Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is conducting the School Librarian Eligibility Test (SLET) 2026, and online applications are open from 1 to 21 October 2026. Graduates with a library science degree who are residents of Bihar can apply at sletregistration.cbrt.co.in.
SLET is an eligibility test, not a direct recruitment. Candidates who pass get a certificate that makes them eligible for school librarian posts under the Bihar School Librarian Rules, 2025.
BSEB is holding this test on the instructions of the Director, Secondary Education (letter no. 533 dated 23 September 2025) and the Secretary, Education Department, Bihar (letter no. 1634 dated 1 September 2026). For library science graduates in Bihar, this certificate is the first step toward a librarian post in government schools, so it is worth applying early and checking every detail before the last date.
This guide covers everything in the notice: dates, fee, eligibility, age limit, exam pattern, qualifying marks, normalisation, the application steps and the documents you need. It also adds a preparation plan and answers to common questions.
SLET 2026 at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Bihar School Examination Board (Bihar Vidyalaya Pariksha Samiti), Patna |
| Exam name | Vidyalaya Pustakalayadhyaksh Patrata Pariksha (School Librarian Eligibility Test) 2026 |
| Type | Eligibility test (pass certificate, no vacancies) |
| Who can apply | Bihar residents with graduation (45%) and a library science degree |
| Application dates | 1 – 21 October 2026 |
| Application fee | ₹960 (General/BC/EBC), ₹760 (SC/ST/PwD) |
| Exam mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Total marks | 150 (Library Science 100 + General Knowledge 50) |
| Duration | 150 minutes |
| Negative marking | No |
| Application website | sletregistration.cbrt.co.in |
What candidates should know first
- It is a qualifying test. There are no posts or vacancies in this notice. Passing gives you an eligibility certificate.
- Only for Bihar residents. Applicants must be Indian citizens living in Bihar.
- Library science degree is compulsory. A general graduation alone is not enough.
- Pass/fail is decided on the normalised score, not raw marks. A raw score just above the cut-off can still fail after normalisation.
- No negative marking, but guess carefully. BSEB says a high number of wrong answers can pull down your normalised score.
- No corrections after the last date. Errors can be fixed only through your login before 21 October 2026.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application starts | 1 October 2026 (afternoon) |
| Last date to apply and pay fee | 21 October 2026 |
| Correction of form | Only through your login, before 21 October 2026 |
| Admit card | To be announced |
| Exam date | To be announced |
| Result | To be announced |
Application fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / BC / EBC | ₹960 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹760 |
The fee is paid online only, by debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI. Forms without the full fee paid on time will be rejected. The notice does not list a separate fee for EWS candidates.
Eligibility criteria
- Nationality and residence: Indian citizen and resident of Bihar.
- Graduation: Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with at least 45% marks.
- Library science: Bachelor’s degree in Library Science from a recognised university.
- Service rules: Candidates must meet the qualifications set by the Bihar School Librarian (Appointment, Transfer, Disciplinary Action and Service Conditions) Rules, 2025.
Relaxation in marks: SC, ST, EBC, BC, PwD, women and EWS candidates get 5% relaxation in the minimum graduation marks (40% instead of 45%). This applies only to Bihar residents.
Equivalent degrees: The Alim degree from Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic & Persian University or Bihar State Madrasa Education Board, and the Shastri degree from Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, are treated as equal to graduation.
If there is doubt about whether a degree is valid or equivalent, the Education Department, Bihar, makes the final decision.
Age limit (as on 1 August 2026)
The minimum age is 21 years. Maximum age by category:
| Category | Maximum age |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (male) | 37 years |
| Unreserved (female) | 40 years |
| BC (male and female) | 40 years |
| EBC (male and female) | 40 years |
| SC (male and female) | 42 years |
| ST (male and female) | 42 years |
Additional relaxation:
- Under the Librarian Rules, 2025 (Rule 4.1): 10 years in maximum age.
- Persons with disabilities: 10 years.
- Ex-servicemen: 3 years plus the period of defence service, provided actual age is not above 57 at the time of applying.
Birth date range by category (without extra relaxation)
Age is counted on 1 August 2026. To be at least 21, you must be born on or before 1 August 2005. The table below shows the earliest birth date allowed for each category before any additional relaxation:
| Category | Maximum age | Born on or after |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (male) | 37 years | 2 August 1988 |
| Unreserved (female), BC, EBC | 40 years | 2 August 1985 |
| SC / ST | 42 years | 2 August 1983 |
These dates are calculated from the notice’s age limits. Confirm your own eligibility with the official notice, especially if your birth date falls close to a cut-off.
The notice says category-wise maximum ages follow the General Administration Department, Bihar (Resolution No. 294 dated 7 November 2016). The PwD relaxation comes from Resolution No. 962 dated 22 January 2021, and the ex-servicemen rule from Circular No. 5374 dated 2 April 2013.
Exam pattern and syllabus
SLET 2026 is a single computer-based test of 150 multiple-choice questions, each worth 1 mark.
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| Library Science | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 50 |
| Total | 150 |
- Duration: 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes)
- Negative marking: None
- Library Science syllabus: Same as the bachelor’s degree in Library Science taught in recognised Bihar state universities.
Qualifying marks and normalisation
Candidates who reach the minimum marks below pass the test and receive an SLET certificate.
| Category | Qualifying marks | Out of 150 |
|---|---|---|
| General | 50% | 75 |
| BC | 45.5% | 68.25 |
| EBC | 42.5% | 63.75 |
| SC / ST | 40% | 60 |
| PwD | 40% | 60 |
| Women | 40% | 60 |
How normalisation affects you: If the exam runs in more than one shift, scores are normalised to balance differences in paper difficulty. Pass or fail depends on the normalised score.
BSEB’s own example: a General candidate with a raw score of 76 whose normalised score comes to 74.90 will fail, because 75 is needed. Aim for a comfortable margin above the cut-off.
Why BSEB uses normalisation
When many candidates take a CBT, the exam is held across several shifts or dates. Each shift gets a different question paper, and one paper may turn out harder than another. Normalisation adjusts the marks so that a candidate in a tougher shift is not at a disadvantage, and one in an easier shift does not gain unfairly.
Three points from the notice matter for every candidate:
- Your normalised score is your final score. Your raw score (marks from correct answers) is not used to decide pass or fail.
- The qualifying percentages in the table above are applied to the normalised score.
- Even without negative marking, BSEB says that giving many wrong answers can have a negative effect on the normalised score. Attempt questions you are reasonably sure of, and avoid blind guessing on a large number of them.
Library Science (100 marks)
Library Science carries two-thirds of the marks, so it decides most results. Revise your B.Lib.I.Sc course notes and university syllabus first. Topics commonly taught in bachelor’s level Library Science include:
- Foundations of library science, including Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science
- Library classification theory and practice (DDC, Colon Classification, UDC)
- Cataloguing theory and practice (AACR-2, MARC and related standards)
- Reference service and information sources
- Library management: acquisition, circulation, stock verification and budgeting
- Library automation and ICT, including library software and digital libraries
- Information retrieval, indexing and documentation
- School and public libraries, and library legislation in India
General Knowledge (50 marks)
Give steady daily time to GK. Focus on Indian and Bihar current affairs from the last 6–12 months, Indian polity, history and geography, general science, and Bihar-specific facts. Short daily revision works better than last-minute cramming for this section.
Time management
There are 150 questions in 150 minutes, so you have about one minute per question. A practical approach:
- Do the questions you know instantly in the first pass.
- Mark doubtful ones and return to them in the second pass.
- Keep the last 10 minutes to review marked questions.
Practise full-length mock tests on a computer, because the real exam is a CBT. This builds speed and comfort with the on-screen format.
How to apply online
Applications are accepted only online. Keep a working email ID and mobile number, and keep them active until the final result.
- Register: Go to sletregistration.cbrt.co.in, fill in basic details and verify with OTP. Your user ID and password will come by SMS.
- Fill the form: Log in and enter personal and educational details. Some fields will be pre-filled from registration.
- Upload photo, signature and documents (specs below).
- Preview and save: Click “Preview”, check every detail and fix errors, then click “Save”.
- Pay the fee: Choose “Select Online Payment”, pick a payment gateway and pay by card, net banking or UPI.
- Download: Save a hard copy of the submitted form.
BSEB suggests downloading the sample form from the portal, filling it with a pen first and then entering the details online. Do not post the paper form to BSEB.
Photo and signature specifications
| Item | Size | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph | 80 – 200 KB, 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm | Recent colour photo, white or light background, face and eyes clearly visible, no cap, head cloth or dark glasses |
| Signature | 50 – 200 KB | Not in English capital letters |
Documents to upload (self-attested)
- Class 10 certificate and mark sheet (for date of birth)
- Class 12 certificate and mark sheet
- Graduation certificate and mark sheet
- Library Science certificate
- Residence certificate
- Caste certificate (SC/ST)
- Latest non-creamy layer certificate (EBC/BC)
- Disability certificate in the prescribed format (if claiming PwD)
- Ex-serviceman certificate (if claiming age relaxation)
Common mistake to avoid: EWS candidates sometimes select “EBC” by mistake. Results are prepared on the category you fill, so check it carefully. Only one application per candidate is allowed; multiple or incomplete forms will be rejected.
Tips for a mistake-free application
Most rejected forms fail because of small errors. BSEB has made it clear that no correction request will be accepted after the admit card is issued, so check these points before you submit:
- Name and date of birth must match your Class 10 certificate exactly.
- Category must be correct. If you are EWS, do not select EBC. Your result is prepared on the category you choose.
- Email and mobile number should be your own and stay active until the final result. All updates and your login details come here.
- Photo must be recent, in colour, with a white or light background. Caps, head cloth and dark glasses are not allowed.
- Signature must not be in English capital letters.
- Cyber café users should sit with the operator and watch every entry on screen before clicking Submit.
- Fee must be paid within the deadline. Without payment, no admit card will be issued.
- One form only. Submitting more than one form can get your application rejected.
- Keep your user ID and password private, and do not send them to the BSEB office.
After paying, download and keep a hard copy of your completed form and payment receipt.
After the exam: admit card, result and certificate
The admit card will be issued based on the details filled in your online form. Download it from the application portal when BSEB releases it, and check every detail carefully.
After the exam, BSEB will apply normalisation and publish the result. Candidates who reach the qualifying normalised score for their category will receive an SLET 2026 pass certificate.
The notice does not mention how long the certificate will remain valid, or when appointments will follow. Recruitment for school librarian posts will be done separately under the Bihar School Librarian Rules, 2025. Keep checking the official portal for these updates.
Important links and helpline
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| Apply online | sletregistration.cbrt.co.in |
| BSEB official website | biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in |
| Helpline | +91 80472 82787 |
| Helpdesk email | bseb.support@cbrt.co.in |
Frequently asked questions
Is SLET 2026 a recruitment exam? No. It is an eligibility test. Passing gives you a certificate that makes you eligible for school librarian posts in Bihar.
Can candidates from other states apply? No. The notice requires applicants to be residents of Bihar.
Is a library science degree compulsory? Yes. You need a bachelor’s degree in Library Science along with graduation of at least 45% marks.
What is the last date to apply? The online form and fee must be completed by 21 October 2026.
Is there negative marking? No. But BSEB warns that many wrong answers can lower your normalised score.
What are the passing marks for the General category? 50%, which is 75 out of 150 on the normalised score.
Can I correct my form after the last date? No. Corrections are possible only through your login before 21 October 2026. No change is allowed after the admit card is issued.
How long is the exam? 150 minutes for 150 one-mark questions.
What size should my photo and signature be? Photo: 80 to 200 KB, 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm. Signature: 50 to 200 KB.
Do women get any age relaxation? Yes. Unreserved women can be up to 40 years, compared with 37 for unreserved men.
Whom do I contact for help? Call the helpline at +91 80472 82787 or email bseb.support@cbrt.co.in.
Is there a fee for EWS candidates? The notice lists ₹960 for General, BC and EBC, and ₹760 for SC, ST and PwD. It does not mention EWS separately, so check the fee shown on the portal when you fill the form.
Are Alim and Shastri degrees accepted? Yes. Alim (from Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic & Persian University or Bihar State Madrasa Education Board) and Shastri (from Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University) are treated as equal to graduation.
