The Bihar STET 2026 notification has been released by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), and the online application process has started on August 17, 2026. Eligible candidates can submit their applications for the Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test until August 31, 2026.
Bihar STET 2026 will be conducted as a Computer-Based Test for candidates seeking teacher eligibility at the secondary and higher secondary levels. Paper I is meant for secondary-level subjects, while Paper II covers higher secondary-level subjects. The examination will carry 150 marks, have a duration of 150 minutes, and there will be no negative marking.
Candidates can now register through the dedicated Bihar STET 2026 application portal. Before applying, they should carefully check the subject-specific educational qualification, age limit, fee and document requirements mentioned in the notification.
Table of Contents
Bihar STET 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Bihar School Examination Board |
| State | Bihar |
| Notification Status | Released |
| Application Start Date | August 17, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | August 31, 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Paper I | Secondary Level |
| Paper II | Higher Secondary Level |
| Examination Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Total Marks | 150 |
| Duration | 150 minutes |
| Negative Marking | No |
| Certificate Validity | Lifetime |
Bihar STET 2026 Important Dates
The application schedule is now officially confirmed. BSEB will accept STET 2026 applications and examination fees only through the online mode.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Bihar STET 2026 Notification | August 17, 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | August 17, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | August 31, 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | August 31, 2026 |
| Exam Date | To be announced |
| Admit Card Date | To be announced |
Candidates should not wait until the final day to complete registration because an application will remain incomplete if the prescribed examination fee is not successfully paid.
Bihar STET 2026 Apply Online
The Bihar School Examination Board has activated a dedicated registration portal for STET 2026.
Official Application Portal: stetregistration.cbrt.co.in
The online application process consists of three main stages:
- Registration
- Filling the application form
- Payment of examination fee
During registration, candidates need to enter the required details and verify their mobile number through OTP. User ID and password are then provided to the registered mobile number.
Candidates can subsequently log in, complete their personal and educational details, upload the required documents and pay the examination fee online.
Bihar STET 2026 Application Fee
The application fee varies according to the candidate’s category and whether the candidate applies for one or both papers.
| Category | One Paper | Both Papers |
|---|---|---|
| General/EWS/BC/EBC | ₹960 | ₹1,440 |
| SC/ST/PwD | ₹760 | ₹1,140 |
The prescribed concessions in examination fees are available to eligible permanent residents of Bihar in accordance with the notification.
Candidates can make the payment using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI through the available online payment gateway.
Bihar STET 2026 Age Limit
The minimum age for appearing in Bihar STET 2026 is 21 years as on August 1, 2026.
The category-wise maximum age limit is:
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| Unreserved Male | 37 years |
| Unreserved Female | 40 years |
| BC Male/Female | 40 years |
| EBC Male/Female | 40 years |
| SC Male/Female | 42 years |
| ST Male/Female | 42 years |
PwD candidates are eligible for a relaxation of 10 years in the upper age limit, subject to the applicable rules.
Eligible ex-servicemen can receive relaxation equivalent to three years plus the period spent in defence service, subject to the conditions prescribed by the state government. Their actual age at the time of application should not exceed 57 years.
The notification also clarifies that because STET examinations were conducted in 2023, 2024 and 2025 for secondary and higher secondary subjects, no additional upper-age relaxation has been provided to trained candidates for STET 2026 merely on this ground.
Bihar STET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must be Indian citizens and fulfil the educational and professional qualifications prescribed for the respective subject and paper.
Paper I Eligibility
Paper I is conducted for secondary-level subjects.
For several general subjects, candidates are generally required to possess the relevant bachelor’s or postgraduate qualification with the prescribed marks along with a B.Ed. from an NCTE-recognised institution.
The notification provides alternative qualification routes in accordance with applicable NCTE norms, including certain integrated teacher-education qualifications.
Paper I includes subjects such as:
- Hindi
- Urdu
- Bengali
- Maithili
- Sanskrit
- Arabic
- Persian
- Bhojpuri
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science
- Physical Education
- Music
- Fine Arts
- Dance
Separate eligibility provisions are prescribed for Physical Education, Music, Fine Arts, Dance and Special School Teacher categories.
Candidates must therefore check the qualification corresponding specifically to the subject for which they intend to apply rather than relying only on the general eligibility rule.
Paper II Eligibility
Paper II is conducted for higher secondary-level subjects.
For several general subjects, the basic eligibility includes a postgraduate degree in the concerned subject with the prescribed percentage along with B.Ed. or another recognised teacher-education qualification specified in the notification.
Paper II covers a wide range of subjects including:
- Hindi
- Urdu
- English
- Sanskrit
- Bengali
- Maithili
- Magahi
- Arabic
- Persian
- Bhojpuri
- Pali
- Prakrit
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Zoology
- Botany
- History
- Geography
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Economics
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Home Science
- Commerce
- Computer Science
- Agriculture
- Music
Separate qualifications have been prescribed for Commerce, Computer Science, Agriculture and Music.
A notable provision applies to Computer Science candidates: the notification specifies multiple accepted qualification combinations and states that B.Ed. is not compulsory for Computer Science candidates meeting the prescribed educational qualification.
Bihar STET 2026 Exam Pattern
Bihar STET 2026 will consist of objective-type multiple-choice questions.
Each question will carry one mark, and there will be no negative marking for an incorrect answer.
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| Concerned Subject | 100 |
| Teaching Art and Other Competencies | 50 |
| Total | 150 |
The total examination duration will be 150 minutes, or 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The concerned subject alone accounts for two-thirds of the total marks, making subject-specific preparation particularly important.
Bihar STET 2026 Syllabus
For subjects falling under Paper I, the syllabus will broadly correspond to the graduate-level syllabus applicable in universities of Bihar.
For Paper II, the notification specifies the graduate honours-level syllabus applicable in state universities for the concerned subjects.
Candidates should prepare the respective subject thoroughly along with Teaching Art and Other Competencies, which account for another 50 marks.
Bihar STET 2026 Qualifying Marks
BSEB has confirmed category-wise minimum qualifying percentages for STET 2026.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 50% |
| BC | 45.5% |
| EBC | 42.5% |
| SC/ST | 40% |
| PwD | 40% |
| Women | 40% |
Reservation-related benefits are available in accordance with Bihar government’s rules to eligible permanent residents of the state.
Candidates residing outside Bihar cannot claim Bihar state reservation benefits.
Bihar STET Result Will Use Normalized Score
One of the important provisions in the notification concerns normalization.
Since the Computer-Based Test may be conducted across multiple dates or shifts, the difficulty level of question papers can vary. BSEB will therefore use a normalization procedure before preparing the result.
The candidate’s normalized score, and not merely the raw score, will be used to decide whether the candidate has achieved the prescribed qualifying percentage.
For example, the notification explains that if a General category candidate scores 76 raw marks out of 150 but the normalized score becomes 74.90, the candidate will not qualify because 50% of 150 is 75 marks.
Candidates should therefore note that although there is no conventional negative marking, the normalization process can influence the final score.
Bihar STET Certificate Will Remain Valid for Lifetime
Candidates who qualify Paper I or Paper II will receive the respective STET qualifying certificate.
According to the notification, the Bihar STET 2026 qualifying certificate will have lifetime validity.
This is an important provision for candidates because they will not need to repeatedly qualify STET merely because an earlier eligibility certificate has expired.
Qualifying STET, however, establishes teacher eligibility and should not be interpreted as automatic appointment to a teaching post.
Documents Required for Bihar STET Application
Candidates should keep self-attested copies of the prescribed documents ready for upload. Depending on their eligibility and category, these may include:
- Class 10 certificate and marksheet for date of birth
- Class 12 certificate and marksheet
- Graduation certificate and marksheets
- Postgraduation certificate and marksheets
- B.Ed. certificate and marksheets
- Other relevant educational qualification certificates
- Residence certificate
- Caste certificate for eligible SC/ST candidates
- Updated non-creamy layer certificate for eligible BC/EBC candidates
- Valid disability certificate for PwD candidates
- Ex-serviceman certificate, where applicable
Only documents applicable to the candidate’s qualification and category need to be submitted.
Photograph and Signature Requirements
Candidates must upload a recent colour photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
The photograph should have a white or light-coloured background, with the candidate’s face and eyes clearly visible. Head coverings and dark glasses are not permitted for the photograph except where applicable under legitimate circumstances.
The notification specifies a photograph file size of 80 KB to 200 KB and a signature file size of 50 KB to 200 KB.
Candidates should prepare these files before beginning the application.
Important Instructions Before Submitting the Form
BSEB has advised candidates to carefully review all information before finally submitting the application.
Particular attention should be given to:
- Candidate’s name and date of birth
- Paper and subject selected
- Educational qualification
- Reservation category
- Uploaded documents
- Photograph and signature
- Contact details
Candidates should use their own active email address and mobile number and keep both functional until the final result is declared.
The notification specifically warns applicants to be careful while selecting their reservation category. EWS applicants are required to select “General” as their category on the STET 2026 application portal, rather than incorrectly selecting EBC.
Candidates should download and safely retain a copy of the completed application form after payment.
Bihar STET 2026: What Candidates Should Do Now
With the notification and application form now released, Bihar STET aspirants should shift immediately from waiting for the announcement to completing their registration.
The application window is open from August 17 to August 31, 2026. Candidates should first verify whether they satisfy the exact qualification for their selected Paper I or Paper II subject, prepare the required certificates and then complete the application well before the closing date.
The examination date and admit card schedule have not yet been announced. BSEB is expected to communicate these through subsequent notices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bihar STET 2026 notification released?
Yes. BSEB has released the Bihar STET 2026 notification and opened the online application process from August 17, 2026.
What is the last date to apply for Bihar STET 2026?
The last date to submit the online application and prescribed examination fee is August 31, 2026.
What is the Bihar STET 2026 application fee?
General, EWS, BC and EBC candidates have to pay ₹960 for one paper or ₹1,440 for both papers. SC, ST and PwD candidates have to pay ₹760 for one paper or ₹1,140 for both.
Is there negative marking in Bihar STET 2026?
No. Each question carries one mark and there is no negative marking for incorrect responses.
How many marks are there in Bihar STET 2026?
The examination carries 150 marks: 100 marks for the concerned subject and 50 marks for Teaching Art and Other Competencies.
What is the duration of Bihar STET 2026?
Candidates will get 150 minutes, or 2 hours and 30 minutes, to complete the examination.
Is the Bihar STET certificate valid for life?
Yes. The qualifying certificate issued to successful Bihar STET 2026 candidates will have lifetime validity.
What is the minimum age for Bihar STET 2026?
Candidates must be at least 21 years old as on August 1, 2026. The maximum age varies according to category.
