Controversy over reservation in UP TGT recruitment: How were the 17,735 posts allocated?
UP TGT Recruitment 2026: A new controversy has emerged regarding the recruitment of 17,735 Assistant Teachers (TGT) in Uttar Pradesh. Following the issuance of the recruitment advertisement on October 23, 2026, questions were raised concerning the number of posts allocated to various categories. It is alleged that the OBC, SC, and ST categories have been allotted fewer posts than their mandated reservation quotas, while the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) has received a share exceeding the prescribed 10 percent. The allocation of 2,882 posts for the EWS category and only 13 posts for the ST category has become a major point of contention. In response, the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission, Prayagraj, issued an official clarification on October 27, 2026. The Commission has stated that the reservation for this recruitment was not determined by aggregating all 17,735 posts, but rather by treating each individual school as a separate unit.
Recruitment Announced on October 23
For candidates in Uttar Pradesh awaiting TGT (Trained Graduate Teacher) recruitment, an advertisement for 17,735 positions was released on October 23, 2026. This recruitment is for the post of Assistant Teacher (graduate level) in non-government aided secondary schools. Following the release of the advertisement, discussions arose regarding the number of posts allocated to various categories. Several posts on social media claimed that the established reservation rules had not been followed. Some candidates, social media users, and opposition parties also raised questions regarding the distribution of these posts. As the matter escalated, the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission issued a statement on October 27, 2026. The Commission noted that misleading information regarding the recruitment posts and the reservation system was being circulated by certain individuals and organizations. Consequently, the Commission provided a clarification on the basis used to determine the allocation of posts for this recruitment.
How were the 17,735 posts distributed among the different categories?
Of the total posts, 6,704—the largest share—have been advertised for the unreserved category. This is followed by 4,438 posts for the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category and 3,698 posts for the SC (Scheduled Castes) category. Additionally, 2,882 posts have been allocated for the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) category, while 13 posts have been advertised for the ST (Scheduled Tribes) category. This is the breakdown of the 17,735 total posts across these categories. The controversy regarding reservation stems from these figures. Candidates are questioning why the share of posts for each category—OBC (27%), SC (21%), ST (2%), and EWS (10%)—appears to differ from these established reservation quotas.
How did the allegation arise that the OBC category received 351 fewer posts than it should have?
In this recruitment drive, 4,438 posts have been advertised for the OBC category. This accounts for approximately 25.02% of the total 17,735 posts, whereas the prescribed OBC reservation quota is 27%. Based on this, it has been alleged that the OBC category has received about 351 fewer posts than its mandated share; however, this figure is derived by applying a flat 27% ratio across all 17,735 posts. The Commission maintains that the methodology for determining reservation in this recruitment process is different, and therefore, a discrepancy calculated solely based on the total number of posts does not, in itself, constitute evidence of a violation of reservation rules.
The Commission clarifies: Treating all 17,735 posts as a single unit is incorrect.
Addressing questions regarding reservation, the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission has provided a clarification, most notably concerning the school-wise reservation system. According to the Commission, when determining reservation for posts in non-government aided secondary schools, each school is treated as a separate unit. This means that vacant posts across all schools in the state are not aggregated to calculate reservation; rather, reservation is determined for each school individually, based on the available posts and the applicable rules. Subsequently, information regarding vacancies from the various schools is submitted to the Commission for the recruitment process. The Commission states that the posts advertised for this recruitment have been determined in accordance with this system.
What, then, does school-wise reservation actually mean? Let’s understand this in simpler terms. Suppose there are vacant teaching positions for a particular subject in one school within a district, and similar vacancies exist for the same subject in another school within the same district. According to the Commission’s clarification, these positions across different schools are not treated as a single unit for the purpose of determining reservation quotas. Instead, category-wise vacancies are calculated for each school individually, based on the specific number of posts available and the applicable reservation rules. Subsequently, the vacancies from all these schools are aggregated to prepare the recruitment advertisement. This is why the Commission has stated that calculating reservation percentages based solely on the total of 17,735 posts is insufficient for a proper understanding of the entire process. It should be noted that this is merely an illustrative example to explain the school-based system; it does not represent the actual number of posts in any specific school.
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