SET Exam Schedule 2026: Get SET Exam Dates State-Wise

State Eligibility Test (SET) 2026 is conducted at the state level for candidates who want to become eligible for the post of Assistant Professor. Unlike UGC NET, which is a national-level examination, SET qualification is generally valid for the respective state in which the examination is conducted.

Many candidates have questions about the SET Exam 2026 schedule, participating states, eligibility, application forms, exam language, exam centres, and whether candidates from another state can apply. This guide covers the important details based on the latest information discussed in the source content.

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What is the SET Exam?

SET stands for State Eligibility Test. It is conducted by respective state authorities or designated institutions to determine candidates’ eligibility for Assistant Professor positions within the concerned state.

UGC NET is a national-level examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the UGC, whereas SET is conducted at the state level.

The major difference is the validity of the qualification:

• UGC NET: National-level eligibility.
• SET: State-level eligibility.
• Both examinations can make candidates eligible for Assistant Professor positions, subject to applicable recruitment rules.
• The source content states that the minimum qualification requirement is generally 55% marks for the General category, with a 5% relaxation for reserved categories.

SET Exam 2026 State-Wise Schedule

The source content discusses 16 SET examinations conducted across different states or regions. These include:

• Himachal Pradesh SET
• Assam/North East State Level Eligibility Test (NE-SLET)
• West Bengal SET
• Maharashtra SET
• Uttarakhand SET
• Madhya Pradesh SET
• Rajasthan SET
• Chhattisgarh SET
• Karnataka SET
• Kerala SET
• Gujarat SET
• Jammu & Kashmir SET
• Andhra Pradesh SET
• Telangana SET
• Tamil Nadu SET
• Jharkhand Eligibility Test (JET)

Some examinations are conducted regularly every year, while others may have irregular schedules or long gaps between examinations.

SET Exams With Applications Open

According to the source content, Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana SET were among the examinations for which application forms were open at the time of the update.

These examinations were discussed as being scheduled around September and October.

Candidates are advised to check the official notification of the respective examination authority for exact application deadlines, eligibility requirements and examination dates before applying.

West Bengal SET 2026

The West Bengal SET notification had been released, with the examination discussed as being scheduled for 13 December. The application process was expected to begin subsequently.

West Bengal SET is one of the examinations that can be considered by candidates targeting Assistant Professor opportunities in West Bengal.

Karnataka SET 2026

The source content indicates that the Karnataka SET examination had a high possibility of being conducted around October or November, with the application process expected to begin.

Candidates interested in Karnataka should monitor the official notification for the confirmed schedule.

Madhya Pradesh SET 2026

The Madhya Pradesh SET was discussed as having been conducted on 1 March 2026, following postponements. The source content also indicates that there were possibilities of another notification being released around September or October.

Candidates targeting Madhya Pradesh can therefore keep an eye on future official announcements.

Assam SLET 2026

The Assam SLET, also referred to as North East State Level Eligibility Test (NE-SLET), covers the northeastern states collectively.

The source content states that the examination was conducted on 15 March and is generally conducted around March.

Jharkhand Eligibility Test 2026

The Jharkhand Eligibility Test (JET) was discussed as having been conducted on 26 April 2026 after a long gap of approximately 18–19 years.

The source content notes uncertainty regarding the next examination cycle, making official updates particularly important for candidates targeting Jharkhand.

Kerala SET 2026

Kerala SET is highlighted as an important exception because it is conducted twice a year, generally around January and July.

The July examination discussed in the source content was postponed because of adverse weather conditions, and a new date had not been announced at the time of the update.

Other State SET Examinations

The source content also discusses the schedules and recent activity of several other SET examinations:

• Himachal Pradesh SET: Conducted after a gap of around two to three years.
• Andhra Pradesh SET: Conducted in March.
• Tamil Nadu SET: No specific new notification was available in the source.
• Uttarakhand SET: Last conducted in 2024 according to the source content.
• Gujarat SET: Conducted regularly and considered a potential target for candidates.
• Maharashtra SET: Conducted regularly and can be targeted by candidates.
• Chhattisgarh SET: Discussed as being conducted after a gap of around two years.
• Rajasthan SET: Discussed as being conducted after a gap of around three years.

Since SET schedules can vary considerably between states, candidates should not assume that the examination will follow a fixed annual calendar.

Does Uttar Pradesh Conduct SET?

No. According to the source content, Uttar Pradesh does not currently conduct a separate SET examination.

Candidates seeking Assistant Professor eligibility in Uttar Pradesh need to qualify through the applicable national-level eligibility route, such as UGC NET, subject to the recruitment rules applicable to the position.

Is There a SET Exam in Bihar?

The source content states that discussions regarding a Bihar Eligibility Test had taken place, but no confirmed update was available at the time of the source material.

Therefore, candidates should wait for an official notification before assuming that a Bihar SET examination is being conducted.

Is There a SET Exam in Delhi?

Delhi is a Union Territory rather than a state, and the source content states that there is no separate SET examination for Delhi.

Candidates targeting Assistant Professor opportunities in Delhi should therefore check the eligibility requirements of the concerned university or recruitment authority and the applicable national-level eligibility criteria.

Who Can Apply for SET?

Candidates can generally apply for a SET examination even if they are from another state.

For example, a candidate from Rajasthan can apply for an eligible SET examination conducted by another state, provided they meet the examination’s eligibility requirements.

However, there can be an important difference regarding reservation benefits.

A candidate applying for another state’s SET may not receive the same state-specific reservation benefits available to candidates belonging to that state. The source content gives the example that a candidate from another state may have to apply under the General category for the concerned state examination.

Candidates should always check the official notification for the exact reservation rules.

Is There Any Age Limit for SET?

The source content states that there is no specific age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility through SET.

This is similar to the Assistant Professor eligibility route through UGC NET, where there is no minimum age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility.

However, candidates should separately check the eligibility conditions prescribed by the concerned examination and recruiting authority.

SET Exam Language

The language of the SET examination can vary from one state to another because different state authorities conduct these examinations.

The source content highlights examples such as:

• West Bengal: English and Bengali
• Gujarat: English and Gujarati
• Maharashtra: English and Marathi
• Chhattisgarh: Hindi and English
• Rajasthan: Hindi and English
• Several southern states may provide English along with the respective regional language.

English is identified in the source as the common language available across SET examinations, while regional-language options depend on the concerned state.

Where Are SET Exam Centres Located?

SET is a state-level examination, and candidates generally have to appear for the examination within the concerned state.

For example:

• Rajasthan SET → Examination centres in Rajasthan
• Madhya Pradesh SET → Examination centres in Madhya Pradesh
• Other state SETs → Centres as specified by the respective examination authority

Candidates can select their preferred examination centre or city from the options provided during the application process, wherever applicable.

Can Candidates From Other States Apply for SET?

Yes, candidates from another state can generally apply for an eligible SET examination.

For example, a candidate residing in Rajasthan may apply for another state’s SET if the concerned examination allows it.

However, candidates should carefully check the notification because state-specific reservation benefits may be restricted to eligible candidates belonging to that state.

Is SET Conducted Online or Offline?

Most SET examinations discussed in the source are conducted in offline, OMR-based mode.

However, the source also notes that a few examinations may be conducted online. Andhra Pradesh SET is mentioned as an example.

Even where an examination is conducted online, candidates should not assume that they can take it from anywhere. The examination authority may still require candidates to appear at designated centres within the concerned state.

Does SET Provide JRF or Fellowship?

No. The source content specifically highlights that SET is primarily an eligibility examination for Assistant Professor positions.

It should not be considered equivalent to qualifying for JRF through UGC NET.

Candidates interested in fellowship opportunities should check the applicable UGC NET/JRF eligibility routes and the rules of individual universities or institutions.

Does SET Qualification Help With PhD Admission?

According to the source content, SET is not intended as a direct qualification for PhD admission.

The primary purpose of SET is to establish eligibility for Assistant Professor positions within the applicable state.

Candidates seeking PhD admission should separately check the admission criteria of the university or institution they wish to join.

Is There Negative Marking in SET?

The source content states that there is no negative marking in SET examinations, similar to the UGC NET examination.

However, candidates should always verify the latest official information in the examination notification before appearing for the exam, as examination patterns and rules can change.

Why Should UGC NET Aspirants Also Consider SET?

Candidates preparing for UGC NET should consider SET examinations when they are eligible because the source content highlights substantial similarities between the two examinations.

The source states that the UGC NET and SET syllabi are essentially the same, and previous-year questions may also overlap.

Therefore, a candidate already preparing for UGC NET can potentially use the same preparation to target a suitable SET examination.

For candidates who have not qualified UGC NET, qualifying a relevant SET can provide an additional route toward Assistant Professor eligibility in the concerned state.

Which SET Exams Can Candidates Target?

The source content identifies several examinations as relatively useful targets based on their regularity or expected notifications, including:

• Maharashtra SET
• Gujarat SET
• West Bengal SET
• Assam SLET
• Madhya Pradesh SET
• Rajasthan SET
• Chhattisgarh SET
• Telangana SET
• Jammu & Kashmir SET

However, the exact availability and schedule can change each year. Candidates should always follow official notifications rather than relying solely on previous-year schedules.

SET Exam Dates 2026 FAQs