NTA UGC NET December 2026 Entrance & Eligibility Test

NTA UGC NET December 2026 Entrance & Eligibility Test

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the official notification for the UGC NET December 2026 Examination. The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is conducted to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the post of 'Assistant Professor' as well as 'Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor' in Indian Universities and Colleges.

Eligible and interested candidates holding a Master’s Degree or equivalent qualification can submit their applications online through the official portal before the deadline. Below are all the essential details regarding key dates, eligibility parameters, fee structure, exam pattern, and application instructions.

Exam Overview

Parameter	Details
Exam Name	UGC NET December 2026 Cycle
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Posts/Scope	Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) & Assistant Professor
Total Vacancies	Multiple Posts (Eligibility Test across 80+ subjects)
Mode of Application	Online
Exam Mode	Computer Based Test (CBT)

Important Dates

Event	Date
Application Start Date	20 August 2026
Registration Start Date	20 August 2026
Last Date to Apply Online	25 September 2026
Last Date for Fee Payment	25 September 2026
Exam Dates	05 December 2026 to 18 December 2026

Application Fee

Candidates must pay the application fee online using Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI options:

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

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• Candidates must possess a Master’s Degree or equivalent degree from a university recognized by UGC in Humanities, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Electronic Science, etc.
• General / General-EWS Candidates: Minimum 55% aggregate marks (without rounding off) in Master's degree.
• SC / ST / OBC (NCL) / PwD / Third Gender Candidates: Minimum 50% aggregate marks (without rounding off) in Master's degree.
• Candidates who are pursuing their Master’s degree or equivalent course, or those appearing for their final year examination, are also eligible to apply provisionally.

Age Limit (As of 01/12/2026)

• Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Maximum 30 Years. (Age relaxation of up to 5 years is applicable for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/Third Gender and Women applicants).
• Assistant Professor: No Upper Age Limit.

Selection Process

The selection is based entirely on the candidate’s performance in the Computer-Based Test (CBT), which comprises two papers:

• Paper I: 50 Questions (100 Marks) – Evaluates Teaching and Research Aptitude, General Awareness, Reasoning Ability, Comprehension, and Communication.
• Paper II: 100 Questions (200 Marks) – Based on the specific domain subject chosen by the candidate.
• Duration: 3 Hours (180 Minutes) without any break between Paper I and Paper II.
• Marking Scheme: Each correct answer carries 2 marks. There is no negative marking for incorrect responses.

Step-by-Step How to Apply

Follow these simple steps to complete your online registration for UGC NET December 2026:

• Visit the official portal of NTA UGC NET.
• Click on the 'Registration / Apply Online for UGC NET December 2026' link.
• Complete the initial registration process by entering your basic details (Name, Mobile Number, Email ID) to generate your Application Number and Password.
• Log in using your generated credentials and fill out the detailed Application Form (Personal Information, Educational Qualifications, Subject Choice, Exam Center Preferences).
• Upload scanned copies of required documents, including your passport-sized photograph and signature in the prescribed format and size.
• Pay the required Application Fee through the online payment gateway.
• Review all information carefully before final submission.
• Download and print a copy of the finalized Confirmation Page for future reference.