UGC NET December 2026 Notification Out: Apply Online Start, Exam Date, Fee, Eligibility & Pattern

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the UGC NET December 2026 notification and Information Bulletin. Online registration opened on October 8, 2026 and closes on October 28, 2026 at 11:50 PM. The exam will be held in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode from December 14 to December 19, 2026, with December 20 and 21 kept as buffer days.

UGC NET decides eligibility for three things: the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to Ph.D. in Indian universities and colleges. This article covers the UGC NET December 2026 exam date, application fee, eligibility, age limit, exam pattern, qualifying marks and how to apply, all taken from the official bulletin.

UGC NET December 2026 Important Dates

The table below lists all the key dates from the Information Bulletin. City intimation slip, admit card and result dates will be announced later on the NTA website.

UGC NET December 2026 Overview

UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee

The fee can be paid online through Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card or UPI using the SBI, Canara Bank or Union Bank payment gateways. Bank processing charges and GST are extra.

What UGC NET December 2026 Qualifies You For

UGC NET results are declared in three categories. Which one you qualify under depends on your marks and the options you choose in the application form.

• For Ph.D. admission under Categories 2 and 3, NET marks carry 70% weightage and the university interview carries 30%.
• Category 2 and 3 NET scores are valid for Ph.D. admission for one year from the result date.
• The JRF offer is valid for three years from the date of the JRF award letter.

UGC NET December 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree holders

• General / Unreserved / General-EWS: at least 55% marks in a Master's degree or equivalent from a UGC-recognised university.
• OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender: at least 50% marks.
• Marks are taken without rounding off.
• Ph.D. holders who finished their Master's by September 19, 1991 get a 5% relaxation (55% to 50%).
• You should appear in your Post-Graduation subject. If your subject is not on the NET list, you can choose a related subject.

Final-year Master's students

Students in the final year of their Master's, or waiting for results, can also apply. They are admitted provisionally and must pass with the required percentage within two years of the NET result. Those who qualify only for "Ph.D. admission" must do so within one year.

Four-year undergraduate degree holders

• Need at least 75% marks or an equivalent grade in a 4-year / 8-semester bachelor's degree. SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/EWS candidates get a 5% relaxation.
• They can appear in any subject in which they want to do a Ph.D., whatever their UG discipline.
• They are eligible for JRF and Ph.D. admission only, not for Assistant Professor.
• Students in the final year or semester of a 4-year degree can also apply provisionally.

UGC NET December 2026 Age Limit

Age relaxation for JRF

• Up to 5 years: OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third Gender and women candidates.
• Up to 5 years: research experience in the relevant subject, with a certificate. Research done for a degree does not count.
• 3 years: LL.M. degree holders.
• Up to 5 years: service in the armed forces.
• Total relaxation cannot be more than 5 years under any combination.

UGC NET December 2026 Exam Pattern

The exam has two papers with objective multiple-choice questions. Both are written in one 3-hour sitting with no break, and all questions are compulsory.

Marking scheme

• Each correct answer gets +2 marks.
• No negative marking for wrong answers.
• No marks for unanswered questions or those only marked for review.
• If a question has more than one correct option, +2 goes to anyone who marked a correct option. If a question is dropped or wrong, +2 goes to everyone who attempted it.

UGC NET December 2026 Subjects and Syllabus

UGC NET December 2026 is being held in 87 subjects. Paper 1 is compulsory for everyone. The full subject list with codes is in Annexure II of the bulletin. Some popular subjects:

The syllabus for all subjects can be downloaded from the UGC website, ugcnetonline.in/syllabus-new.php. NTA does not send the syllabus to candidates.

UGC NET December 2026 Qualifying Marks and Result

To be considered for qualification, you must appear in both papers and score these minimum aggregate marks across Paper 1 and Paper 2 together:

• Scoring the minimum marks only makes you eligible to be considered. The final cut-off is set subject-wise and category-wise.
• Only the top 6% of candidates who appeared in both papers are declared eligible for Assistant Professor. These slots are then divided by category as per the reservation policy.
• When a subject is held in more than one shift, marks are normalised using the equi-percentile method and the result is shown as a percentile.
• There is no re-evaluation or re-checking of results.

Answer key challenge

NTA will put the provisional answer key, question paper and recorded responses online for two to three days. You can challenge an answer by paying a non-refundable fee of ₹200 per question. The result will be prepared from the final answer key.

UGC NET December 2026 Notification PDF

NTA has published the full Information Bulletin for UGC NET December 2026 as a PDF. It contains the complete subject list, exam city list, fee payment details, normalisation procedure and the replica of the application form. Read it carefully before you apply.

How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026

The application is fully online at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Registration this year is done through Meri Pehchaan, the government's single sign-on platform.

1. Go to the official website and download the Information Bulletin and the replica of the application form. Read them carefully.
2. Register with your own email ID and mobile number.
3. Fill in the application form and note down the Application Number. Choose four exam cities from your permanent or present address state, in order of priority.
4. Capture a live photograph using your webcam, or scan the QR code with a phone. Use a light background with 80% of your face, including ears, visible and no mask.
5. Upload documents:
   • Recent photograph: 10 KB to 200 KB, colour or black and white, white background.
   • Signature: 10 KB to 50 KB.
   • Disability or UDID certificate (if applicable): PDF, 50 KB to 300 KB.
6. Pay the fee online through SBI, Canara Bank or Union Bank using Net Banking, card or UPI.
7. Download and print the Confirmation Page. It is generated only after successful payment.

UGC NET December 2026 Exam Day Instructions

Reach the exam centre 2 hours before the exam starts. Late entry is not allowed after the gate closes.

Documents to carry

• Printed admit card with the self-declaration filled in (A4 size).
• One passport-size photograph, the same as the one uploaded.
• One original, valid photo ID: Aadhaar or e-Aadhaar, PAN card, passport, college ID or bank passbook with photograph.
• PwD/PwBD certificate, if you are claiming relaxation or a scribe.
• Marriage certificate or name-change document, if your name has changed.
• A simple ball point pen.

Items not allowed

• Any paper, stationery, pencil box, calculator or log table.
• Mobile phone, earphones, Bluetooth devices or health bands.
• Watches, wallets, belts, caps, goggles, handbags, jewellery or any metal item.
• Food items and water bottles.

Dress code

• Wear simple, comfortable clothes. Heavy, layered or large-pocket clothes may be frisked more.
• Slippers and low-heel sandals are allowed. Heavy shoes are not.
• Candidates in cultural or customary dress should report early for frisking.

Preparation Tips for UGC NET December 2026

There are about nine weeks left before the exam. Use them well:

• Do not ignore Paper 1: it carries 100 marks and is the same for everyone. Reasoning, comprehension and teaching aptitude are easy to score in with practice.
• Follow the official syllabus: download your subject's syllabus from the UGC website and cover it unit by unit.
• Solve previous papers: practise full 3-hour mock tests covering both papers together, since there is no break.
• Attempt every question: there is no negative marking, so never leave a question blank.
• Apply early: do not wait for October 28. Website traffic is heavy on the last days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. When is the UGC NET December 2026 exam?

The exam will be held from December 14 to December 19, 2026, in CBT mode. December 20 and 21 are buffer days.

Q2. What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?

October 28, 2026, up to 11:50 PM. With a ₹500 late fee, you can apply from October 29 to October 31, 2026.

Q3. What is the UGC NET December 2026 application fee?

₹1,150 for General, ₹600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL, and ₹325 for SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender candidates.

Q4. Is there negative marking in UGC NET December 2026?

No. Each correct answer gets 2 marks and there is no deduction for wrong answers.

Q5. What is the age limit for UGC NET JRF 2026?

30 years as on December 1, 2026, with up to 5 years' relaxation for reserved categories and women. There is no age limit for Assistant Professor or Ph.D. admission.

Q6. Can final-year Master's students apply?

Yes. They are admitted provisionally and must complete their Master's with the required marks within two years of the result (one year for Ph.D.-only qualification).

Q7. Can 4-year UG graduates become Assistant Professor through UGC NET?

No. Candidates who qualify on the basis of a 4-year UG degree are eligible only for JRF and Ph.D. admission.

Q8. When is the UGC NET December 2026 correction window?

November 2 to November 4, 2026, up to 11:50 PM.

Q9. What is the NTA helpline for UGC NET?

Call 011-40759000 between 10 AM and 5 PM, or email ugcnet@nta.ac.in.