Rajasthan SET 2026 Official Schedule Released: Online Form, Exam Date, Fees, Eligibility & New Subjects

After a wait of nearly three years, the notification that thousands of postgraduate aspirants across Rajasthan had been waiting for has finally arrived. The University of Kota (UOK) officially released the Rajasthan State Eligibility Test (SET) 2026 notification on June 12, 2026, under Notification Number 01/2026. The online application window opened on June 14, 2026, and the examination is scheduled for September 6, 2026 (Sunday). For anyone aspiring to become an Assistant Professor or Lecturer in Rajasthan’s government or private colleges and universities, this is the most important exam of the year.

What makes this edition especially significant is that the exam is being held after a three-year gap, five new language subjects have been added for the first time, and the total subject count has expanded from 30 to 35. If you are a postgraduate degree holder with a teaching ambition, here is everything you need to know.

Rajasthan SET 2026: Key Highlights at a Glance

What Is the Rajasthan SET and Why Does It Matter?

The Rajasthan State Eligibility Test is a state-level examination conducted to determine whether candidates are eligible for the post of Assistant Professor and Lecturer in colleges and universities across Rajasthan. It is conducted in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and follows a pattern very similar to the UGC NET exam.

Candidates who qualify the Rajasthan SET receive an eligibility certificate that gives them the right to apply for teaching positions in Rajasthan’s 34 government universities, 100 private universities, and over 2,000 colleges. The certificate, once earned, is valid for a lifetime. However, it is important to note that this certificate is applicable only within the state of Rajasthan. For national-level teaching eligibility, candidates must separately qualify UGC NET.

The Rajasthan SET was previously conducted by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC). In 2023, the exam was held by Govind Guru Tribal University, Banswara. This year, the state government has entrusted the responsibility to the University of Kota, which is conducting it for the first time in this capacity.

Eligibility Criteria for Rajasthan SET 2026

Educational Qualification

Candidates must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent qualification in the relevant subject from a university established by law in India, with a minimum of 55% marks. For candidates belonging to the SC, ST, OBC, PwD, and Transgender categories, the minimum qualifying percentage is 50%.

Candidates who are currently in their final year of a Master’s degree programme may also apply provisionally. However, they must complete and submit their degree before the document verification stage, if called for it.

Age Limit

One of the most candidate-friendly aspects of the Rajasthan SET is that there is no upper age limit for appearing in this examination. There is also no restriction on the number of attempts a candidate can make.

Application Fee Structure

Fee can be paid online through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, IMPS, Cash Card, or Mobile Wallet. The last date for both form submission and fee payment is July 15, 2026.

Five New Subjects Added: 35 Subjects in 2026

This year’s Rajasthan SET is being conducted across 35 subjects, which is an expansion from the earlier 30-subject format. Five new subjects have been included based on student demand.

The five newly added subjects are Rajasthani, Sindhi, Punjabi, Farsi (Persian), and Urdu. This is a significant step toward inclusivity in higher education recruitment, recognising the linguistic and cultural diversity of Rajasthan and its neighbouring regions. Candidates with postgraduate degrees in any of these five languages can now appear in Rajasthan SET for the first time.

The remaining 30 subjects include traditional disciplines such as Hindi, English, History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, Psychology, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Commerce, Education, Sanskrit, Music, and others. The complete subject list with corresponding syllabi is available on the official UOK website.

Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

The Rajasthan SET 2026 consists of two compulsory papers, conducted in a single continuous offline session of 3 hours with no break between the papers.

Paper I is common for all candidates regardless of subject and is qualifying in nature. It evaluates a candidate’s general academic ability, including logical reasoning, reading comprehension, communication skills, and basic understanding of research methodology.

Paper II is subject-specific and is based on the discipline the candidate has chosen while applying. Since it carries 200 out of 300 total marks, it plays a decisive role in the final result. Candidates are strongly advised to focus the majority of their preparation time on Paper II.

There is no negative marking in either paper. Every correct answer earns 2 marks, and unattempted questions carry no penalty. The question paper for most subjects is bilingual in Hindi and English. Language subjects, however, are conducted in their respective language medium.

Exam Centres: Only at Divisional Headquarters

A notable logistical point in Rajasthan SET 2026 is that the examination will be conducted only at divisional headquarters across the state. Candidates are allotted a centre in one of Rajasthan’s ten divisional cities: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Sikar, and Pali. Students from smaller towns and rural areas must plan their travel and accommodation accordingly. The exact exam centre will be mentioned on the Admit Card.

Security and Transparency Measures

The University of Kota has outlined a strong set of anti-malpractice measures to ensure the examination is conducted fairly.

All exam centres will be equipped with CCTV surveillance cameras and signal jammers to prevent the use of electronic devices. The OMR answer sheets will be protected by a three-layer security coding system, making duplication or tampering virtually impossible. The entire application process and data management have been handed over to the Department of IT and Communications (DoIT&C) of the Rajasthan government, adding another layer of institutional oversight.

Admit Card and Result Timeline

The Rajasthan SET 2026 Admit Card is expected to be available for download approximately 7 to 10 days before the exam date. Since the examination is on September 6, 2026, candidates can reasonably expect the hall ticket to be released in the last week of August 2026. Admit cards can be downloaded using the SSO ID from the official UOK portal or the Rajasthan SSO portal.

The result and answer key release dates have not yet been officially announced. Based on the pattern of previous SET exams, the answer key is usually released within two weeks of the examination, followed by a window to raise objections. The final result and eligibility certificates typically follow within 60 to 90 days of the exam.

How to Apply for Rajasthan SET 2026

Follow these steps to complete your application successfully before the July 15 deadline.

1. Visit the official University of Kota website or log in to the Rajasthan SSO portal using your SSO ID
2. Create a new account if you do not have an SSO ID, using your Aadhaar or Jan Aadhaar card
3. Fill in personal details, academic qualifications, and select your preferred subject for Paper II
4. Upload a scanned passport-size photograph, signature, and relevant academic documents
5. Pay the application fee as per your category through the available online payment methods
6. Submit the application form and save a printout for future reference

It is strongly advised to apply well before the deadline, as technical issues on the portal tend to appear in the final days when traffic is highest.

Rajasthan SET vs UGC NET: Which Should You Prioritise?

This is a question many postgraduate students ask when both exams are approaching. UGC NET is a national-level exam conducted by NTA and qualifies candidates for JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) and Assistant Professor positions across India. Rajasthan SET, in contrast, qualifies candidates specifically for positions in Rajasthan colleges and universities.

If your goal is to teach in Rajasthan and you are already domiciled here, Rajasthan SET is the faster and more direct route. The exam is state-focused, the competition is relatively lower than UGC NET, and the certificate is valid for life. Many candidates who have not qualified UGC NET multiple times have found success in Rajasthan SET and secured college positions through it.

Ideally, candidates should prepare for both simultaneously, as the syllabus and pattern for Paper I are nearly identical in both exams.

Useful Links

Apply Online for Rajasthan SET 2026 at uok.ac.in

Apply via Rajasthan Government SSO Portal at sso.rajasthan.gov.in

Download Official Notification PDF at University of Kota Official Website uok.ac.in

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. I am in the final year of my Master’s degree. Can I apply for Rajasthan SET 2026?

Yes, final-year Master’s degree students can apply provisionally for Rajasthan SET 2026. However, you must complete your degree before the document verification or appointment stage. If you qualify the exam but cannot produce a valid degree certificate when required, your candidacy may be cancelled. Apply now but ensure your result and degree are available before any subsequent stages of the recruitment process.

Q2. I qualified UGC NET. Do I still need to give Rajasthan SET to apply for teaching jobs in Rajasthan colleges?

It depends on the hiring institution. Many government and private colleges in Rajasthan accept UGC NET qualification as an alternative to Rajasthan SET. However, some Rajasthan government university recruitment advertisements specifically require Rajasthan SET certification. Having both qualifications strengthens your profile significantly. Since Rajasthan SET follows a very similar pattern to UGC NET, candidates who have already cleared NET will find SET relatively easier to qualify.

Q3. The exam is only at divisional headquarters. What if the nearest centre is far from my home?

The exam will only be held at one of Rajasthan’s ten divisional headquarters: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Sikar, or Pali. Candidates from smaller towns and rural areas must plan in advance for travel and accommodation. The specific centre within your preferred division will be mentioned on your Admit Card. There is generally no option to request a change of centre once the Admit Card is issued, so it is wise to prepare for possible travel.

Q4. Is there any benefit to applying for one of the five newly added subjects like Rajasthani or Sindhi instead of a mainstream subject?

Applying in a newly added subject means you are likely to face fewer competitors in that specific subject pool, which could improve your chances of qualifying. However, the eventual benefit depends on whether colleges and universities in Rajasthan have vacancies for those subjects. Rajasthani and Urdu have a consistent demand in Rajasthan, while Sindhi, Punjabi, and Farsi have more limited college-level posts. If your postgraduate subject is one of the five newly added ones, you should absolutely apply as this may be your first real opportunity to obtain a state-level teaching eligibility certificate in your area of study.