UGC NET December 2026: Application Form, Exam Date, Eligibility, Fee, Syllabus & Apply Online

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) to determine candidates' eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to Ph.D. programmes, according to the applicable UGC rules.

The UGC NET December 2026 examination notification provides details about the online application process, eligibility requirements, examination schedule, fees, subjects and qualifying criteria.

Candidates planning to appear in the December 2026 session should carefully review the official information bulletin before submitting their applications.

UGC NET December 2026 – Overview

UGC NET December 2026 Important Dates

According to the information bulletin, the schedule is as follows:

EventDateOnline Application Start Date8 October 2026Last Date to Apply Online28 October 2026Last Date for Fee Payment28 October 2026Application with Late Fee29–31 October 2026Last Date for Late-Fee Payment31 October 2026Application Correction Window2–4 November 2026Exam City Intimation23 November 2026Admit Card Release7 December 2026Examination Dates14–18 December and 21 December 2026Result DateTo be announced

Dates are based on the uploaded information bulletin. Candidates should check the official NTA website for any changes or subsequent notices.

UGC NET December 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must satisfy the academic qualifications and other conditions prescribed by the UGC and NTA.

Educational Qualification

Candidates generally need a Master's degree or equivalent qualification from a recognised university or institution.

The minimum qualifying marks for the Master's degree are:

• General/Unreserved candidates: 55% marks.

• OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender candidates: 50% marks.

Candidates with foreign qualifications should verify the required equivalence before applying.

Candidates Appearing in Final-Year Examinations

Candidates who are pursuing their Master's degree or are awaiting results may apply provisionally, subject to the conditions and deadlines prescribed by UGC.

Such candidates must obtain the required marks and complete their qualification within the permitted period after the result, as applicable to their category and eligibility route.

Four-Year Bachelor's Degree Candidates

Candidates with a four-year/eight-semester bachelor's degree may be eligible for certain UGC NET outcomes under the applicable rules.

The bulletin provides that candidates qualifying on the basis of a four-year undergraduate degree may be eligible for JRF and Ph.D. admission, but are not eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor through that route.

Applicants should carefully check the official eligibility provisions to determine which qualification route applies to them.

UGC NET Age Limit 2026

The age limit depends on the purpose for which a candidate is appearing.

Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)

Candidates applying for JRF must satisfy the maximum age limit prescribed in the official bulletin, calculated using the stated cut-off date. Category-based age relaxation applies where permitted.

Assistant Professor and Ph.D. Admission

There is generally no upper age limit for appearing in UGC NET for Assistant Professor eligibility or Ph.D. admission.

Candidates should refer to the latest bulletin for the exact JRF age cut-off and applicable relaxations.

UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee

The examination fee listed in the bulletin is:

CategoryExamination FeeGeneral/Unreserved₹1,150General-EWS/OBC-NCL₹600SC/ST/Third Gender₹325PwD/PwBD₹325

Applicable payment gateway charges and GST may be additional.

Candidates applying during the late-application period must pay an additional late fee of ₹500, in addition to the applicable examination fee.

UGC NET December 2026 Exam Pattern

The UGC NET examination consists of two papers conducted in a single three-hour session without a break.

Paper 1 Syllabus

Paper 1 assesses general teaching and research aptitude. Major areas include:

• Teaching Aptitude

• Research Aptitude

• Reading Comprehension

• Communication

• Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude

• Logical Reasoning

• Data Interpretation

• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

• People, Development and Environment

• Higher Education System

Paper 2 Syllabus

Paper 2 tests the candidate's knowledge of the subject selected during the application process.

Candidates should download the official syllabus for their chosen subject and prepare according to the prescribed topics.

UGC NET Marking Scheme

• Each correct answer carries 2 marks.

• There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

• Unanswered questions receive no marks.

• Candidates should attempt questions carefully and manage their time across both papers.

UGC NET December 2026 Qualifying Marks

The bulletin specifies the following minimum aggregate marks for consideration:

CategoryMinimum Aggregate MarksGeneral/Unreserved and General-EWS40%Reserved categories, including SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender35%

These percentages are only the minimum qualifying conditions. Final qualification depends on the applicable subject-wise and category-wise cut-offs and the selection methodology prescribed in the bulletin.

Meeting the minimum percentage does not automatically guarantee qualification.

UGC NET December 2026 Selection and Qualification Process

The qualification process involves the following broad steps:

1. Submit the online application and examination fee.

2. Download the admit card when available.

3. Appear for both Paper 1 and Paper 2.

4. The NTA processes the examination results according to the prescribed rules.

5. Candidates are assessed against the minimum aggregate requirements and subject/category-wise cut-offs.

6. Qualified candidates can use their result for the relevant purpose: JRF, Assistant Professor eligibility, and/or Ph.D. admission, as indicated by their result and applicable rules.

The number of candidates qualifying and the cut-offs depend on the rules and methodology set out by UGC.

How to Apply Online for UGC NET December 2026

Candidates can follow these steps to complete the application:

1. Visit the official website: https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/

2. Open the UGC NET December 2026 registration link.

3. Register using the required personal details, email ID and mobile number.

4. Log in with the generated application credentials.

5. Enter personal, educational and category details.

6. Select the examination subject and preferred examination cities.

7. Upload the required photograph, signature and other information in the prescribed format.

8. Pay the applicable examination fee online.

9. Review the application carefully before final submission.

10. Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.

Candidates should use their own valid contact details and ensure that all information matches their official documents.

Documents and Information Required

Keep the following details ready before applying:

• Valid photo identity details

• Recent passport-size photograph

• Scanned signature

• Master's degree and marks information

• Category certificate, if applicable

• PwD/PwBD certificate, if applicable

• Active email ID and mobile number

• Address and educational details

• Subject and examination-city preferences

Candidates should follow the exact image specifications and document instructions provided in the online application portal.

UGC NET December 2026 Admit Card

The bulletin lists 7 December 2026 as the scheduled admit-card release date.

Candidates should download their admit card from the official NTA website using their application credentials. Check the name, subject, examination date, shift and examination centre details carefully.

The admit card and a valid photo identity document should be carried to the examination centre as instructed by NTA.

UGC NET December 2026 Exam City Intimation

The exam city intimation is scheduled for 23 November 2026 according to the bulletin.

The city-intimation slip helps candidates know the city assigned for the examination. It is not a substitute for the admit card and should not be treated as the final entry document for the examination.

UGC NET December 2026 Result

The result date has not been announced in the uploaded bulletin.

Candidates should check the official website for the result notice, scorecard, subject-wise cut-offs and qualification status. The NTA states that the result will be hosted on its official website.

Important Links

• UGC NET Official Websitehttps://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/NTA

• Official Websitehttps://nta.ac.in/Information

BulletinAvailable through the official UGC NET websiteOnline ApplicationCheck the official portal for current application statusAdmit Card and ResultCheck the official UGC NET portal

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is UGC NET December 2026?

UGC NET December 2026 is a national-level eligibility examination conducted by NTA on behalf of UGC for JRF, Assistant Professor eligibility and Ph.D.-related eligibility under applicable rules.

2. What is the last date to apply?

The regular application deadline listed in the bulletin is 28 October 2026. The late-application window runs from 29 to 31 October 2026, subject to payment of the additional late fee.

3. What is the examination date?

The bulletin lists the examination dates as 14–18 December 2026 and 21 December 2026.

4. How many questions are there in UGC NET?

There are 150 questions in total: 50 in Paper 1 and 100 in Paper 2.

5. What is the total duration?

The examination duration is 180 minutes (3 hours) without a break between the two papers.

6. Is there negative marking?

No. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

7. What is the application fee for General candidates?

The examination fee for General/Unreserved candidates is ₹1,150, excluding applicable payment charges and taxes.

8. Is there an upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility?

Generally, there is no upper age limit for appearing in UGC NET for Assistant Professor eligibility or Ph.D. admission. JRF has a separate age limit.

9. Where can I download the admit card?

Candidates should download the admit card from the official website at https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/ when it becomes available.

Conclusion

The UGC NET December 2026 examination is an important opportunity for postgraduate candidates seeking Junior Research Fellowship, Assistant Professor eligibility or Ph.D.-related eligibility under the applicable UGC rules.

Candidates should check the educational eligibility requirements, JRF age conditions, subject syllabus, application fee and examination dates before submitting the application. Keep checking the official NTA portal for updated notices, admit cards, answer keys and results.

mytensionfree.com.

UGC NET December 2026: Apply Online, Exam Date, Eligibility & Syllabus

UGC NET December 2026 notification details: check application dates, eligibility, age limit, fee, exam pattern, syllabus, admit card and result updates.

UGC NET December 2026

UGC NET December 2026 Application Form

• UGC NET Exam Date 2026

• UGC NET Eligibility Criteria

• UGC NET December Session

• UGC NET Application Fee

• UGC NET Syllabus 2026

• UGC NET Admit Card 2026

• UGC NET Result 2026

• NTA UGC NET December 2026

• UGC NET Apply Online

UGC NET, UGC NET December 2026, NTA, UGC NET Application Form, UGC NET Exam Date, UGC NET Syllabus, UGC NET Admit Card, UGC NET Result, Education News, Government Exams

Education / Entrance Exams / UGC NET

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