The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) has published Advertisement No. 22-Exam/2026 for 108 posts in the Khel Nideshalaya (Sports Directorate), Uttar Pradesh. The posts are Up Kridadhikari, Assistant Coach in 12 sports, Jeevan Rakshak (lifeguard) and Groundsman. Only candidates who took PET-2025 and have its score card can apply. Applications run online from 14 October to 4 November 2026, and the fee is Rs 25.
UPSSSC Sports Directorate 2026 at a glance
| Commission | Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission, Lucknow |
| Advertisement | No. 22-Exam/2026, Khel Nideshalaya Main Exam (PET-2025)/22, published 30 September 2026 |
| Posts | 108 |
| Who can apply | Only candidates who appeared in PET-2025 and hold its score card |
| Pay | Level-3 to Level-6, Rs 21,700 to Rs 1,12,400 depending on the post |
| Age | 21 to 40 years (coaches and Up Kridadhikari), 18 to 40 years (lifeguard and groundsman), on 1 July 2026 |
| Fee | Rs 25 for every category |
| Apply | Online at upsssc.gov.in, 14 October to 4 November 2026 |
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement published | 30 September 2026 |
| Registration, online application and fee start | 14 October 2026 |
| Last date to submit the form and pay the fee | 4 November 2026 |
| Last date for fee reconciliation and corrections | 11 November 2026 |
| Main exam | To be announced |
Your form cannot be printed until the bank has matched your payment. If that has not happened by 4 November, you have up to 7 more days, until 11 November 2026, to get it reconciled; you can also correct permitted details in that period.
Post-wise vacancies and pay
| Post | Pay level and scale | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up Kridadhikari | Level-6, Rs 35,400-1,12,400 | 17 | 10 | 01 | 11 | 05 | 44 |
| Up Kridadhikari (special selection) | Level-6 | - | 03 | 00 | 03 | - | 06 |
| Assistant Coach (Swimming) | Level-5, Rs 29,200-92,300 | 10 | 06 | 00 | 06 | 02 | 24 |
| Assistant Coach (Swimming, special selection) | Level-5 | - | 00 | 00 | 01 | - | 01 |
| Assistant Coach (Hockey) | Level-5 | 01 | 01 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| Assistant Coach: Cricket, Football, Shooting, Weightlifting, Fencing, Wrestling, Table Tennis, Handball, Wushu, Lawn Tennis | Level-5 | 01 each | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 01 each |
| Jeevan Rakshak (lifeguard) | Level-3, Rs 21,700-69,100 | 07 | 03 | 00 | 04 | 01 | 15 |
| Jeevan Rakshak (special selection) | Level-3 | - | 00 | 00 | 03 | - | 03 |
| Groundsman | Level-4, Rs 25,500-81,100 | 01 | 01 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| Groundsman (special selection) | Level-4 | - | 00 | 00 | 01 | - | 01 |
| Total | 108 | ||||||
By post, that is 50 Up Kridadhikari, 37 Assistant Coach, 18 Jeevan Rakshak and 3 Groundsman posts. Swimming alone accounts for 25 of the coach posts; ten sports have a single post each. Among horizontal reservations, Up Kridadhikari has 8 posts for women, 2 for ex-servicemen and 1 for low vision candidates, and Assistant Coach (Swimming) has 4 for women and 1 for ex-servicemen.
The Commission notes that the number of posts in each category can still change under the latest reservation rules.
Eligibility and qualification
Up Kridadhikari and every Assistant Coach post
- A graduate degree from a recognised university.
- A diploma in coaching in the relevant sport from Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (Patiala, Bangalore or Kolkata), Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (Thiruvananthapuram or Gwalior), or an equivalent institute recognised by the Government of India.
- Two years of coaching experience.
Preference goes to candidates with one year of experience organising sports competitions, a diploma or certificate in physical education, two years in the Territorial Army, or an NCC 'B' certificate. The coaching diploma must be in the same sport as the post: a swimming diploma does not qualify for the cricket post.
Jeevan Rakshak (lifeguard)
High School from the UP Board or an equivalent, and at least three years of practical experience working as a lifeguard. Two years in the Territorial Army or an NCC 'B' certificate gets preference.
Groundsman
High School or equivalent, practical experience of marking and preparing grounds and courts for outdoor and indoor games, and knowledge of grass varieties, cutting plants and roses, and handling flowers and seeds. Two years of work as a groundsman, Territorial Army service or an NCC 'B' certificate gets preference.
PET-2025 is compulsory
This is a main exam under the PET system. You must have appeared in PET-2025 and received its score card. Shortlisting for the main exam is done on the PET-2025 normalized score, and a candidate with a zero or negative score is not shortlisted. Candidates whose PET results are still under investigation may apply provisionally.
Age limit
| Post | Minimum | Maximum | Counted on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up Kridadhikari and all Assistant Coach posts | 21 years | 40 years | 1 July 2026 |
| Jeevan Rakshak and Groundsman | 18 years | 40 years | 1 July 2026 |
The upper limit is higher for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other categories notified by the government, by the years the government specifies. For coach and Up Kridadhikari posts, candidates already in government service get the upper limit raised by the length of that service.
Application fee
| Category | Application fee | Online processing fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 00 | Rs 25 | Rs 25 |
| OBC | 00 | Rs 25 | Rs 25 |
| SC | 00 | Rs 25 | Rs 25 |
| ST | 00 | Rs 25 | Rs 25 |
Pay by credit card, debit card, internet banking, UPI or SBI e-challan. Dependants of freedom fighters, ex-servicemen, women, divyang and outstanding sportspersons pay by their original category. This Rs 25 is only for the application: candidates shortlisted for the main exam pay the exam fee separately before downloading their admit card.
Selection process and exam pattern
Selection is on the written main exam. It has one question paper of 100 objective questions in 2 hours (120 minutes). Each question carries 1 mark, and a wrong answer costs 25% of that, a quarter of a mark.
| Part | Subject | Questions and marks |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | History of India and Indian National Movement | 04 |
| Part 1 | Geography of India and the World | 04 |
| Part 1 | Economic and Social Development of India | 03 |
| Part 1 | Indian Polity and Constitution | 03 |
| Part 1 | General Science and Technology | 03 |
| Part 1 | Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management | 03 |
| Part 1 | Current events of national and international importance | 05 |
| Part 1 | Sports-related information | 40 |
| Part 2 | Computer and Information Technology | 15 |
| Part 3 | General information about Uttar Pradesh | 20 |
| Total | 100 | |
Sports knowledge alone carries 40 marks, the largest single block. Uttar Pradesh general knowledge (20) and computers (15) come next, so these three areas together make up three quarters of the paper.
Reservation and divyang candidates
Vertical reservation for SC, ST, OBC and EWS follows the table above; the Commission says the post numbers were rechecked against the State Government's order of 30 December 2025 on reservation. Horizontal reservation applies to women, ex-servicemen, dependants of freedom fighters, outstanding sportspersons and divyang candidates.
- Under the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department's orders, 4% of Group A, B, C and D posts are reserved for divyang candidates, and the posts suitable for each disability have been re-identified.
- For this advertisement the identified categories are low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, and locomotor disabilities including leprosy cured, dwarfism and acid attack victims, as listed post by post in Table-2.
- Divyang candidates must update their disability category and sub-category in the form; this is compulsory.
- Caste and reservation certificates must be issued in the prescribed format on or before the last date, 4 November 2026.
Syllabus highlights
The advertisement gives a syllabus for each part. History covers the social, cultural, economic and political sides of Indian history and the national movement for freedom. Geography covers the physical, social and economic geography of India, including agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, population and urbanisation, and smart cities and villages, plus general world geography. Part 2 covers concepts of computers and information technology and recent technology developments, and Part 3 covers general information about Uttar Pradesh.
How to apply
- Go to upsssc.gov.in and open this advertisement under "Live Advertisement".
- Log in with your PET-2025 registration number; an OTP comes to the mobile number or email registered in PET-2025.
- Your personal details, photo and signature are taken from PET-2025 and cannot be changed here.
- Select the post or posts you want, enter your qualification details (board or university, year, certificate number, marks), answer Yes or No for preferential qualifications, and accept the declaration.
- Pay Rs 25 online or by SBI e-challan, then download and print the form. Only one application is allowed for this advertisement.
When documents are checked, you will be asked for your order of preference among the posts.
Documents to keep ready
- PET-2025 registration number and score card.
- High School certificate (date of birth) and graduation degree for coach and Up Kridadhikari posts.
- Coaching diploma in the sport from NIS, LNIPE or an equivalent institute.
- Coaching, lifeguard or groundsman experience certificates.
- Caste, EWS (issued between 1 April and 4 November 2026 on 2025-26 income), and horizontal reservation certificates where claimed; Territorial Army or NCC 'B' certificate for preference.
Points to check before you apply
- No PET-2025 score card, no application.
- The coaching diploma must match the sport of the Assistant Coach post you choose.
- Minimum age is 21 for coaches and Up Kridadhikari, not 18.
- Lifeguards need three years of experience; coaches need two.
- Negative marking of one quarter mark applies in the main exam.
Official links
- UPSSSC Advertisement No. 22-Exam/2026, Sports Directorate (PDF)
- UPSSSC official website (online application)
Frequently asked questions
How many Assistant Coach posts are there?
37: 25 for swimming, 2 for hockey and one each for cricket, football, shooting, weightlifting, fencing, wrestling, table tennis, handball, wushu and lawn tennis.
Can I apply without PET-2025?
No. The advertisement is open only to candidates who appeared in PET-2025 and received its score card.
What is the application fee?
Rs 25 for every category. Shortlisted candidates pay the main exam fee later.
What is the pay for Up Kridadhikari?
Level-6, Rs 35,400 to Rs 1,12,400.