Why are *Shiksha Mitras* being awarded weightage marks in the UP primary teacher recruitment? Here is the inside story..
Amid the recruitment process for 11,508 Assistant Teacher posts in Uttar Pradesh, the situation regarding the weightage to be granted to *Shiksha Mitras* (para-teachers) remains unclear. The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission has sought information from the Basic Education Department in this regard. Notably, based on earlier Supreme Court orders, *Shiksha Mitras* had previously been granted additional marks and age relaxation in teacher recruitment drives based on their teaching experience. The Commission has now inquired about how these provisions will be implemented in the 2026 recruitment drive and has requested clear guidelines from the department.
**Matter regarding recruitment for 11,508 posts**
The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission issued an advertisement on September 15, 2026, for the recruitment of 11,508 Assistant Teachers in municipal-area council primary and composite schools. Subsequently, Surendra Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of the Basic Education Council, apprised the Commission of the benefits applicable to *Shiksha Mitras*.
It was stated that, pursuant to the Supreme Court's order dated July 25, 2017, *Shiksha Mitras* were granted weightage for their teaching experience during the recruitment drives for 68,500 and 69,000 Assistant Teachers. This included an allocation of 2.5 marks for each year of experience, up to a maximum of 25 marks, alongside provisions for age relaxation.
**Matter linked to the Supreme Court order**
The issue of granting additional opportunities to *Shiksha Mitras* had also reached the Supreme Court. In the *Ram Sharan Maurya* case, the apex court ordered on November 18, 2020, that *Shiksha Mitras* be given an additional opportunity in future teacher recruitment drives. According to information provided by the Basic Education Council, an age relaxation of up to 60 years has been granted to *Shiksha Mitras* for this recruitment. However, the Education Service Selection Commission has sought specific details from the department regarding this arrangement.
Commission Seeks Clear Guidelines
On September 24, the Commission's Deputy Secretary, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, sent a letter to Parthasarathi Sen Sharma, the Additional Chief Secretary of Secondary and Basic Education. The Commission stated that it has not yet received any clear government order or departmental directive outlining the procedure for granting weightage to *Shiksha Mitras* (para-teachers) in this recruitment drive, based on the 2020 Supreme Court order. The Commission has asked the department to provide clear details regarding the rules for weightage and age limits so that the recruitment process can move forward.
Weightage Provision in Principal Recruitment
In the same letter, the Commission also mentioned another change concerning the Secondary Education Department. Provisions regarding the eligibility criteria for the posts of Principal and Headmaster in aided secondary schools were published in the Government Gazette on September 12, 2026. This notification makes no mention of weightage, implying that the weightage system has been abolished for this recruitment process.
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