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The Kerala SET 2026 selection process is conducted by the LBS Centre for Science and Technology to recruit Higher Secondary School Teachers and VHSE Non-Vocational Teachers in Kerala. The process includes Paper I (General Knowledge & Teaching Aptitude) and Paper II (Subject Specialization). Candidates who apply online for Kerala SET 2026, meet the eligibility criteria, and qualify the exam will be eligible for teacher recruitment in Kerala. In this blog, we will highlight the key aspects of the selection process to help candidates understand what to expect.
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Kerala SET 2026 Notification Overview
| Kerala State Eligibility Test (SET) 2026 Highlights | |
| Exam Conducting Body | LBS Centre for Science & Technology & Government of Kerala. |
| Kerala SET Full Form | Kerala State Eligibility Test |
| Name of the Exam | Kerala SET 2026 (January Session) |
| Exam Level | State Level |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| SET 2026 Application Starts | October 29, 2025 |
| SET 2026 Last Date to Apply | November 30, 2025 |
| Exam frequency | Twice a year |
| Exam Duration | Paper I: 2 hours Paper II: 2 hours |
| Exam Language | English & Malayalam |
| Official Website | www.lbscentre.kerala.gov.in |
Kerala SET 2026 Syllabus PDF – Subject-Wise Syllabus & Exam Topics
1: The first recipient of the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna’ award?
The Kerala SET 2026 Syllabus includes detailed subject-wise topics for both Paper 1 (General Knowledge & Teaching Aptitude) and Paper 2 (Specialization Subjects). Candidates can download the Kerala State Eligibility Test Syllabus PDF here. Check the subject-wise syllabus table below for complete details as per the latest SET January 2026 Notification.
| SUBJCET | FREE PDF |
| GENERAL | |
| ANTHROPOLOGY | |
| BENGALI | |
| CHEMICAL SCIENCES | |
| COMMERCE | |
| COMPUTER SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS | |
| EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC, OCEAN AND PLANETARY SCIENCES | |
| ECONOMICS | |
| EDUCATION | |
| ELECTRONIC SCIENCE | |
| ENGLISH | |
| GEOGRAPHY | |
| HINDI | |
| HISTORY | |
| HOME SCIENCE | |
| LAW | |
| LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE | |
| LIFE SCIENCES | |
| MASS COMMUNICATION AND JOURNALISM | |
| MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES | |
| MUSIC | |
| NEPALI | |
| PHILOSOPHY | |
| PHYSICAL EDUCATION | |
| PHYSICAL SCIENCES | |
| POLITICAL SCIENCE | |
| PSYCHOLOGY | |
| SANSKRIT | |
| SANTHALI | |
| SOCIOLOGY | |
| URDU | |
| MANAGEMENT | |
| ARABIC | |
| ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES |
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Join Now!Kerala SET January 2026 Official Notification PDF – Download Now
The Kerala State Eligibility Test (SET) 2026 official notification has been published by the LBS Centre for Science and Technology. This Kerala SET January 2026 notification PDF provides complete details on application dates, exam pattern, subjects, eligibility, and selection rules.
Candidates planning to become Higher Secondary School Teachers in Kerala must go through the SET 2026 notification and download the official PDF before submitting the Kerala SET 2026 online application form.
Kerala SET 2026 Previous Year Question Papers – Subject-Wise PDF Download
Access the Kerala SET 2026 Question Papers for both Paper 1 (General Paper) and Paper 2 (Subject-Specific Papers) to improve your preparation. Candidates can download previous year SET question papers PDF subject-wise for practice. The Kerala State Eligibility Test question paper table below includes all subjects as per the LBS Centre official SET 2026 syllabus.
| Subjects | Previous Year Papers |
| Anthropology | |
| Arabic | |
| Botany | |
| Chemistry | |
| Commerce | |
| Economics | |
| English | |
| French | |
| Gandhian Studies | |
| Geography | |
| Geology | |
| German | |
| Hindi | |
| History | |
| Home Science | |
| Islamic History | |
| Journalism | |
| Kannada | |
| Latin | |
| Malayalam | |
| Mathematics | |
| Music | |
| Philosophy | |
| Physics | |
| Political Science | |
| Psychology | |
| Russian | |
| Sanskrit | |
| Social Work | |
| Sociology | |
| Statistics | |
| Syriac | |
| Tamil | |
| Urdu | |
| Zoology | |
| Bio-technology | |
| General Knowledge |
Kerala SET 2026 Model Question Papers – Subject-Wise PDF Download
| Question Paper | Link |
| Botany | |
| English | |
| History | |
| Maths | |
| Physics | |
| Zoology |
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Join Now!Kerala SET 2026 Selection Process – Paper 1 & Paper 2 Scheme
The Kerala SET 2026 Selection Process, organized by LBS Centre for Science and Technology, includes two papers to assess teaching aptitude and subject expertise. Paper I tests General Knowledge and Teaching Aptitude, while Paper II evaluates subject specialization at the Postgraduate level. Qualifying both papers is mandatory to be eligible for Higher Secondary and VHSE teaching posts in Kerala.
Kerala SET 2026 Selection Process
The Kerala State Eligibility Test (SET) January 2026 follows a structured exam pattern consisting of two papers:
Paper I – General Paper (Common for All Candidates)
- Part A: General Knowledge
- Part B: Teaching Aptitude
- Conducted to evaluate general awareness, reasoning, and teaching-related skills essential for educators.
Paper II – Subject-Specific Paper
- Based on the Postgraduate subject chosen by the candidate.
- Candidates can choose from 31 subjects as listed in the official SET notification.
- Aimed at testing in-depth knowledge and analytical ability in the chosen field.
Key Points of Kerala SET Selection Process
- Both papers are mandatory for qualification.
- Each paper carries equal importance in final merit calculation.
- Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks as per their category.
- Only candidates who clear both papers are considered SET qualified and eligible for appointment as Higher Secondary School Teachers in Kerala.
Kerala SET 2026 Subjects List – Complete Paper 1 & Paper 2 Subject Codes
The Kerala SET 2026 exam, conducted by LBS Centre for Science and Technology, offers 37 subjects for Paper 2 based on candidates’ postgraduate specialization. While Paper 1 is common to all aspirants, Paper 2 tests subject-specific knowledge. Below is the complete Kerala SET subject list and codes for January 2026, as per the official notification.
Kerala SET 2026 Subject List and Codes
| Code | Subject |
|---|---|
| 01 | Anthropology |
| 02 | Arabic |
| 03 | Botany |
| 04 | Chemistry |
| 05 | Commerce |
| 06 | Economics |
| 07 | English |
| 08 | French |
| 09 | Gandhian Studies |
| 10 | Geography |
| 11 | Geology |
| 12 | German |
| 13 | Hindi |
| 14 | History |
| 15 | Home Science |
| 16 | Islamic History |
| 17 | Journalism |
| 18 | Kannada |
| 19 | Latin |
| 20 | Malayalam |
| 21 | Mathematics |
| 22 | Music |
| 23 | Philosophy |
| 24 | Physics |
| 25 | Political Science |
| 26 | Psychology |
| 27 | Russian |
| 28 | Sanskrit |
| 29 | Social Work |
| 30 | Sociology |
| 31 | Statistics |
| 32 | Syriac |
| 33 | Tamil |
| 34 | Urdu |
| 35 | Zoology |
| 36 | General Paper (Paper 1) |
| 37 | Biotechnology |
Kerala SET 2026 Exam Pattern – Duration, Marking Scheme & Questions
The Kerala SET 2026 exam pattern, as per the official notification, includes two objective-type papers — Paper 1 and Paper 2 — each lasting 120 minutes. Paper 1 tests General Knowledge and Teaching Aptitude, while Paper 2 evaluates subject-specific expertise. Both papers carry 120 questions, with Mathematics and Statistics featuring 80 questions worth 1.5 marks each.
Kerala SET 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
- All questions are objective (MCQs) with four options.
- Only one correct response is allowed per question.
- No negative marking for wrong answers.
- OMR-based exam; candidates must follow marking instructions carefully
| Paper | Subjects Covered | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Part A – General KnowledgePart B – Teaching Aptitude | 120 (60+60) | 1 | 120 | 120 minutes |
| Paper II | Subject of Postgraduate Specialization | 120 | 1 | 120 | 120 minutes |
| Paper II (Maths & Statistics) | Specialized Subjects | 80 | 1.5 | 120 | 120 minutes |
Kerala SET 2026 Qualifying Marks – Minimum & Category-Wise Cutoff
The Kerala SET 2026 qualifying marks are based on specific category-wise pass criteria set by the LBS Centre for Science & Technology. To qualify, candidates must score a minimum of 40% in both Paper I and II and an aggregate of 48% for the General category. Relaxations apply for OBC, SC/ST, and differently-abled candidates, as detailed below.
Kerala SET 2026 Minimum Qualifying Marks (Category-Wise)
| Category | Paper I (%) | Paper II (%) | Total Aggregate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 40 | 40 | 48 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 35 | 35 | 45 |
| SC / ST / Differently-Abled | 35 | 35 | 40 |
Guidelines on Kerala SET Pass Criteria
- OBC and SC/ST candidates must submit valid Non-Creamy Layer / Caste / Community certificates from the Kerala Government to claim relaxation.
- The aggregate percentage is calculated as:
Marks secured in (Paper I + Paper II) ÷ Maximum Marks × 100.
- Fractions are rounded off to two decimal places in the aggregate percentage only.
- No rounding is allowed for Paper I and Paper II individually.
Kerala State Eligibility Test 2026 Online Application – Registration Steps
Candidates can apply online for Kerala SET 2026 through the official website www.lbscentre.kerala.gov.in. The online registration process includes mobile number verification, filling the application form, photo upload, fee payment, and printing the application. Applications are accepted only in online mode; no offline forms are allowed.
Steps to Apply for Kerala SET 2026
- Visit www.lbscentre.kerala.gov.in.
- Select SET and Other Exams → SET-JANUARY-2026.
- Register with a valid mobile number and verify using OTP.
- Fill in personal and academic details.
- Upload recent photo (200×150 pixels, under 30KB).
- Pay the fee: ₹1300 (General/OBC) or ₹750 (SC/ST/Differently Abled).
- Print the application form for future reference.
Kerala SET 2026 Test Centres – District-Wise Exam Centre List & Codes
The Kerala SET 2026 Exam Centres are located across all 14 district headquarters of Kerala to ensure easy accessibility for candidates. Applicants must choose their preferred district centre while filling out the Kerala SET 2026 online application form.
Once selected, the test centre cannot be changed. The final exam venue and details will be available on the admit card released by LBS Centre for Science and Technology.
Kerala SET 2026 Test Centres – District-Wise List
| Code | District (Test Centre) |
|---|---|
| 01 | Thiruvananthapuram |
| 02 | Kollam |
| 03 | Pathanamthitta |
| 04 | Alappuzha |
| 05 | Kottayam |
| 06 | Idukki |
| 07 | Ernakulam |
| 08 | Thrissur |
| 09 | Palakkad |
| 10 | Malappuram |
| 11 | Kozhikode |
| 12 | Wayanad |
| 13 | Kannur |
| 14 | Kasaragod |
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Join Now!Frequently Asked Questions
What is the selection process for Kerala SET 2026?
The Kerala SET 2026 selection process includes two papers — Paper I (General Knowledge & Teaching Aptitude) and Paper II (Subject Specialization). Candidates must qualify both papers with minimum marks to be eligible for Higher Secondary Teacher recruitment in Kerala.
How many papers are there in Kerala SET 2026?
The Kerala State Eligibility Test (SET) consists of two papers:
- Paper I – General Knowledge & Teaching Aptitude
- Paper II – Subject chosen at Postgraduate level
What is the duration of the Kerala SET 2026 exam?
Each paper in the Kerala SET Exam 2026 is of 120 minutes duration. Both papers are conducted on the same day in offline mode (OMR-based).
What are the qualifying marks for Kerala SET 2026?
To pass the Kerala SET 2026 exam, candidates must secure the following minimum marks:
- General – 40% in Paper I & II and 48% aggregate
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) – 35% in Paper I & II and 45% aggregate
- SC/ST/Differently Abled – 35% in Paper I & II and 40% aggregate
Who conducts the Kerala SET Exam 2026?
The LBS Centre for Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram conducts the Kerala SET 2026 on behalf of the Government of Kerala to ensure teacher eligibility for Higher Secondary Schools.
How are Kerala SET 2026 results calculated?
Results are based on marks scored in Paper I and Paper II combined. The total percentage is calculated using the formula:
Marks Secured (Paper I + Paper II)÷Maximum Marks (Paper I + Paper II)×100
Is there negative marking in Kerala SET 2026?
No, there is no negative marking in the Kerala SET Exam 2026. However, multiple responses to one question are treated as incorrect.
When will the Kerala SET 2026 exam date be announced?
The Kerala SET January 2026 exam date will be announced later on the official LBS Centre website – www.lbscentre.kerala.gov.in.
