The UPTET 2026 Shift 1 examination is currently underway today, July 2, with the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission conducting Paper 2 (Upper Primary Level) for candidates across 955 exam centres spread over 60 districts of the state. This marks the start of a three-day testing window running from July 2 to July 4, held entirely in offline, pen-and-paper mode.
Shift Timings and Today’s Schedule
The UPTET 2026 Shift 1 began at 9:30 AM and will conclude at 12:00 PM, followed by the second shift running from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM the same day. Key scheduling details for candidates to note:
- July 2: Upper Primary Level (Paper 2) held in both shifts
- July 3: Upper Primary Level in Shift 1, Primary Level (Paper 1) in Shift 2
- July 4: Primary Level held only in the morning shift
- Each paper carries 150 objective-type questions for 150 marks, with no negative marking
Nearly 20 lakh candidates are appearing this year — a noticeably lower turnout than the 21 lakh-plus seen in 2021 — including over 1.85 lakh already in-service teachers seeking certification renewal or upgrade.
Difficulty Level and Candidate Feedback
As the UPTET 2026 Shift 1 paper is currently in progress, a full difficulty assessment will only be possible once candidates exit the centres and detailed reactions and paper analysis start emerging. Based on how UPTET has traditionally been structured, candidates can expect:
- A moderate overall difficulty level, with Child Development & Pedagogy typically considered the most conceptually demanding section
- Language and content-based sections (Hindi, English/Sanskrit, Environmental Studies or subject-specific content) generally seen as scoring
- No sectional time limit, allowing candidates to allocate time across sections within the fixed 2.5-hour window
Security and Candidate Instructions
Given the scale of the exam, Uttar Pradesh’s administration has emphasised strict, fair conduct this year, with the state’s leadership having personally reviewed arrangements ahead of the test. Candidates were required to carry their admit card, a valid photo ID, and two recent photographs for verification, and were advised to reach centres well ahead of reporting time given the heavy candidate volume expected at each of the 955 locations. Updates on the official answer key and expected cutoffs are likely to follow in the coming weeks once all shifts conclude on July 4.
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