NTA UGC NET December 2026 Cycle Online Application Form

NTA UGC NET December 2026 Cycle: Overview

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the official notification for the UGC NET December 2026 Cycle. The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is conducted to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for 'Award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and appointment as Assistant Professor', 'Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D.', and 'Admission to Ph.D. only' in Indian Universities and Colleges.

Eligible and interested candidates possessing a Master's Degree can submit their online application forms through the official website between September 12, 2026, and October 15, 2026. Detailed information regarding eligibility criteria, age limits, examination fees, pattern, and application procedure is provided below.

Important Dates

Event / Activity	Date
Notification Release Date	September 12, 2026
Online Application Begin	September 12, 2026
Last Date for Apply Online	October 15, 2026
Application Form Window	September 12, 2026 to October 15, 2026
Last Date for Fee Payment	October 16, 2026
Correction Window Dates	To be announced
Exam Date / Examination Window	December 05, 2026 to December 20, 2026

Application Fee

Candidates can pay the examination fee online using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI payment gateways.

• General / Unreserved: ₹1,150/-
• General-EWS / OBC-NCL: ₹600/-
• SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender: ₹325/-

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• Candidates must have secured at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in Master's Degree or equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC.
• Candidates belonging to SC / ST / OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) / PwD / Third Gender categories require a minimum of 50% marks in their Master's Degree.
• Candidates who are pursuing their Master's degree or equivalent course, or those who have appeared for their qualifying final year examination and whose result is still awaited, may also apply provisionally.

Age Limit & Relaxations

Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)

• Maximum Age: Not more than 30 years as on the specified cutoff date.
• Age Relaxation:
  • OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, and Women applicants: Up to 5 years relaxation.
  • Candidates with research experience or LL.M. degree: Applicable relaxation as per NTA/UGC guidelines.

Assistant Professor & Ph.D. Admission

• Upper Age Limit: There is No Upper Age Limit for applying for Assistant Professor or Ph.D. admission.

Selection Process

The UGC NET December 2026 examination will be conducted as a Computer Based Test (CBT) consisting of two papers. Both papers will contain objective-type, multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

Paper	Marks	Number of Questions	Duration
Paper I (Teaching & Research Aptitude)	100	50	3 Hours (180 Minutes) Continuous without break
Paper II (Subject Chosen by Candidate)	200	100

• Marking Scheme: Each correct answer carries 2 marks.
• Negative Marking: There is no negative marking for incorrect responses.

How to Apply for NTA UGC NET December 2026

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to fill out the UGC NET online application form correctly:

1. Visit the official portal of NTA UGC NET.
2. Click on the "New Registration" link for the December 2026 Cycle and read the instructions carefully.
3. Fill in your basic details (Name, Father's Name, Mother's Name, Date of Birth, Email ID, and Mobile Number) to generate your Application Number and Password.
4. Log in using your system-generated Application Number and Password.
5. Fill out the complete Personal, Educational, and Subject Choice details in the application form.
6. Upload scanned copies of required documents:
   • Recent passport-size photograph (in JPG/JPEG format, clear contrast).
   • Candidate's signature (in JPG/JPEG format).
   • Category / PwD Certificate (if applicable, in PDF format).
7. Review all details entered in the application form carefully before final submission.
8. Pay the requisite application fee using online payment methods.
9. Download and print a copy of the final Confirmation Page for future reference.