SEB Gujarat HTAT Head Teacher Promotion Exam 2026

The State Examination Board (SEB), Gujarat State, Gandhinagar, has released Notification No. RPB/HTAT SCE/2026/9293-9300, dated 01-08-2026, for the “Mukhya Shikshak Abhiyogyata Kasoti-2026” – the Special Competitive Examination (HTAT, Semi Direct) for promotion to the post of Head Teacher, Class-III, in Government Primary Schools, District Primary Education Committees, and Municipal Primary Education Committees across Gujarat.

This is a departmental promotion exam, not an open recruitment. Only serving Lower Primary Teachers or Upper Primary Teachers (Class-III) in the subordinate service of the Directorate of Primary Education, District Primary Education Committees, or Municipal Primary Education Committees – who meet the experience, qualification, and computer-competency conditions below – are eligible to appear.

Quick facts: The State Examination Board, Gujarat, is conducting this exam on behalf of the Education Department to fill 3,264 Head Teacher (Class-III) posts by promotion. Only eligible serving Lower/Upper Primary Teachers with the required experience and qualifications can apply. Online registration runs from 11-08-2026 to 25-08-2026, with fee payment accepted until 27-08-2026. The probable exam date is 04-10-2026. Applications are submitted online only, through ojas.gujarat.gov.in. The posts are located across government primary schools throughout Gujarat.

Gujarat HTAT Recruitment 2026 Notification

The full notification (No. RPB/HTAT SCE/2026/9293-9300, dated 01-08-2026), along with the underlying HTAT Rules, 2026 (Education Department notification No. K/SH/22/2026/ED/MSC/e-file/3/2025/6410/CH dated 04-05-2026) and the Head Teacher Class-III Recruitment Rules, 2016 (as amended in 2025), are available on the official websites.

Gujarat HTAT Recruitment 2026 Overview

Gujarat HTAT Important Dates

Gujarat HTAT Vacancy 2026 – District-wise and Nagar-wise Details

A total of 3,264 Head Teacher (Class-III) posts are to be filled by promotion through this exam: 3,125 posts under District Primary Education Committees across 34 districts, and 138 posts under Municipal (Nagar) Primary Education Committees across 20 municipal bodies.

District-wise Vacancies (3,125 posts)

Nagar/Municipal-wise Vacancies (138 posts)

Gujarat HTAT Eligibility Criteria

This exam is open only to serving teachers who meet all of the following conditions – it is not open to fresh graduates or candidates outside the Primary Education service.

Experience

• Must have worked for not less than 5 years in the cadre of Lower Primary Teacher or Upper Primary Teacher, Class-III, in the subordinate service of the Directorate of Primary Education, District Primary Education Committees, or Municipal Primary Education Committees.
• Where the appointing authority is satisfied that no candidate with the full 5-year experience is available and it is necessary in the public interest to fill the post, a candidate with lesser experience may be promoted, for reasons recorded in writing.

Computer Competency

• Must have passed the qualifying examination for computer knowledge in accordance with the Gujarat Civil Services Computer Competency Training and Examination Rules, 2006.

HTAT

• Must pass the Head Teacher Aptitude Test (HTAT) – this examination – as prescribed by the Government.

Gujarat HTAT Educational Qualification

Candidates must meet one of the following combinations:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Science, or Commerce from a recognized university, AND one of: (i) a 2-year certificate course in Primary Teachers Course from a recognized institution; OR (ii) a 1-year degree in special education from a recognized university, the Rehabilitation Council of India, or the Central Government; OR (iii) a Bachelor’s degree in Education from a recognized university.
• OR – a pass in the Higher Secondary Certificate Examination (or an equivalent recognized qualification), AND a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Education, from a recognized university.

In addition, candidates must possess basic knowledge of computer application as prescribed in the Gujarat Civil Services Classification and Recruitment (General) Rules, 1967, and adequate knowledge of Gujarati or Hindi, or both.

Gujarat HTAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus

• The examination is conducted in a single stage of written examination, consisting of one question paper covering two compulsory parts.
• The paper is of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ) type and is conducted without books.
• Part-1 (General Syllabus): 50 questions, 50 marks, 45 minutes.
• Part-2 (Syllabus of Related Subjects): 100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes.
• Total: 150 questions, 150 marks, combined duration 135 minutes. Both parts and all questions are compulsory.
• Each question carries 1 mark. There is no negative marking.
• Medium: the main notification states the medium will be Gujarati. The HTAT Rules, 2026 (Appendix, Rule 5(3)) state the medium shall be Gujarati, English, or Hindi, as specified in the question paper – candidates should verify the final medium on sebexam.org closer to the exam.

Part-1: General Syllabus

1. Geography of India – Physical, Economic, Social, Natural Resources and Population issues, with special reference to Gujarat
2. History of India – with special reference to Gujarat
3. General Mental Ability Test
4. Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy
5. General Science, Environment, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
6. Current Events of Regional, National, and International Importance

Part-2: Syllabus of Related Subjects

1. The Gujarat Primary Education Act, 1947
2. The Bombay Primary Education Rules, 1949
3. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
4. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2012
5. Education Policies in India, NEP-2020
6. Structure and functions of state and national institutions working in the field of education (NCERT, NUPA, NCTE, CBSE)
7. Various schemes of the central and state governments related to primary education
8. Administrative management – teaching skills and use of technology in education; Principal’s/Head Teacher’s mental well-being and knowledge/implementation of innovative methods; action research and School Management Committee matters/school leadership; basic principles of school management, management tasks and duties, and leadership qualities
9. Gujarat Panchayat Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1997, and Gujarat Panchayats (Conduct) Rules, 1998
10. The Gujarat Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 2002
11. Recommendations of various committees in the field of education
12. Education-related Constitutional provisions and prevailing rules of the Education Department
13. Current affairs and recent innovations related to these fields, and Pedagogy
14. The Right to Information Act, 2005
15. Resolutions, Notifications, and Policies declared by the Education Department
16. School Safety Policy
17. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012; the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
18. Role and Responsibility of Head Teachers in Primary Schools

Gujarat HTAT Passing Standard

• General category candidates: minimum 40% (60 marks) combined across Part-1 and Part-2.
• SC/ST category candidates: minimum 35% (52.5 marks) combined across Part-1 and Part-2 (a 5% relaxation).
• Merely obtaining the minimum qualifying marks does not confer any right to promotion. Promotion is granted strictly in proportion to the number of vacant posts indicated in each district/municipal requisition, in merit order.

Gujarat HTAT Application Fee

The fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. Additional service charges apply separately (amount not specified in the notification). Fees must be paid online only, via ATM-Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or Wallet, between 11-08-2026 and 27-08-2026.

How to Apply for Gujarat HTAT Recruitment 2026

1. Visit the official website: ojas.gujarat.gov.in.
2. Click “Apply Online,” then “Apply Now” to open the Application Form.
3. Fill in Personal Details – all fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are mandatory. Note: Name, surname, date of birth, caste (category), and certain other details cannot be corrected by the Board after submission, so candidates should double-check these carefully.
4. Click on Educational Details and fill them in completely.
5. Click Save – this generates an Application Number, which candidates must note down and keep safe.
6. Go to “Upload Photo,” enter the Application Number and Date of Birth, then click OK. Upload a photo (5 cm height × 3.6 cm width) and signature (2.5 cm height × 7.5 cm width), each in JPG format under 10 KB.
7. Go to “Confirm Application,” enter the Application Number and Date of Birth, click OK. Two options will appear: “Application Preview” and “Confirm Application.” Use Application Preview to review the form.
8. If any correction is needed, use “Edit Application” – corrections are allowed only before confirming. No correction of any kind is possible after the application is confirmed.
9. Click “Confirm Application” to generate a Confirmation Number, which must be quoted in any future correspondence with the Board.
10. Pay the exam fee online (ATM-Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/UPI/Wallet) between 11-08-2026 and 27-08-2026, via “Print Application/Pay Fees,” selecting either “Net Banking of fee” or “Other Payment Mode.”
11. After successful payment, an E-Receipt will be generated – print and retain it. If the fee is deducted from your bank account but no E-Receipt is generated, contact the Board immediately at [email protected].
12. Only candidates who have paid the fee and obtained the E-Receipt can download their computerized Hall Ticket, using the Confirmation Number and Date of Birth.

Gujarat HTAT Exam Centre and Medium

• The exam will be held only within Gujarat state, at centres decided by the State Examination Board based on the number of registered candidates and administrative feasibility. Candidates must appear at their allotted centre at their own expense.
• No electronic communication devices – laptop, tablet, cellular phone, calculator, pager, iPod, or similar – are permitted in the examination hall.

Gujarat HTAT Selection Process

• The State Examination Board prepares a merit list of successful candidates, district/municipal body-wise, based on total marks obtained, having regard to the number of vacancies requisitioned by the concerned District/Nagar Education Committee.
• Promotion is granted strictly in proportion to the number of vacant posts in each requisition – obtaining the minimum qualifying marks alone does not guarantee promotion.
• Results are published in two parts: Part I lists successful candidates in merit order (names, seat numbers, marks); Part II lists unsuccessful candidates similarly. Both are published on the notice board and the Board’s official website.
• Appointment of selected candidates is made strictly in order of merit as determined by the Board, up to the number of posts to be filled. Success in the exam does not itself confer a right to appointment; the appointing authority must be satisfied the candidate is suitable in all respects.

Important Instructions

• Details entered in the online application are not verified by the Board at the time of filling – candidates are personally responsible for the accuracy of all information provided.
• Once an application is confirmed, no correction to name, surname, date of birth, category, caste, experience, or any other detail will be entertained by the Board under any circumstances.
• If a candidate is found to have suppressed or falsified information, the result/candidature may be cancelled and the candidate may face disqualification, debarment, or legal/criminal action.
• Candidates must keep self-attested copies of required supporting documents (fee payment slip, category certificate, etc.) and produce them when required.
• Candidates should study all instructions provided with the hall ticket, and all instructions printed on the OMR sheet, carefully before the exam.
• Candidates are advised to stay alert against any unsocial elements attempting fraud or coercion related to this exam; any such pressure tactics will lead to disqualification and further action.
• For further information, contact the Board’s toll-free helpline at 079-23248451 or 079-23248452 during office working hours.