UP Special TET 2026 sees 87.92% turnout; officials nab impersonator at Lucknow test centre

According to the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC),  a total of 87.92% of registered candidates appeared in the Special Teacher Eligibility Test (Special TET 2026), which was conducted in six divisional headquarters of Uttar Pradesh.

Of the total registered candidates, 93,681 appeared for special TET 2026 which was conducted in two shifts under the supervision of an artificial intelligence (AI)-integrated control command room, UPESSC said in its press release.

UPTET 2026 special written examination was held in two shifts at designated centres in Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Meerut, and Agra.

The first shift, for classes 1 to 5, took place from 9:30 am to 12 pm, while the second shift, for classes 6 to 8, was conducted from 2:30 pm to 5 pm in a smooth and orderly environment.

However, at a test centre in Lucknow, an imposter appearing on behalf of another candidate was caught using AI technology. Legal action was immediately initiated against the imposter, and he was handed over to the local police, UPESSC press release added.

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Special TET 2026

Sanjay Singh, the deputy secretary of the commission, shared the official participation figures, stating that a total of 93,681 candidates appeared for the examination across both shifts, representing 87.92% of the total registered candidates.

In the first shift (for classes 1 to 5), 50,666 candidates (86.80%) appeared out of 58,353 registered, while in the second shift (for classes 6 to 8), 43,015 candidates (89.25%) appeared out of 48,194 registered. The attendance rate was 89.25% for female candidates and 89.28% for male candidates.

Special TET 2026: Impersonator caught in Lucknow

During the TET, an impersonator appearing in place of a candidate was caught at Bappa Shri Narain Vocational Inter College in Lucknow. He was handed over to police for legal action, UPESSC said.

The commission monitored all examination centres live through an AI-integrated control command room established at its headquarters. AI-enabled cameras and specialised software were used to continuously monitor candidates' activities in the presence of commission members, the secretary, the examination controller and the deputy secretar.

The Special TET is a teacher eligibility examination held for candidates seeking eligibility to teach Classes 1 to 8 in schools.