Himachal Pradesh State Eligibility Test (SET) 2026

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must fulfill the following criteria to appear for the HP SET 2026.

1. Educational Qualification

• General / EWS: Master’s Degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks (without rounding off).
• Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC – Non-creamy layer / PWD of HP): Master’s Degree with at least 50% marks.
• Final Year Students: Candidates who are pursuing their Master’s degree or whose results are awaited can apply. They must complete their degree within two years from the date of the SET result.
• Ph.D. Holders: Candidates whose Master’s level examination was completed by 19th September 1991 are eligible for a 5% relaxation in aggregate marks (i.e., from 55% to 50%).

2. Age Limit

• There is no upper age limit for applying to the State Eligibility Test (SET).

3. Exemption

• NET/SET Qualified: Candidates who have already cleared UGC-NET or SET (accredited by UGC) prior to 1st June 2002 are exempted from appearing in this test for Assistant Professor recruitment.
• Ph.D. Degree: Candidates awarded a Ph.D. in accordance with UGC Regulations 2009/2022 are exempted from the minimum eligibility condition of NET/SET for recruitment.

Subjects List & Fee Details

The HP SET 2026 will be conducted in the following 22 subjects. Please note that this is an eligibility test, not a direct vacancy recruitment notification.

Fee Distribution Visualization

Application Process

Candidates must apply online through the official website of the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC).

Steps to Apply:

1. Visit the official website: http://www.hppsc.hp.gov.in/hppsc.
2. Click on the “Apply Online” link on the Home Page.
3. Register on the “One Time Registration (OTRS)” portal to create your profile.
4. Log in to your account and select STATE ELIGIBILITY TEST (SET) 2026 from the dashboard.
5. Fill in the required details and upload scanned copies of documents (Photo, Signature, etc.).
6. Pay the requisite examination fee online via Debit Card, Credit Card, or Internet Banking.
7. Submit the application and take a printout for future reference.

Note: No hard copy of the application form needs to be sent to the Commission.

Exam Pattern

The Test will consist of two papers. Both papers will contain only objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and will be held in Offline Mode in two separate sessions.

Marking Scheme:

• Each question carries 02 marks.
• No negative marking for incorrect responses.
• No marks for unanswered questions.
• If a question is scrapped, 2 marks are awarded to all candidates.

Syllabus & Topics

The syllabus for HP SET 2026 is based on the UGC/CSIR-NET syllabus. Candidates can download the detailed syllabus from the official HPPSC website or UGC website.

Selection Process

The criteria for declaration of result for HP SET 2026 is as follows:

• Qualifying Criteria: Top 6% of the appeared candidates who appear in both papers and secure the minimum qualifying marks will be declared qualified for Assistant Professor eligibility.
• Minimum Aggregate Marks:
  • General Category: At least 40% aggregate marks in both papers taken together.
  • Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC/PWD): At least 35% aggregate marks in both papers taken together.
• Tie-Breaker: If there is a tie at the last qualifying cut-off mark, all candidates with the same score will be considered qualified.

Salary & Validity

Note: The HP SET is an eligibility test and does not guarantee a job directly. However, qualifying this test is a mandatory requirement for appointment as an Assistant Professor in Universities and Colleges of Himachal Pradesh.

• Validity: The SET certificate is valid forever.
• Job Role: Assistant Professor.
• Pay Scale: Candidates recruited as Assistant Professors are paid as per the UGC Pay Scale (Academic Level 10), which starts from approximately Rs. 57,700/- plus allowances.

Tips & FAQs

Preparation Tips:

• Understand the Pattern: Since there is no negative marking, attempt all questions.
• Paper I Focus: Do not ignore Paper I (Teaching/Research Aptitude) as it is scoring and counts towards the aggregate.
• Time Management: Paper II has 100 questions in 2 hours. Practice solving MCQs quickly.

FAQs:

Q: Can final year students apply?
A: Yes, provided they complete their Master’s within 2 years of the SET result.

Q: Is there an age limit?
A: No, there is no upper age limit for HP SET.

Q: Can I apply for a subject different from my Master’s?
A: No, you are advised to appear in the subject of your post-graduation only.