The UGC NET December 2026 notification is officially out. The National Testing Agency (NTA) opened the online registration on 8 October 2026, and the application window stays open until 28 October 2026 (11:50 PM). If Assistant Professor, JRF or PhD admission is your goal, this is the cycle to lock in.
NTA will conduct the exam for 87 subjects in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode from 14 to 19 December 2026. In this guide, we have one clear read – dates, eligibility, fee, pattern, steps to apply.
UGC NET December 2026 – Overview
Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Name | UGC NET (National Eligibility Test) December 2026 |
Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
Number of Subjects | 87 |
Application Mode | Online only – https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/ |
Application Dates | 8 October 2026 to 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
Exam Dates | 14 December 2026 to 19 December 2026 |
Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
Don’t wait for the last day. The portal usually slows down near the deadline, and the late window (29–31 Oct) costs an extra Rs. 500. Dates are tentative as per NTA.
What is the UGC NET Exam?
UGC NET decides whether an Indian national is eligible for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) with Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor with PhD admission, or PhD admission only in Indian universities and colleges. NTA qualifies candidates into three categories:
| Category | JRF | Assistant Professor | PhD Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1: JRF + Assistant Professor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Category 2: Assistant Professor + PhD | No | Yes | Yes |
| Category 3: PhD admission only | No | No | Yes |
For Category 2 and 3, the NET score carries 70% weightage and the university interview/viva carries 30% in PhD admission. The score is valid for one year from the result date for PhD admission.
What’s New in UGC NET December 2026?
- Meri Pehchaan (NSSO) Login: registration is enabled through the government’s Single Sign-On platform.
- Live Photograph: you must capture a live photo (webcam or mobile via QR code) while filling the form, with 80% of the face visible including ears, without a mask.
- Aadhaar Verification Advised: NTA recommends it to ease registration, centre verification and JRF processing.
- UMANG & DigiLocker: NTA intends to offer score card download through these platforms – details will follow.
- Four-Year UG Candidates: specific eligibility rules are given in the bulletin (see eligibility below).
UGC NET December 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- General / Unreserved / General-EWS: Master’s degree with at least 55% marks (without rounding off).
- OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender: at least 50% marks in Master’s.
- Final-year / result awaited: can apply and will be admitted provisionally. They must pass the Master’s with the required percentage within 2 years of the NET result (1 year if qualified for “PhD admission only”).
- PhD holders: those whose Master’s was completed by 19 September 1991 get a 5% relaxation (55% to 50%).
Four-Year UG Degree Holders
- Candidates with a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree need at least 75% marks (a 5% relaxation applies to SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Differently-abled/EWS and other categories as decided by the Commission).
- They become eligible for JRF and PhD admission but not for Assistant Professor appointment.
- They can choose any NET subject in which they want to pursue a PhD, irrespective of their bachelor’s discipline.
Note : Choose your Paper 2 subject based on your Post-Graduation subject. If your PG subject isn’t listed, you may appear in a related subject.
Age Limit
Post | Age Limit |
JRF | Maximum 30 years as on 1 December 2026 |
Assistant Professor | No upper age limit |
PhD Admission | No upper age limit |
Age relaxation (JRF): up to 5 years for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD, Third Gender and women. Further relaxation is available for research experience (up to 5 years), LLM holders (3 years) and armed forces service (up to 5 years). Total relaxation on these grounds cannot exceed 5 years.
UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee
Category | Fee |
|---|---|
General / Unreserved | Rs. 1,150 |
General-EWS / OBC-NCL | Rs. 600 |
SC / ST / Third Gender | Rs. 325 |
PwD / PwBD | Rs. 325 |
Bank/payment gateway service charges and GST are extra and paid by the candidate. Payment modes: Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card and UPI. Fee once paid is non-refundable.
How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026 Online
- Visit ugcnet.nta.nic.in and register using your own email ID and mobile number.
- Fill in the application form and note down the system-generated application number.
- Upload the live photograph, a recent photo, signature and (if applicable) disability/UDID certificate.
- Select your Paper 2 subject, medium of question paper and four exam cities.
- Pay the fee online and keep the payment proof.
- Download and print the confirmation page – it generates only after successful payment.
Document Upload Specifications
Document | Specification |
|---|---|
Photograph | 10 KB – 200 KB, colour or B&W, white background, 80% face visible with ears, no mask |
Signature | 10 KB – 50 KB |
Disability / UDID certificate | PDF, 50 KB – 300 KB, clearly legible |
No changes are allowed after the correction window (2–4 Nov 2026). Name, category, PwD status, date of birth and exam city choices entered by you are treated as final.
UGC NET December 2026 Exam Pattern
Paper | Focus | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1 | Teaching & Research Aptitude (reasoning, comprehension, divergent thinking, general awareness) | 50 | 100 | 3 hours (no break) |
Paper 2 | Subject chosen by the candidate (domain knowledge) | 100 | 200 |
- Total: 150 questions, 300 marks, all MCQs and all compulsory.
- Fill in the application form and note down the system-generated application number.
- Medium: English and Hindi (except language papers). The medium chosen in the form cannot be changed later.
- If a question has a translation ambiguity, the English version is final.
How is the UGC NET Result Decided?
- Candidates equal to 6% of those who appeared (based on Master’s degree) qualify for Assistant Professor eligibility.
- You must appear in both papers and score at least 40% aggregate (General/EWS) or 35% aggregate (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD/PwBD, Third Gender).
- Qualifying slots are distributed by category as per the Government of India reservation policy, and the subject-wise cut-off is derived from this.
- For subjects held in multiple shifts, NTA converts marks into percentile scores (normalization).
- Provisional answer key challenge costs Rs. 200 per question (non-refundable). There is no re-evaluation or re-checking of the result.
Admit Card and Exam Day Rules
The admit card will be released on https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/date to be announced. On exam day, carry:
- Printed admit card with the self-declaration filled in (A4 size).
- One passport-size photograph (same as in the application form).
- An original, valid photo ID (College ID, PAN, Passport, Aadhaar/e-Aadhaar, or Bank Passbook with photo).
UGC NET Preparation Tips for December 2026
- Fix your syllabus first: download the subject syllabus and Paper 1 units from the UGC NET Syllabus page.
- Secure Paper 1 early: it’s common to everyone and easy to score with consistent practice.
- One source per subject: stick to one standard study material, PYQs and your own revision notes.
- Solve PYQs and mocks weekly: since there is no negative marking, attempt every question.
- Revise on a cycle: daily quick revision, weekly deep revision and a monthly full-length test.
Frequently Asked Questions (UGC NET December 2026)
What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
The last date to apply online and pay the fee is 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM). Late submission with a Rs. 500 late fee is allowed from 29 to 31 October 2026.
When is the UGC NET December 2026 exam?
The exam is scheduled from 14 December 2026 to 19 December 2026, with 20 and 21 December as buffer days. Shift timings will be announced later.
What is the UGC NET December 2026 application fee?
General/Unreserved: Rs. 1,150. General-EWS/OBC-NCL: Rs. 600. SC/ST/Third Gender/PwD/PwBD: Rs. 325. Bank charges and GST are extra.
What is the age limit for UGC NET JRF 2026?
The maximum age for JRF is 30 years as on 1 December 2026, with relaxations as per the bulletin. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD admission.
Can final-year Master’s students apply for UGC NET December 2026?
Yes. They are admitted provisionally and must complete their Master’s with the required marks within two years of the NET result (one year for PhD admission only).
Is there negative marking in UGC NET December 2026?
No. Each correct answer earns 2 marks and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
How many subjects are available in UGC NET December 2026?
NTA will conduct the exam for 87 subjects. Paper 1 (Teaching and Research Aptitude) is compulsory for all candidates.
How can I contact NTA for help?
Call 011-40759000 / 011-69227700 or write to ugcnet@nta.ac.in.
