The Rajasthan State Eligibility Test (SET) 2026 was successfully conducted on September 13, 2026 (Sunday) by the University of Kota (UOK) on behalf of the Rajasthan Higher Education Department. The exam was held across all 10 divisional headquarters of Rajasthan simultaneously. First reactions from candidates who appeared across subjects indicate that the overall paper was easier than expected, particularly Paper I. This means the cut-off for this year’s SET is likely to be higher than previous years, and candidates should not assume a qualifying score based on past benchmarks.
RAJ SET 2026: Quick Post-Exam Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | University of Kota (UOK) |
| Exam Date | September 13, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Total Subjects | 35 |
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR-based) |
| No Negative Marking | Confirmed |
| Paper I | Common for all (100 marks) |
| Paper II | Subject-specific (200 marks) |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Result Expected | Within 60 to 90 days |
| Answer Key Expected | Within 10 to 15 days |
Paper Analysis: What Candidates Said After the Exam
Paper I: Easy to Moderate
Paper I, which tests Teaching Aptitude, Reasoning, Research Aptitude, and General Awareness, was rated easy to moderate by most candidates across all subjects. The majority of questions were direct and concept-based rather than tricky or application-heavy. Candidates who had studied standard UGC NET Paper I material found the questions very familiar in structure and difficulty. This is the section most likely to have high scores across the board, which will push the overall cutoff upward.
Paper II: Subject-Wise Variation
Paper II difficulty varied considerably by subject. Candidates appearing for Science subjects like Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics reported the paper as moderate to slightly difficult, with some analytical and numerical questions that required deeper subject understanding. Humanities subjects including History, Political Science, Hindi, and Economics were largely reported as easy to moderate, with most questions coming directly from standard postgraduate textbook content. The five newly added subjects, Rajasthani, Sindhi, Punjabi, Farsi, and Urdu, were appearing for the first time in RAJ SET history, and candidates in these categories generally found the papers accessible and fairly structured.
Why the Cutoff May Rise This Year
When a competitive exam paper is perceived as easier, more candidates attempt more questions correctly, raising the overall score distribution. Since RAJ SET has no negative marking, candidates could attempt all questions without risk, further increasing average scores. This combination of easy Paper I and no negative marking almost certainly means the qualifying cut-off will be higher than in the 2023 SET, which was the last time this exam was held.
Additionally, the three-year gap between the 2023 and 2026 SET examinations meant that a large number of postgraduate students who had been waiting to qualify for the Assistant Professor eligibility certificate appeared this time. A larger, better-prepared candidate pool combined with an easier paper is a reliable recipe for a higher cutoff.
Expected Cut-Off for RAJ SET 2026
Based on post-exam analysis and candidate feedback, here are the expected qualifying cut-off ranges. These are indicative estimates and will be confirmed only when the official result and qualifying marks are published.
| Category | Expected Qualifying Marks (out of 300) |
| General (UR) | 150 to 165 marks |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 135 to 150 marks |
| SC | 120 to 135 marks |
| ST | 115 to 130 marks |
| PwBD (Persons with Disability) | 105 to 120 marks |
These estimates are for the combined Paper I plus Paper II score. Since Paper II carries 200 marks and is subject-specific, the cutoff also varies by subject. Subjects with fewer candidates and lower competition may see relatively lower effective cutoffs even if the paper was easy.
Official Qualifying Marks: What the Rules Say
The University of Kota has prescribed the following minimum qualifying marks for RAJ SET 2026 as per the official notification. These are the hard minimums candidates must reach regardless of the cutoff that emerges from the result.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
| General (UR) | 40 percent of total marks (120 out of 300) |
| SC, ST, OBC, PwBD | 35 percent of total marks (105 out of 300) |
Meeting the minimum qualifying marks does not guarantee a certificate. The actual cutoff may be higher depending on the merit distribution. Candidates who score above 40 percent (General) or 35 percent (reserved) will be considered eligible for the merit-based qualifying process.
When Will the Answer Key and Result Be Released?
Answer Key
UOK is expected to release the provisional answer key for RAJ SET 2026 within 10 to 15 days of the exam, approximately by late September 2026. A challenge window will be provided during which candidates can raise objections by paying a fee per challenged question. After expert review, the final answer key will be published.
Result Date
Based on historical patterns and UOK’s administrative processes, the RAJ SET 2026 result is expected to be declared within 60 to 90 days of the examination. This places the likely result window between November 2026 and December 2026. The result will be published on the official UOK portal and will include the candidate’s Paper I score, Paper II score, total score, qualifying status, and the issue of the eligibility certificate for those who qualify.
For the 2023 SET, the result was declared approximately 75 days after the exam. Following a similar timeline for 2026, candidates can expect an announcement in November 2026.
What Happens After You Qualify?
Clearing RAJ SET 2026 earns you a State Eligibility Certificate that is valid for a lifetime and is recognised across all government universities, government-aided colleges, and private colleges in Rajasthan. This certificate qualifies you to apply for Assistant Professor posts whenever recruitment is announced by RPSC or individual universities in Rajasthan.
For candidates who are also planning to appear in UGC NET, the RAJ SET is not a substitute for NET at the national level. However, within Rajasthan, RAJ SET qualification is fully accepted and in some institutional recruitments may even be preferred for domicile candidates. For more details on how this certificate is used in Rajasthan teaching recruitment, read about the Rajasthan SET 2026 Official Schedule Released to understand the complete context of this examination.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. I felt the paper was easy and I attempted 260 out of 300 marks worth of questions. How do I estimate whether I qualified?
A good rule of thumb for this year’s paper is that you need approximately 150 marks (50 percent) or above for General category and approximately 120 to 135 marks for reserved categories to feel confident about qualifying. Since no negative marking applies, your score from 260 attempted questions depends entirely on how many you got right. Use the provisional answer key, expected within 10 to 15 days at uok.ac.in, to calculate your accurate expected score before the official result.
Q2. How long is the RAJ SET certificate valid, and does it expire after a few years?
The Rajasthan SET certificate is valid for a lifetime with no expiry. Once you qualify, you remain eligible to apply for Assistant Professor posts in Rajasthan colleges and universities indefinitely. This is a significant advantage over some other state SET examinations that have fixed validity periods. However, the certificate is state-specific and cannot be used as a substitute for UGC NET eligibility for teaching posts in institutions outside Rajasthan.
Q3. I appeared for Rajasthani as my Paper II subject, which was added for the first time this year. Will the cutoff be different for newly added subjects?
The qualifying cutoff percentages are the same regardless of subject. All candidates must achieve the same minimum percentage thresholds (40 percent for General, 35 percent for reserved). However, the effective cutoff in terms of actual marks may vary by subject depending on how many candidates appeared and how the merit distribution looks. Newly added subjects like Rajasthani, Sindhi, Punjabi, Farsi, and Urdu had fewer candidates, which could translate to different competitive dynamics. The official result and merit list will clarify the subject-wise qualifying scores.
Q4. I am a UGC NET qualifier. Should I still have appeared in RAJ SET, or is UGC NET enough for Rajasthan teaching jobs?
UGC NET qualification is nationally recognised and is accepted by most Rajasthan government colleges and universities for Assistant Professor appointments. However, some Rajasthan institutions specifically prefer or require RAJ SET qualification for state domicile candidates in certain recruitment cycles. Having both UGC NET and RAJ SET qualifications strengthens your profile significantly and keeps all options open. If you already hold UGC NET, you were not strictly required to appear in RAJ SET, but doing so provides an additional state-level credential that may prove useful depending on which institution you apply to.
