UGC NET December 2026 Notification: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the revised notification for the UGC NET December 2026 examination. The online application process started on 8 October 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their application forms until 28 October 2026 through the official website.

As per the revised Information Bulletin, the UGC NET December 2026 examination will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from 14 December to 18 December 2026 and on 21 December 2026. The examination determines eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor positions and PhD admission, as applicable under the prescribed rules.

Candidates planning to appear for the examination should check the latest notification for eligibility requirements, important dates, application fees, exam pattern, syllabus and application instructions before submitting their forms.

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UGC NET December 2026 Notification Out

The UGC NET December 2026 notification has been released by the National Testing Agency. The examination is conducted to assess candidates seeking eligibility for academic and research opportunities in universities and colleges across India.

Click Here to Download UGC NET 2026 December Notification

UGC NET December 2026 Highlights

Particulars Details
Exam Name UGC NET December 2026
Conducting Authority National Testing Agency (NTA)
Examination Cycle December 2026
Application Mode Online
Application Start Date 8 October 2026
Last Date to Apply 28 October 2026
Examination Mode Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Dates 14–18 December and 21 December 2026
Papers Paper 1 and Paper 2
Total Questions 150
Total Marks 300
Examination Duration 3 hours
Official Website ugcnet.nta.nic.in

What’s New in the Revised UGC NET Notification?

The NTA issued a corrigendum to the UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin on 16 October 2026. The revised bulletin updates several examination-related details that candidates should review before appearing for the test.

Particulars Earlier Notification Revised Notification
Exam Dates 14–19 December 2026 (buffer dates: 20–21 December) 14–18 December and 21 December 2026
City Intimation Slip To be intimated later 23 November 2026
Admit Card Download To be intimated later 7 December 2026
Late Fee ₹500 late fee mentioned ₹500 is an additional late fee over and above the category-wise exam fee, applicable to all candidates
Fee Refund No refund under any circumstances No refund for a successful single payment; failed or duplicate transactions are refunded through a verified refund procedure
Correction Window No change accepted at any stage No change after the correction window closes, and only in NTA’s permitted fields
Medium of Paper Option once chosen cannot be changed Papers are bilingual (English and Hindi), except language papers
City Choice Four cities from the permanent or present address state only If fewer than four cities are available in the state, candidates can choose from the cities shown. Preferences can be revised in the correction window.
Evaluation of Questions No marks for unanswered, unattempted or marked-for-review questions Answered or attempted questions are evaluated even if marked for review. Unanswered questions are not evaluated.
Result Format Result in percentile with marks or normalised marks Result in marks along with a Percentile Score
Qualification and Cut-off Based on percentile (lowest percentile as cut-off in multi-shift cases) Based on aggregate marks of Paper I and Paper II (normalised marks for multi-shift subjects). The Percentile Score is shown on the scorecard but not used for cut-offs.
Answer Key Challenge Fee ₹200 per answer key ₹200 per question challenged
PwD/PwBD Certificates One general certificate rule Separate rules by disability type and level: UDID or disability certificate for blindness, locomotor disability (both arms) and cerebral palsy; Annexure VI for 40% or more disability with writing limitation; Annexure VIII for below 40% with writing limitation
Pen Pen listed as a barred item Pen is provided at the centre; candidates need not bring one
Gate Closing Late reporting not allowed Gates close before the exam begins. Late reporting is not allowed, and forceful entry or arguing with staff may be treated as unfair means.
Footwear Slippers and low-heeled sandals allowed; heavy shoes not allowed Normal shoes, slippers and low-heeled sandals allowed; long boots not allowed
Diabetic Candidates No provision Sugar tablets and unpacked whole fruits (banana, apple, orange) allowed
Drinking Water Water barred Water in transparent bottles allowed for all candidates

UGC NET December 2026 Important Dates

Candidates should keep track of the application deadline and examination schedule to avoid missing any important event.

Event Date
Application Form Start Date 8 October 2026
Last Date to Apply Online 28 October 2026
Examination City Intimation Slip Refer to revised official bulletin
Admit Card Release Date Refer to revised official bulletin
UGC NET December 2026 Exam Dates 14–18 December and 21 December 2026
Result Declaration To be announced

UGC NET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must meet the educational qualification and other eligibility conditions prescribed by the NTA to apply for the UGC NET December 2026 examination.

Educational Qualification

Applicants should have a master’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university or institution, subject to the eligibility requirements specified in the official bulletin.

UGC NET 2026 Age Limit

The age criteria differ depending on whether candidates are applying for Junior Research Fellowship or Assistant Professor eligibility.

Category Age Limit
Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) Maximum 30 years, subject to applicable relaxations
Assistant Professor No upper age limit

UGC NET December 2026 Application Form

The online application process for UGC NET December 2026 began on 8 October 2026. Eligible candidates can submit their forms until 28 October 2026 through the official website. Below is the UGC NET Apply Link 2026:

UGC NET Apply Link 2026

How to Apply for the UGC NET December 2026 Exam?

Follow these steps to complete the UGC NET online application process:

  1. Visit the official website at https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/.
  2. Open the UGC NET December 2026 application link.
  3. Complete the registration process using the required personal details.
  4. Log in with the generated credentials.
  5. Fill in the application form with your educational qualifications and other requested information.
  6. Upload your photograph, signature and other required documents in the prescribed format.
  7. Pay the application fee through an available online payment method.
  8. Review all the information entered in the form.
  9. Submit the application and download the confirmation page.
  10. Keep a copy of the submitted form and payment receipt for future reference.

UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee

Candidates must pay the prescribed examination fee to complete the application process. The applicable fee may vary according to the candidate’s category.

Category Application Fee
General (Unreserved) ₹1,150
General-EWS / OBC-NCL ₹600
SC / ST / PwD / Transgender ₹325

UGC NET 2026 Exam Pattern

The UGC NET December 2026 examination will be conducted online through Computer-Based Test mode. The examination consists of two compulsory papers, conducted in a single three-hour session without a break.

Both papers contain multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Candidates receive two marks for each correct answer, and there is no negative marking for incorrect responses.

Feature Paper 1 Paper 2
Type Common for All Subject-Specific
Number of Questions 50 100
Total Marks 100 200
Duration 1 Hour 2 Hours
Question Type MCQs MCQs
Negative Marking No No
Marks per Correct Answer +2 +2

UGC NET 2026 Syllabus: Paper 1 and Paper 2

The UGC NET syllabus is divided into two papers designed to assess general teaching and research aptitude alongside subject-specific knowledge.

Unit Paper 1 – Common for All Candidates:
Unit 1 Teaching Aptitude
Unit 2 Research Aptitude
Unit 3 Reading Comprehension
Unit 4 Communication
Unit 5 Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
Unit 6 Logical Reasoning
Unit 7 Data Interpretation
Unit 8 Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Unit 9 People, Development, and Environment
Unit 10 Higher Education System: Governance, Polity and Administration

Paper 2 Syllabus

Subject-specific syllabus based on the subject chosen by the candidate during the application process. There are 85 subjects in total.

UGC NET December 2026 Exam Day Guidelines

Candidates should read the examination instructions carefully before appearing for the UGC NET December 2026 test. The revised bulletin contains clarifications regarding reporting, entry procedures and conduct at examination centres.

Particulars Revised Instruction
Pen Provided at the centre; candidates need not bring one
Reporting Time Gates close before the exam begins; no late entry
Footwear Normal shoes, slippers and low-heeled sandals allowed; long boots not allowed
Drinking Water Transparent bottles allowed for all candidates
Diabetic Candidates Sugar tablets and unpacked whole fruits (banana, apple, orange) allowed

UGC NET Assistant Professor Salary 2026

Candidates who qualify for UGC NET may become eligible to apply for Assistant Professor positions, subject to the applicable recruitment rules and institutional requirements.Under the commonly applicable UGC pay framework, the entry-level Assistant Professor position is associated with Academic Pay Level 10, with a prescribed entry pay of ₹57,700 per month under the relevant pay matrix.

UGC NET 2026 Result and Cut-Off Criteria

The UGC NET December 2026 result will be announced by the NTA after the examination and evaluation process. Candidates will be able to check their results through the official website once the result link is activated.

Link Description  Direct Link
Apply Online Click Here
Official Notification Click Here
Revised Information Bulletin Click Here
Exam City Information Slip Click Here
Admit Card Click Here
Official Website Click Here

UGC NET December 2026 FAQs

Q1. Has the UGC NET December 2026 notification been released?

Yes. According to the details provided in the revised notification, the NTA released the UGC NET December 2026 notification.

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

The last date to submit the online application form is 28 October 2026.

Q3. When will the UGC NET December 2026 examination be conducted?

The examination is scheduled for 14 December to 18 December 2026 and 21 December 2026.

Q4. What is the official website for UGC NET 2026?

The official website is https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/.

Q5. What is the educational qualification for UGC NET?

Candidates generally require a master’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university, subject to the prescribed eligibility conditions. Certain candidates awaiting their final results may apply provisionally where permitted.

Q6. What is the age limit for UGC NET JRF?

The maximum age limit for JRF is 30 years, subject to the applicable age-relaxation rules.

Q7. Is there an upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility?

No. UGC NET does not prescribe an upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility.

Q8. How many questions are included in the UGC NET examination?

The examination consists of 150 questions: 50 in Paper 1 and 100 in Paper 2.

Q9. Is there negative marking in UGC NET 2026?

No. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers under the stated examination pattern.

Q10. How can candidates download the UGC NET admit card?

Candidates should visit the official UGC NET website and follow the admit card download instructions once the NTA releases the hall ticket.

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