The National Testing Agency (NTA), on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has released the official Information Bulletin and online application form for the UGC-NET December 2026 examination. This national-level test determines the eligibility of Indian nationals for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to Ph.D. programmes across Indian universities and colleges.
The online registration window opened on October 08, 2026, and candidates can submit their forms without a late fee until October 28, 2026. Additionally, NTA has provided a special late submission window from October 29 to October 31, 2026, with an additional late fee. The Computer Based Test (CBT) for 87 subjects is scheduled to be conducted from December 14 to December 19, 2026.
UGC NET December 2026 Highlights
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Examination Name | UGC-NET December 2026 |
| Exam Purpose | JRF, Assistant Professor Eligibility & Ph.D. Admission |
| Total Subjects | 87 Subjects |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Online Application Dates | October 08 to October 28, 2026 (Without Late Fee) |
| Late Fee Application Window | October 29 to October 31, 2026 |
| CBT Exam Dates | December 14 to December 19, 2026 |
| Official Website | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
UGC NET December 2026 Important Dates
Candidates applying for the December 2026 cycle should carefully note the registration deadlines, late fee window, form correction dates, and proposed examination schedule listed below.
- Online Registration Start Date: October 08, 2026
- Last Date to Apply Online (Without Late Fee): October 28, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
- Last Date for Fee Payment (Without Late Fee): October 28, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
- Online Application with Late Fee (₹500 Extra): October 29 to October 31, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
- Last Date for Fee Payment with Late Fee: October 31, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
- Application Form Correction Window: November 02 to November 04, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
- Exam City Intimation Slip: To be announced later
- Admit Card Release Date: To be announced later
- UGC NET December 2026 Exam Dates: December 14 to December 19, 2026 (Buffer Dates: December 20 & 21, 2026)
UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee
Applicants must pay the category-wise examination fee online. Candidates submitting their forms between October 29 and October 31, 2026, will need to pay an additional late fee of ₹500 over and above the regular application fee.
- General / Unreserved Category: ₹1,150/-
- General-EWS / OBC (NCL) Category: ₹600/-
- SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender: ₹325/-
- Late Submission Fee (29 Oct to 31 Oct 2026): ₹500/- Extra
- Payment Mode: Online through Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI via SBI, Canara Bank, or Union Bank payment gateways.
UGC NET December 2026 Eligibility Categories
Through the UGC-NET score, candidates qualify under three distinct categories depending on their aggregate performance and chosen preferences in the application form.
| Qualifying 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 |
UGC NET Educational Qualification 2026
Candidates must meet the academic requirements prescribed by the University Grants Commission to appear in the test:
- Master’s Degree Holders: Candidates from General, Unreserved, and General-EWS categories must have secured at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in their Master’s Degree or equivalent examination from a UGC-recognized university. A 5% relaxation (minimum 50% marks) is given to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, and Third Gender candidates.
- Appearing / Final Year PG Students: Candidates currently pursuing their Master’s degree or awaiting their final year examination results can also apply provisionally.
- 4-Year Bachelor’s Degree Holders: Candidates who have passed a 4-Year / 8-Semester Bachelor’s Degree programme with a minimum of 75% aggregate marks (70% marks for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD categories) are eligible to apply for JRF and Admission to Ph.D. only. Note that 4-year undergraduate degree holders are not eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor.
UGC NET December 2026 Age Limit
The age limit is calculated as on December 01, 2026, and varies based on the category applied for:
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Not more than 30 years as on December 01, 2026.
- Age Relaxation for JRF: Up to 5 years of upper age relaxation is provided to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third Gender, and all Female candidates. Candidates with documented research experience or armed forces service also receive up to 5 years of relaxation, while L.L.M. degree holders get 3 years of relaxation.
- Assistant Professor & Ph.D. Admission Only: There is no upper age limit in applying for UGC-NET for Assistant Professor or Admission to Ph.D.
UGC NET Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme 2026
The examination will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode consisting of two compulsory papers held in a single three-hour session without any break.
| Paper | Subject / Assessment Area | Total Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Paper I | Teaching & Research Aptitude, Reasoning, Comprehension, and General Awareness | 50 MCQs | 100 Marks | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) without break |
| Paper II | Domain Subject Selected by the Candidate (Out of 87 Subjects) | 100 MCQs | 200 Marks | |
| Total | 150 Questions | 300 Marks | 180 Minutes | |
- Medium of Question Paper: English and Hindi only (except for specific language papers).
- Marking Scheme: Each correct answer carries 2 marks (+2).
- Negative Marking: There is no negative marking for incorrect responses or unattempted questions.
How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026
Eligible candidates can submit their online application through the official NTA portal by following the steps below:
- Visit the official UGC-NET website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the registration link for UGC-NET December 2026 and authenticate your profile via the Meri Pehchaan (DigiLocker / Aadhaar / PAN) Single Sign-On portal.
- Complete the online registration using your active Email ID and Mobile Number to generate your unique Application Number.
- Log in and fill out the detailed application form, including personal details, APAAR ID, subject code selection, four preferred exam cities, and educational qualification details.
- Capture a live photograph using your webcam or mobile QR scan (80% face visibility without a mask against a light background).
- Upload scanned copies of your recent passport-size photograph (10 KB to 200 KB in JPG/JPEG format), signature (10 KB to 50 KB in JPG/JPEG format), and PwD/UDID certificate if applicable (50 KB to 300 KB in PDF format).
- Pay the required examination fee online via Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
- Download and print the final Confirmation Page for future reference.
Important Links
- Apply Online for UGC NET December 2026: Click Here
- Check Corrigendum Notice: Click Here
- Download Bulletin: Click Here
- Download Notification: Click Here
- Official Website: Click Here
- For More Govt Job Updates: Visit www.placementstore.com