UGC NET · NTA notice
UGC-NET December 2026: Application open till 28 October 2026
· Source: National Testing Agency
About this notice
The National Testing Agency has released the updated Information Bulletin for the UGC-NET December 2026 examination across 87 subjects in Computer Based Test mode. Eligible candidates can register online on the official website from 08 October 2026 to 28 October 2026, with late applications accepted until 31 October 2026 upon paying an extra fee. The examination will take place between 14 December 2026 and 21 December 2026.
View the official notice (PDF)
Page written by Disha Stars from the official NTA document. The NTA document is the authority for dates and instructions.
Important Dates
The registration process and examination schedule for UGC-NET December 2026 follow these announced deadlines.
| Event | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Online registration and submission of Application Form | 08 October 2026 to 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 P.M.) |
| Last date for successful transaction of Examination fee | 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 P.M.) |
| Late Submission of online application Form with Late Fee (Rs. 500/-) | 29 October 2026 to 31 October 2026 (up to 11:50 P.M.) |
| Last Date of Successful Transaction with Late Fee | 31 October 2026 (up to 11:50 P.M.) |
| Correction in the Particulars of Application Form online only | 02 November 2026 to 04 November 2026 (up to 11:50 P.M.) |
| Intimation of Cities of exam centres | 23 November 2026 |
| Downloading of Admit Card by Candidate from NTA Website | 07 December 2026 |
| Dates of Examination | 14 December 2026 to 18 December 2026 and 21 December 2026 |
| Timing of Examination | To be Intimated later |
| Display of Recorded Responses and Provisional Answer Keys | To be announced later |
| Declaration of Result on NTA website | To be announced later |
Application Fee
Candidates must pay the fee online through SBI, CANARA, UBI via Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI. Applicable processing charges and GST are payable additionally to the payment provider.
| Category | Fee Payable |
|---|---|
| General/Unreserved | Rs. 1150/- |
| Gen-EWS / OBC-NCL | Rs. 600/- |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST) / Third Gender | Rs. 325/- |
| Person with Disability (PwD) / Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) | Rs. 325/- |
| Late Fee (if submitted between 29 to 31 October 2026) | Rs. 500/- (additional across all categories) |
Three Categories of Eligibility
UGC-NET determines eligibility across three distinct categories for Indian universities and colleges.
- JRF awardees are admitted to Ph.D. programmes through an interview as per UGC Regulations, 2022.
- For Category-2 and Category-3, the NET marks carry 70% weightage, and the interview/viva voce carries 30% weightage.
- Marks scored for Category-2 and Category-3 are valid for one year from the date of result declaration for Ph.D. admission.
| Award / Category | Eligible for JRF | Eligible for Assistant Professor | Eligible for Ph.D. Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category-1: Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Category-2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D. | No | Yes | Yes |
| Category-3: Admission to Ph.D. only | No | No | Yes |
Eligibility Criteria
Educational qualification requirements depend on the candidate's degree and reservation category.
- Master's Degree: General/Unreserved/General-EWS candidates require at least 55% marks (without rounding off). OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/Third gender candidates require at least 50% marks.
- Awaited Results: Candidates pursuing their final year of Master's degree may apply provisionally. They must pass within 2 years from the NET result date (or within 1 year if qualifying for 'Admission to Ph.D. only') with the required marks.
- Four-Year Bachelor's Degree: Candidates completing or appearing in the final year of a 4-year/8-semester bachelor's programme need at least 75% marks in aggregate (a 5% relaxation applies to SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Differently-Abled/EWS). These candidates are eligible for JRF and Ph.D. admission only, not for Assistant Professor.
- Ph.D. holders whose Master's was completed by 19 September 1991 receive a 5% relaxation (from 55% to 50%).
Age Limit and Relaxations
Age restrictions apply exclusively to Junior Research Fellowship applications.
- JRF: Maximum 30 years as on 01.12.2026.
- JRF Age Relaxation: Up to 5 years for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD, Third gender, and women applicants.
- Armed Forces / Research Experience: Up to 5 years relaxation for armed forces service or approved post-graduation research experience.
- LL.M. Degree: 3 years relaxation for candidates possessing an L.L.M. degree.
- Maximum relaxation on any combined ground cannot exceed 5 years.
- Assistant Professor & Ph.D. Admission: No upper age limit.
Examination Pattern and Scheme
The test will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode in a single 3-hour session without any break.
- All questions are compulsory multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- Each correct answer earns 2 marks.
- There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
- If a question has more than one correct option, 2 marks are given to candidates selecting any correct option.
- If all options are correct, or if a question is dropped/found wrong, 2 marks are awarded only to candidates who attempted it.
- The question paper is bilingual (English and Hindi), except for specific language papers. In case of translation ambiguity, the English version is final.
| Part | Marks | Number of Questions | Focus / Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | 100 | 50 | Assesses teaching/research aptitude, reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking, and general awareness |
| Part II | 200 | 100 | Domain knowledge based on the subject chosen by the candidate |
Reservations
Reservation policy of the Government of India applies in Central Universities and Deemed Universities.
| Category | Percentage of Seats |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| General-Economically Weaker Sections (General-EWS) | 10% |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD, 40% or more disability) | 5% (horizontal across categories) |
Scribe and Compensatory Time
Provisions are provided for candidates with benchmark disabilities and those with physical limitations in writing.
- Blindness, locomotor disability (both arms affected), and cerebral palsy candidates get scribe facilities upon request.
- Candidates with other benchmark disabilities (40% or more) require a medical certificate as per Annexure-VI.
- Candidates with less than 40% disability having writing limitations need a certificate from a multi-member medical authority as per Annexure-VIII.
- Own scribe's qualification must be one step below the candidate's qualification, with an undertaking submitted as per Annexure-VII.
- Compensatory time of at least 20 minutes per hour of exam (minimum 1 hour for a 3-hour exam) is given to eligible PwBD candidates whether a scribe is used or not.
Application Steps and Documents Required
Applications are accepted only online through Meri Pehchaan (NSSO platform) or the NTA portal.
- Step 1: Register using your own email address and mobile number.
- Step 2: Fill in personal and qualification details. Upload a live photograph, a scanned photograph (10 kb to 200 kb, colour or black & white, 80% face visible against white background), candidate's signature (10 kb to 50 kb), and UDID/disability certificate (pdf, 50 kb to 300 kb) if applicable.
- Step 3: Pay the application fee and save a printed copy of the Confirmation Page.
- Select 4 exam cities from the candidate's state of permanent or present address.
- Do not send physical documents, confirmation pages, or forms to NTA by post or hand.
Exam Day Instructions and Barred Items
Candidates must arrive 2 hours prior to the exam. Gates close 30 minutes before commencement.
- Mandatory items to carry: A4 printout of Admit Card with Self-Declaration, one passport photo matching the application, and an original valid photo ID (PAN Card, Passport, Aadhaar Card with photo, E-Aadhaar with photo, Bank Passbook with photo, or College ID).
- Barred items: Textual material, paper slips, geometry boxes, calculators, pencil pouches, pens, writing pads, docupens, watches, mobile phones, earphones, health bands, wallets, goggles, belts, caps, or any electronic items.
- Diabetic candidates may carry sugar tablets and whole unpacked fruits (banana, apple, or orange). Water in transparent bottles is allowed.
- Rough work must be carried out only on sheets provided at the centre, with the candidate's name and roll number on top, and handed back before leaving.
- Dress code: Simple, comfortable clothing. Normal shoes, slippers, and low-heeled sandals are permitted; long boots are strictly prohibited.
Answer Keys and Result Criteria
The provisional answer keys and recorded responses will be displayed on the portal for 2 to 3 days.
- Candidates can challenge provisional answer keys online by paying Rs. 200/- per challenged question as a non-refundable processing fee.
- The number of candidates qualifying for Assistant Professor eligibility equals 6% of the candidates appearing in both papers.
- Minimum aggregate qualifying marks across both papers: 40% for General/General-EWS and 35% for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD/PwBD, and Third gender.
- Marks will be normalised using the Equi-percentile method if an individual subject is conducted in multiple shifts.
- There is no provision for re-evaluation or re-checking of examination results.
Helpline
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone | 011-40759000 / 011-69227700 |
| ugcnet@nta.ac.in | |
| Website | https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/ · https://nta.ac.in/ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to submit the application form without late fees?
The last date to register and pay the regular examination fee is 28 October 2026 up to 11:50 P.M.
Can four-year bachelor's degree holders apply for Assistant Professor?
No, candidates qualifying UGC-NET based on a four-year undergraduate degree are eligible only for JRF and Ph.D. admission, not for appointment as Assistant Professor.
Is there any negative marking in UGC-NET December 2026?
No, there is no negative marking for incorrect responses.
What is the fee to challenge a provisional answer key?
Candidates must pay a non-refundable processing fee of Rs. 200/- per challenged question online.
What is the upper age limit to apply for Assistant Professor or Ph.D. admission?
There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility or Ph.D. admission.
How long are the NET scores valid for Ph.D. admissions under Category-2 and Category-3?
The marks obtained in NET are valid for one year from the date of declaration of the result for admission to Ph.D.
Notice details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Notice | Updated Information Bulletin of UGC-NET December 2026 as on 16.10.2026 |
| Exam | UGC National Eligibility Test |
| Published | 16 October 2026 |
| Published on | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
| Document | 20261016860019603.pdf |
Source
National Testing Agency (NTA), Ministry of Education, Government of India. Notice taken from the official UGC NET website (ugcnet.nta.nic.in).
- Official notice (PDF) on ugcnet.nta.nic.in: 20261016860019603.pdf
- Page where NTA lists it on ugcnet.nta.nic.in
Disha Stars does not host or change NTA documents. Every document opens from NTA’s official website, which is the authority for dates and instructions.
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