and tools.
Management and Financial administration: School administration, budgeting, and financial management.
Office Procedure: Record-keeping, documentation, and administrative procedures.
Pedagogy in Education: Teaching methods, learning theories, and classroom management.
Digital Literacy: Basic computer skills, educational software, and digital tools for teaching.

✍️ How to Apply

Step 1: Create an account on the UPSC ORA portal (https://upsconline.nic.in/ora/).
Step 2: Complete Universal Registration to generate a URN.
Step 3: Fill the Common Application Form (CAF) and upload photograph, live photo, and signature.
Step 4: Select the specific post (Principal or Vice-Principal) and fill the vacancy-specific module.
Step 5: Pay the application fee (if applicable) and submit the application.
Step 6: Take a printout of the submitted application for future reference.

⚠️ Important Instructions

Use Aadhaar Card for ID verification during application.
Apply well in advance of the closing date to avoid last-minute issues.
Applications cannot be withdrawn or edited after submission.
Mobile phones and electronic devices are strictly banned in the examination/interview hall.
Face authentication is mandatory at the examination venue/interview hall.
No printouts or documents are to be sent to the Commission by post.
Candidates must bring all required documents to the interview if shortlisted.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many total vacancies are there in UPSC Principal and Vice-Principal Recruitment 2026?

A. There are 828 total vacancies - 124 for Principal and 704 for Vice-Principal.

Q. When can candidates start applying online for the UPSC Principal and Vice-Principal Recruitment 2026?

A. Online applications open on 25 July 2026 at 12:01 AM and close on 14 August 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Q. What is the educational qualification required for Principal and Vice-Principal posts?

A. Principal requires a Master's Degree, B.Ed, and 10 years of teaching experience as PGT or TGT. Vice-Principal requires a Master's Degree, B.Ed, and 2 years of experience as PGT or 3 years as TGT.

Q. What is the age limit for this recruitment?

A. For Principal, the age limit is 35–50 years (relaxable up to 55 years for SC/ST and 53 years for OBC). For Vice-Principal, it is 35–40 years (relaxable up to 40 years for SC/ST and 38 years for OBC), calculated as of 14 August 2026.

Q. Is there an application fee for female candidates?

A. No. Female candidates, along with SC, ST, and PwD candidates of all categories, are exempted from the application fee.