Bihar STET 2026 Apply Online + Eligibility: Complete Guide (BSEB)
Notification, application dates, eligibility, age limit, fee, exam pattern, syllabus and selection process for the Bihar Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test 2026 — explained in plain language.
If you’re a B.Ed-qualified graduate or postgraduate hoping to teach in a Bihar government or government-aided secondary school, the Bihar STET 2026 notification is the update you’ve been waiting for. The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) released the official notification on 14 August 2026, and the online application window is open right now — it closes on 31 August 2026. This guide walks through every practical detail you need before you fill the form: who is eligible, how much it costs, what the exam looks like, and what to do next after you qualify.
Bihar STET 2026: Quick Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), Patna |
| Exam Name | Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test (Bihar STET) 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | P.R. 183/2026 |
| Papers | Paper I (Secondary, Class 9–10) & Paper II (Higher Secondary, Class 11–12) |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT), multiple shifts with score normalisation |
| Total Marks / Duration | 150 marks, 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) per paper |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Application Dates | 17 August 2026 to 31 August 2026 |
| Exam Date | To be announced (expected September–October 2026) |
| Certificate Validity | Lifetime |
| Official Websites | secondary.biharboardonline.com, stetregistration.cbrt.co.in |
What Is Bihar STET?
Bihar STET is a state-level teacher eligibility test, not a direct recruitment exam. Qualifying it doesn’t hand you a job offer — it certifies that you meet the minimum standard to teach in Bihar’s secondary and higher secondary government schools. Once you clear it, you become eligible to apply whenever the Education Department or BPSC opens an actual teacher recruitment drive, such as the ongoing BPSC TRE 4.0 recruitment for 32,388 teacher posts. Think of STET as the entry ticket and TRE as the actual competition for the seat.
The test is split into two papers based on the level you want to teach: Paper I for Classes 9–10 and Paper II for Classes 11–12. You can apply for either one or both, depending on your qualification.
Latest Update on Bihar STET 2026
One more thing worth knowing: last year’s STET 2025 registration deadline was extended by about a week following a Patna High Court order. No such extension has been announced for STET 2026 as of 22 August 2026, but it’s worth checking the official site rather than assuming the 31 August date is fixed in stone if you’re applying close to the deadline.
Bihar STET 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 14 August 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 17 August 2026 (afternoon) |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 31 August 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31 August 2026 |
| Correction Window | To be announced |
| Admit Card Release | To be announced |
| CBT Exam Date | Expected September–October 2026 (not yet confirmed) |
| Result Declaration | To be announced |
Bihar STET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for STET depends on three things: your nationality/domicile, your age, and your educational qualification for the specific paper and subject you’re choosing. Read every part below before you start your form, since corrections after final submission are usually limited.
Age Limit (as on 1 August 2026)
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| General / Unreserved (Male) | 21 years | 37 years |
| Women (General) & BC | 21 years | 40 years |
| SC / ST | 21 years | 42 years |
| PwD (Divyang) | 21 years | +10 years relaxation over applicable category limit |
| Ex-servicemen | 21 years | +3 years plus defence service period (capped at 57 years) |
Important: age relaxation, reduced qualifying marks and fee concessions apply only to candidates who hold a permanent Bihar domicile. Also note that BSEB has clarified there is no additional upper-age relaxation for STET 2026 just because a candidate previously appeared in the 2023, 2024 or 2025 STET cycles.
Educational Qualification
| Paper | Minimum Qualification |
|---|---|
| Paper I (Secondary, Class 9–10) |
Bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject with at least 50% marks + B.Ed, or a 4-year integrated B.A.B.Ed / B.Sc.B.Ed, or a Master’s degree with B.Ed |
| Paper II (Higher Secondary, Class 11–12) |
Master’s degree in the relevant subject with at least 50% marks + B.Ed, or B.A.B.Ed / B.Sc.B.Ed, or a postgraduate degree with 55% marks + a 3-year B.Ed-M.Ed course |
A 5% relaxation in the qualifying percentage is generally available to SC/ST/EBC/BC/PwD candidates holding Bihar domicile. Degrees must be from institutions recognised by the UGC and NCTE. For Computer Science, several sources indicate B.Ed is not compulsory provided the prescribed alternative qualification is met — always confirm the exact clause for your subject in the official notification PDF, since qualification combinations differ subject-by-subject.
Tip: if your degree marksheet only shows a CGPA and you’re unsure whether you cross the 50% line, use the CGPA to Percentage Calculator on EnggPrep to convert it instantly before you apply.
Can Candidates From Outside Bihar Apply?
Yes — Bihar STET is not restricted to Bihar residents. Candidates from any Indian state can apply, but they are placed in the General category for the purposes of age limit, application fee, and qualifying marks, irrespective of their actual caste category back home. Reservation benefits (SC/ST/BC/EBC/EWS/women) and the discounted fee slab are available strictly to candidates who hold a valid Bihar domicile/residential certificate.
Bihar STET 2026 Application Fee
| Category | One Paper | Both Papers |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS / BC / EBC | ₹960 | ₹1,440 |
| SC / ST / PwD (Divyang) | ₹760 | ₹1,140 |
Fees can be paid only online — via debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI. There is no offline or challan-based payment option, and a form is treated as incomplete until the fee is successfully paid.
Documents Required Before You Start
Keep scanned copies of the following ready so the application doesn’t stall midway:
- Recent passport-size photograph (light/white background) and a clear scanned signature
- Class 10 (Matriculation) marksheet and certificate — used as date-of-birth proof
- Class 12 (Intermediate) marksheet
- Graduation degree and marksheet
- Post-Graduation degree and marksheet (required for Paper II)
- B.Ed / B.A.B.Ed / B.Sc.B.Ed / B.Ed-M.Ed certificate and marksheet
- Category certificate, Non-Creamy-Layer (NCL) certificate for BC/EBC, or EWS certificate, if applicable
- Bihar domicile/residential certificate, if claiming reservation or fee concession
- PwD certificate, if applicable
Most photo/signature uploads fail because the file is the wrong pixel size or too large. The Image Resizer and Image Compressor tools on EnggPrep can get any photo, signature or certificate scan to the exact size the portal asks for, in seconds.
How to Apply for Bihar STET 2026 Online (Step-by-Step)
- Visit the official portal — secondary.biharboardonline.com or stetregistration.cbrt.co.in.
- Click “New Registration” and enter your name, mobile number, email ID and date of birth, then verify with the OTP sent to you.
- Note your User ID and password, sent to your registered mobile/email — you’ll need these to log back in.
- Log in and choose your paper — Paper I, Paper II, or both, based on the eligibility you meet.
- Fill personal and academic details exactly as they appear on your Class 10 certificate, to avoid a mismatch flag later.
- Upload your photograph, signature and certificates in the prescribed size and format.
- Pay the application fee online through the available payment gateway.
- Use “Preview” to check every field carefully before final submission — corrections afterward are limited.
- Submit and download the confirmation page and fee receipt, and keep printed/digital copies for later stages.
Bihar STET 2026 Exam Pattern
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT), objective type (MCQ) |
| Total Questions | 150 (100 from the chosen subject + 50 from the common section) |
| Total Marks | 150 (1 mark per question) |
| Duration | 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Common Section (50 marks) | Teaching Aptitude / Art of Teaching, General Knowledge, Reasoning, Environmental Studies, general mathematics awareness |
| Scoring Across Shifts | Normalised score is used (not raw score) since the exam runs across multiple shifts/dates |
Because your subject-specific section alone carries two-thirds of the total marks, subject preparation matters far more than the common section for your final score — don’t let generic GK revision eat into your subject study time.
Bihar STET 2026 Syllabus Overview
The subject syllabus for Paper I broadly follows the graduate-level course taught in Bihar’s state universities, while Paper II follows the graduate-honours/postgraduate-level course for the same subject. Both papers additionally test the common Teaching Aptitude section described above.
Paper I subjects (indicative): Hindi, English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Maithili, Bengali, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and other subjects aligned with the Class 9–10 curriculum.
Paper II subjects (indicative): Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Maithili, Sanskrit, Magahi, Pali, Prakrit, English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Home Science, Arabic, Farsi, Bhojpuri, Commerce, Computer Science, Agriculture and Music.
Always cross-check the exact subject-wise topic list against the official STET 2026 syllabus PDF once BSEB publishes it, since minor chapter-level changes are common between cycles.
Bihar STET 2026 Qualifying (Passing) Marks
| Category | Qualifying % | Marks out of 150 |
|---|---|---|
| General | 50% | 75 |
| BC | 45.5% | ~68 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Women (Bihar domicile) | 40% | 60 |
These figures reflect the qualifying pattern used in recent STET cycles. Confirm the exact category-wise cut-off for STET 2026 in the official notification or scorecard once released, as minor variations are possible.
Selection Process & Certificate Validity
Bihar STET selection has just two stages, and there is no interview:
- Stage 1 — Computer-Based Test: Your normalised score in Paper I and/or Paper II.
- Stage 2 — Document Verification: Once you clear the qualifying marks, your original documents are verified before the eligibility certificate is issued.
Why Bihar STET 2026 Matters Right Now: The BPSC TRE 4.0 Connection
Bihar STET isn’t a standalone exam — it directly feeds into Bihar’s teacher recruitment pipeline. The BPSC TRE 4.0 Notification 2026 — announced for 32,388 teacher posts across Primary, Middle, Secondary and Higher Secondary levels — specifically requires STET Paper 1 for Secondary (Class 9–10) posts and STET Paper 2 for Higher Secondary (Class 11–12) posts. Interestingly, candidates currently appearing for STET 2026 may even be able to apply provisionally for TRE 4.0, subject to the conditions in BPSC’s official notification.
In other words: if teaching in a Bihar government school is the goal, STET 2026 is the qualifying step, and TRE 4.0 (applications open 1–30 September 2026) is the recruitment drive you’ll use that STET certificate for. It’s worth reading both notifications together rather than in isolation.
Free Tools to Help You Apply — No Signup Needed
A large share of STET applications get stuck at the document-upload step, not the eligibility step. These free EnggPrep tools run instantly in your browser and can save you a rejected upload or a last-minute scramble:
Preparation Tips for Bihar STET 2026
- Lock your subject syllabus first — since it carries 100 of 150 marks, prioritise it well over the common section.
- Solve previous years’ STET question papers to understand the actual difficulty level and question style, which tends to be fairly consistent across cycles.
- Don’t skip the Teaching Aptitude section — 50 marks is still a third of the paper, and it’s usually the easiest to score well in with light, consistent revision.
- Practice full-length CBT mocks so that navigating 150 questions in 150 minutes feels routine rather than rushed on exam day.
- Since there’s no negative marking, attempt every question — leaving answers blank only costs you marks, never saves them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bihar STET 2026?
Bihar STET (Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test) 2026 is a state-level eligibility exam conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) for candidates who want to teach Classes 9-10 (Paper 1) or Classes 11-12 (Paper 2) in Bihar’s government and government-aided schools. Passing STET does not itself offer a job; it certifies you as eligible to apply in future teacher recruitment drives such as BPSC TRE.
When is the last date to apply for Bihar STET 2026?
The Bihar STET 2026 online application window opened on 17 August 2026 and closes on 31 August 2026. The application fee must also be paid by 31 August 2026. Always check the official BSEB website for any last-minute extension.
What is the application fee for Bihar STET 2026?
General, EWS, BC and EBC candidates pay Rs 960 for one paper or Rs 1,440 for both papers. SC, ST and PwD (Divyang) candidates pay Rs 760 for one paper or Rs 1,140 for both papers. Fees can only be paid online via debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.
What is the age limit for Bihar STET 2026?
The minimum age is 21 years as on 1 August 2026, with no separate upper age bar beyond category norms for most applicants. The maximum age is around 37 years for General/Unreserved male candidates, 40 years for women and BC candidates, and 42 years for SC/ST candidates, with these relaxations available only to Bihar domicile holders.
Can candidates from outside Bihar apply for Bihar STET 2026?
Yes. Candidates from other states can apply for Bihar STET 2026, but they are treated as General category candidates for age limit, application fee and qualifying marks, regardless of their caste category in their home state. Reservation benefits are available only to Bihar domicile holders.
Is there negative marking in Bihar STET 2026?
No. Bihar STET 2026 has no negative marking. Each paper has 150 objective questions worth 150 marks, with 1 mark per correct answer, so candidates should attempt every question.
What is the minimum qualification for Bihar STET Paper 1 and Paper 2?
For Paper 1 (Class 9-10), candidates generally need a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks plus a B.Ed, or a 4-year integrated B.A.B.Ed/B.Sc.B.Ed. For Paper 2 (Class 11-12), candidates generally need a Master’s degree with at least 50% marks plus a B.Ed, or a postgraduate degree with 55% marks plus a 3-year B.Ed-M.Ed. Requirements vary slightly by subject, so the official notification should be checked for the exact clause that applies.
How long is the Bihar STET 2026 certificate valid?
The Bihar STET qualifying certificate now has lifetime validity. Earlier cycles had a limited validity period of 7 years, but BSEB has extended it to lifetime, so once you qualify you do not need to reappear to keep your eligibility active.
What is the exam date for Bihar STET 2026?
BSEB has not announced the Bihar STET 2026 computer-based test date yet. Based on past cycles, the exam is expected around September-October 2026, but candidates should keep checking the official BSEB website for the confirmed schedule and admit card date.
Does passing Bihar STET guarantee a teaching job?
No. Bihar STET is only an eligibility test. Qualifying makes you eligible to apply for teacher recruitment exams such as BPSC TRE, where actual selection happens separately through a written exam and merit list.
Important Links
| Link | Purpose |
|---|---|
| secondary.biharboardonline.com Official | Primary BSEB portal — notification & apply online |
| stetregistration.cbrt.co.in Official | Dedicated STET 2026 registration portal |
| BPSC TRE 4.0 Notification 2026 | What to do with your STET certificate next |
| CGPA to Percentage Calculator | Check your 50% eligibility from a CGPA marksheet |
| Image Resizer / Image Compressor | Prepare photo, signature & document uploads |
Conclusion
Bihar STET 2026 is a short-window, high-stakes form for anyone serious about a government teaching career in Bihar — the application closes on 31 August 2026, and with certificate validity now extended to a lifetime, this is arguably one of the more valuable cycles to clear. Confirm your paper and subject eligibility, keep your documents ready in the right format, apply well before the deadline, and start subject-wise preparation immediately rather than waiting for the exam date announcement.