UP SI Cut-off 2026: Why is the cut-off for the UP Police Sub-Inspector recruitment so high? Here are the 4 main reasons behind it...

UP SI Cut-off 2026: The results for the written examination of the Uttar Pradesh Police Sub-Inspector (Daroga) Recruitment 2025 have been released. The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) has published the cut-off marks alongside the final results for the UP Police Sub-Inspector recruitment. Based on these cut-off marks, successful candidates will be called to appear for the physical test. However, following the release of the results, the cut-off has become a subject of intense discussion, as the category-wise cut-off marks have soared significantly high this time around. The written examination for the UP Police Sub-Inspector recruitment was conducted on March 14 and 15, 2026, across a total of 75 examination centers throughout the state; the results for which were declared on May 7.

The cut-off marks released alongside the results—covering the UR, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, and Female categories—have turned out to be significantly higher than anticipated. For the youth aspiring to secure a government job, this has translated into an even tougher competitive landscape.

The cut-off marks released for the UP Police Sub-Inspector Recruitment 2025 are calculated out of a maximum score of 400.
Category        Cut-off

General            369.87
OBC                 364.56
EWS                 364.41
SC                   350.91
ST                   334.65

**Debate Intensifies Over UP SI Cut-off**
The high cut-off marks for the UP Sub-Inspector recruitment have sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms, with a heated debate regarding the high cut-off levels now unfolding on 'X' (formerly Twitter). Many users have commented, "The UP SI cut-off has left everyone stunned. A 92% cut-off? Is this a joke, or is it merely toying with the dreams of unemployed youth? Despite the alarming levels of unemployment, such an exorbitantly high cut-off only serves to exacerbate the familial and mental pressure on aspirants. This matter demands serious reconsideration." Various posts reflecting diverse perspectives on this issue have been observed across these platforms. Social media platforms have been flooded with posts featuring slogans such as "UPSI 2025 Cut-off: Crossing 370 This Time." With the final merit list still pending, it remains to be seen whether the cut-off score could climb even higher. The exact trajectory of the cut-off in the upcoming stages is something we must wait and watch.

The following factors may explain why the cut-off scores have remained high:
1.  **Ample Preparation Time:** The notification for the UP Police Sub-Inspector (Daroga) Recruitment 2025 was issued on August 12, 2025, whereas the examinations were conducted on March 14 and 15, 2026. Aspirants preparing for government jobs were afforded a substantial amount of time to prepare for the UP Police Sub-Inspector recruitment, a factor that has contributed to the elevated cut-off scores.

2.  **Difficulty Level of the Paper:** This marks the first instance where the cut-off for the UP Police Sub-Inspector recruitment has reached such a high level. One contributing factor is that the difficulty level of this year's examination paper was not as challenging as it typically has been in previous years; indeed, many candidates reported that the paper was not difficult.

3.  **Impact of Normalization:** The UP SI examination was conducted across multiple shifts. Due to the existence of numerous shifts and a candidate pool exceeding 1.5 million, a normalization process was implemented. Under this system, candidates appearing in shifts where the paper was deemed more difficult are awarded additional marks relative to those in other shifts.

4.  **Absence of Negative Marking:** Negative marking is not applicable in the UP Police Sub-Inspector recruitment examination. Consequently, candidates attempt all 160 questions. This increases the likelihood of candidates who resort to guessing (taking calculated risks) boosting their scores, thereby driving the overall cut-off score upward.

Following the declaration of the written examination results, candidates will now be shortlisted for the physical efficiency test based on the established cut-off scores. The physical tests are likely to be conducted during the month of May.

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