The Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) 2026 notification has been officially released by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Punjab. This state-level examination is the mandatory qualifying test for candidates aspiring to secure teaching positions for Primary (Classes I to V) and Upper Primary (Classes VI to VIII) levels in government and government-aided schools across Punjab. The online registration process commenced on February 6, 2026, and the examination is scheduled to be conducted on March 15, 2026.
PSTET 2026 Overview Table
| Exam Name | Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | SCERT Punjab / PSEB |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
| Official Website | pstet2025.org / ssapunjab.org |
| Job Location | Punjab |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | February 3, 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | February 6, 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | February 20, 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | February 21, 2026 to February 23, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release Date | March 9, 2026 (Tentative) |
| PSTET 2026 Exam Date | March 15, 2026 |
| Result Declaration Date | April 2, 2026 |
PSTET 2026 Exam Details
The PSTET 2026 will be conducted as a traditional pen-and-paper test. The exam duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) for each paper. The question paper will be bilingual (English and Punjabi), except for the language papers. The exam is divided into two levels:
- Paper I: For candidates intending to teach Classes I to V.
- Paper II: For candidates intending to teach Classes VI to VIII.
Eligibility Details
Candidates must meet the following educational qualifications to be eligible for PSTET 2026:
For Paper I (Primary Teacher):
Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).
OR Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).
OR Graduation and passed or appearing in the final year of 2-year D.El.Ed.
For Paper II (Upper Primary Teacher):
Graduation and passed or appearing in the final year of 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
OR Graduation with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed).
OR Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of 4-year B.A/B.Sc.Ed or B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed.
Participating Institutes
Qualifying the PSTET 2026 makes candidates eligible to apply for teaching vacancies in:
- Government Schools in Punjab.
- Government-Aided Schools in Punjab.
- Private schools in the state (if they opt to consider PSTET scores).
Age Limit
Minimum Age: 18 years.
Maximum Age: There is no upper age limit prescribed for appearing in PSTET 2026.
Application Fee
Candidates must pay the application fee online. The fee structure is as follows:
| Category | Fee for One Paper (I or II) | Fee for Both Papers (I & II) |
| General / OBC | ₹1,000 | ₹2,000 |
| SC / ST / Differently Abled | ₹500 | ₹1,000 |
| Ex-Servicemen (Self) | Nil | Nil |
(Note: Candidates from other states are treated as General category for fee purposes).
Step to Apply
- Visit the official website: pstet2025.org or ssapunjab.org.
- Click on the “New Registration” link for PSTET 2026.
- Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Log in with the generated credentials and fill in the application form with personal and educational details.
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and required certificates (10th, 12th, B.Ed/D.El.Ed).
- Pay the application fee via the available online payment gateways.
- Submit the form and print the confirmation page for future reference.
Important Links
Apply Online: Direct Link to PSTET 2026 Registration
Official Notification: Download PDF
- Advertisement (PSTET 2025)
- How To Apply
- Time Schedule (PSTET-2025)
Note :
1. Any resident of India can appear in the paper of PSTET.
2. As per NCTE Guidelines, candidates who passed D.El.Ed. Course / B.Ed. A course or its appearance can appear on the examination.
3. The TET paper is taken by the department as per the directions/guidelines of NCTE.
4. No specific minimum or maximum age limit is prescribed for the candidates.
5. Candidates appearing from states (other than Punjab Domicile) will be considered only in the General Category with regard to fees. The same fee which is fixed for the General Category candidate (i.e. Rs. 1000/- separately each for Paper I and Paper II), is to be charged from candidates of other states.
6. A candidate can register his/her email id and Mobile No. only once. After successful registration, candidate shall login using email id and proceed to next step to fill Basic Details, Upload Photo/Signature, Fill Academic Details, Fill Test Details, Candidate Preview & Fee, and finally pay the fee.
5. Candidate must give his/her own Email ID and Mobile Number. These will be used for future correspondence.
6. A candidate can apply in one category only.
7. A candidate may apply for both Paper I and Paper II, subject to fulfillment of Educational Qualifications and Eligibility criteria as prescribed by NCTE from time to time. The application form for a paper is complete only after the fee for the paper has been paid.
8. Candidate must fill in the details very carefully; if any details are found incorrect, the candidate shall be disqualified.
Punjab State TET (PSTET) 2026 Exam Pattern
| Paper-1 | primary teacher to teach for classes 1st -5th | 150 multiple choice questions | 2 hours and 30 minutes | Each question will carry 1 mark | If any candidate wants to teach for both the levels (Classes 1st to 5th and Classes 6th to 8th), he/she has to appear in both the papers |
| Paper-2 | upper primary teacher, you will be teaching for classes 5th-8th | 150 multiple choice questions | 2 hours and 30 minutes | Each question will carry 1 mark |
PSTET Paper-1 Exam Pattern (for teaching Classes I-V)
| Section | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
| (i) | Child development and Pedagogy | 30 MCQs | 30 Marks |
| (ii) | Language I | 30 MCQs | 30 Marks |
| (iii) | Language II | 30 MCQs | 30 Marks |
| (iv) | Mathematics | 30 MCQs | 30 Marks |
| (v) | Environmental Studies | 30 MCQs | 30 Marks |
| Total | 150 MCQs | 150 Marks |
PSTET Paper-2 Exam Pattern (for teaching classes VI to VIII)
| Section | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
| (i) | Child development and Pedagogy (compulsory) | 30 MCQs | 30 Marks |
| (ii) | Language I (compulsory) | 30 MCQs | 30 Marks |
| (iii) | Language II (compulsory) | 30 MCQs | 30 Marks |
| (iv) | (a)For Mathematics & Science Teacher: Mathematics and Science Or, (b) For Social Studies/Social Science teacher:- Social Science | 60 MCQs | 60 Marks |
| Total | 150 MCQs | 150 Marks |
PSTET 2026 syllabus
PSTET 2026 Paper-I syllabus
| Subject | Topics |
| I. Child Development and Pedagogy – 30 Questions | (a) Child Development (Primary School Child) • Concept of development and its relationship with learning • Principles of the development of children • Influence of Heredity & Environment • Socialization processes: Social world & children (Teacher, Parents, Peers) • Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives • Concepts of child-centered and progressive education • Critical perspective of the construct of Intelligence • Multi-Dimensional Intelligence • Language & Thought • Gender as a social construct; gender roles, gender-bias and educational practice • Individual differences among learners, understanding differences based on diversity of language, caste, gender, community, religion etc. • A Distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; • School-Based Assessment, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation: perspective and practice • Formulating appropriate questions for assessing readiness levels of learners; for enhancing learning and critical thinking in the classroom and for assessing learner achievement. (b) The Concept of Inclusive education and understanding children with special needs – 5 Questions •Addressing learners from diverse backgrounds including disadvantaged and deprived • Addressing the needs of children with learning difficulties, ‘impairment’ etc. • Addressing the Talented, Creative, Specially abled Learners (c) Learning and Pedagogy – 5 Questions • How children think and learn; how and why children ‘fail’ to achieve success in school performance. • Basic processes of teaching and learning; children’s strategies of learning; learning as a social activity; social context of learning. • Child as a problem solver and a ‘scientific investigator’ • Alternative conceptions of learning in children, understanding children’s ‘errors’ as significant steps in the learning process. • Cognition & Emotions • Motivation and learning • Factors contributing to learning – personal & environmental |
| II. Language I – 30 Questions | (a) Language Comprehension Reading unseen passages – two passages one prose or drama and one poem with questions on comprehension, inference, grammar and verbal ability (Prose passage may be literary, scientific, narrative or discursive). (b) Pedagogy of Language Development • Learning and acquisition • Principles of language Teaching • Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool • Critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form • Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders • Language Skills • Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing • Teaching- learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom • Remedial Teaching |
| III. Language – II – 30 Questions | (a) Comprehension Two unseen prose passages (discursive or literary or narrative or scientific) with question on comprehension, grammar and verbal ability. (b) Pedagogy of Language Development -15 Questions • Learning and acquisition • Principles of language Teaching • Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool • Critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form; • Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders • Language Skills • Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing • Teaching – learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom • Remedial Teaching |
| IV. Mathematics – 30 Questions | (a) Content • Geometry • Shapes & Spatial Understanding • Solids around Us • Numbers • Addition and Subtraction • Multiplication • Division • Measurement • Weight • Time • Volume • Data Handling • Patterns • Money (b) Pedagogical issues • Nature of Mathematics/Logical thinking; understanding children’s thinking and reasoning patterns and strategies of making meaning and learning • Place of Mathematics in Curriculum • Language of Mathematics • Community Mathematics • Evaluation through formal and informal methods • Problems of Teaching • Error analysis and related aspects of learning and teaching • Diagnostic and Remedial Teaching |
| V. Environmental Studies – 30 Questions | a) Content i. Family and Friends: Relationships, Work and Play, Animals, and Plants ii. Food iii. Shelter iv. Water v. Travel vi. Things We Make and Do (b) Pedagogical Issues • Concept and scope of EVS • Significance of EVS, integrated EVS • Environmental Studies & Environmental Education • Learning Principles • Scope & relation to Science & Social Science • Approaches of presenting concepts • Activities • Experimentation/Practical Work • Discussion • CCE • Teaching material/Aids • Problems |
PSTET 2026 Paper II (for classes VI to VIII) syllabus
| Subject | Content |
| I. Child Development and Pedagogy- 30 Questions | (a) Child Development (Elementary School Child) • Concept of development and its relationship with learning • Principles of the development of children • Influence of Heredity & Environment • Socialization processes: Social world & children (Teacher, Parents,Peers) • Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives • Concepts of child-centered and progressive education • Critical perspective of the construct of Intelligence • Multi-Dimensional Intelligence • Language & Thought • Gender as a social construct; gender roles, gender-bias and educational practice • Individual differences among learners, understanding differences based on diversity of language, caste, gender, community, religion etc. • Distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; School-Based Assessment, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation: perspective and practice • Formulating appropriate questions for assessing readiness levels of learners; for enhancing learning and critical thinking in the classroom and for assessing learner achievement. (b) Concept of Inclusive education and understanding children with special needs – 5 Questions • Addressing learners from diverse backgrounds including disadvantaged and deprived • Addressing the needs of children with learning difficulties, ‘impairment’ etc. • Addressing the Talented, Creative, Specially abled Learners (c) Learning and Pedagogy • How children think and learn; how and why children ‘fail’ to achieve success in school performance. • Basic processes of teaching and learning; children’s strategies of learning; learning as a social activity; social context of learning. • Child as a problem solver and a ‘scientific investigator’ • Alternative conceptions of learning in children, understanding children’s ‘errors’ as significant steps in the learning process. • Cognition & Emotions • Motivation and learning • Factors contributing to learning – personal & environmental |
| II. Language I – 30 Questions | (a) Language Comprehension Reading unseen passages – two passages one prose or drama and one poem with questions on comprehension, inference, grammar and verbal ability (Prose passage may be literary, scientific, narrative or discursive) (b) Pedagogy of Language Development • Learning and acquisition • Principles of language Teaching • Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool • Critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form; • Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders • Language Skills • Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing • Teaching- learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials multilingual resource of the classroom • Remedial Teaching |
| III. Language II – 30 Questions | (a) Comprehension Two unseen prose passages (discursive or literary or narrative or scientific) with question on comprehension, grammar and verbal ability (b) Pedagogy of Language Development • Learning and acquisition • Principles of language Teaching • Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool • Critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form; • Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders • Language Skills • Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing • Teaching – learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom • Remedial Teaching |
| IV. Mathematics and Science – 60 Questions | (i) Mathematics (a) Content 20 Questions • Number System • Knowing our Numbers • Playing with Numbers • Whole Numbers • Negative Numbers and Integers • Fractions • Algebra • Introduction to Algebra • Ratio and Proportion • Geometry • Basic geometrical ideas (2-D) • Understanding Elementary Shapes (2-D and 3-D) • Symmetry: (reflection) • Construction (using Straight edge Scale, protractor, compasses) • Mensuration • Data handling (b) Pedagogical issues – 10 Questions • Nature of Mathematics/Logical thinking • Place of Mathematics in Curriculum • Language of Mathematics • Community Mathematics • Evaluation • Remedial Teaching • Problem of Teaching |
| (ii) Science – 30 Questions | (a) Content • Food • Sources of food • Components of food • Cleaning food • Materials • Materials of daily use • The World of the Living • Moving Things People and Ideas • How things work • Electric current and circuits • Magnets • Natural Phenomena • Natural Resources (b) Pedagogical issues • Nature & Structure of Sciences • Natural Science/Aims & objectives • Understanding & Appreciating Science • Approaches/Integrated Approach • Observation/Experiment/Discovery (Method of Science) • Innovation • Text Material/Aids • Evaluation – cognitive/psychomotor/affective • Problems • Remedial Teaching |
| (ii) Science – 30 Questions | (a) Content • Food • Sources of food • Components of food • Cleaning food • Materials • Materials of daily use • The World of the Living • Moving Things People and Ideas • How things work • Electric current and circuits • Magnets • Natural Phenomena • Natural Resources |
| V. Social Studies/Social Sciences – 60 Questions | (a) Content History • When, Where and How • The Earliest Societies • The First Farmers and Herders • The First Cities • Early States • New Ideas • The First Empire • Contacts with Distant lands • Political Developments • Culture and Science • New Kings and Kingdoms • Sultans of Delhi • Architecture • Creation of an Empire • Social Change • Regional Cultures • The Establishment of Company Power • Rural Life and Society • Colonialism and Tribal Societies • The Revolt of 1857-58 • Women and reform • Challenging the Caste System • The Nationalist Movement • India After Independence Geography • Geography as a social study and as a science • Planet: Earth in the solar system • Globe • Environment in its totality: natural and human environment • Air • Water • Human Environment: settlement, transport and communication • Resources: Types-Natural and Human • Agriculture Social and Political Life • Diversity • Government • Local Government • Making a Living • Democracy • State Government • Understanding Media • Unpacking Gender • The Constitution • Parliamentary Government • The Judiciary • Social Justice and the Marginalised (b) Pedagogical issues • Concept & Nature of Social Science/Social Studies • Class Room Processes, activities and discourse • Developing Critical thinking • Enquiry/Empirical Evidence • Problems of teaching Social Science/Social Studies • Sources – Primary & Secondary • Projects Work • Evaluation |
