The UGC NET December 2026 examination will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The examination determines eligibility for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and appointment as Assistant Professor, appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D., or admission to Ph.D. only in Indian universities and colleges.

According to the official notification dated 8 October 2026, online registration for UGC NET December 2026 commenced on 8 October 2026. The regular application window closes on 28 October 2026, while applications with a late fee can be submitted from 29 October to 31 October 2026.

NTA will conduct the examination for 87 subjects in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The examination is scheduled from 14 December to 19 December 2026.

NTA has released the official public notice for UGC NET December 2026 dated 8 October 2026. The notice announces the opening of the online registration portal and specifies the application schedule, late-fee window, correction period, examination dates and category-wise examination fees.

The detailed UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin is also available. Candidates should read the bulletin carefully before filling out the application form, particularly the eligibility requirements, age limit, application instructions, subject codes and examination rules.

Download Official UGC NET Notification PDF

Download UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin

The following dates are provided in the official NTA public notice and December 2026 Information Bulletin.

The UGC NET December 2026 application form is available online through the official NTA UGC NET website. Candidates can submit their applications from 8 October to 28 October 2026. NTA has also provided a late application window from 29 October to 31 October 2026 with an additional late fee of ₹500.

Applications must be submitted online only. NTA will not accept application forms through any other mode. Candidates should submit only one application and use an accessible email address and mobile number belonging to themselves or their parents/guardians, as permitted in the public notice.

Apply Online – Official UGC NET Portal

Candidates should follow the instructions in the official December 2026 Information Bulletin. The application process is online and includes registration, completing the application form, uploading the required images and certificates where applicable, paying the fee and downloading the confirmation page.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Visit the official UGC NET website.
2. Read the Information Bulletin and check your eligibility and the subject codes.
3. Complete online registration using your email ID and mobile number through the registration system, including Meri Pehchaan where prompted.
4. Fill in the application form carefully and note the system-generated Application Number.
5. Capture and upload the required live photograph and upload the scanned photograph and signature as instructed.
6. Upload the disability/UDID certificate in the prescribed format if applicable.
7. Select the appropriate UGC NET subject, category, examination medium and examination-city preferences.
8. Pay the examination fee using an available payment method, such as debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.
9. Check that the fee transaction is successful and that the application is complete.
10. Download and save the Confirmation Page for future reference.

Photograph and Signature Requirements

• The photograph must follow the specifications in the Information Bulletin, with approximately 80% of the face visible, including the ears, without a mask, against a white background.
• The scanned photograph file size specified in the bulletin is 10 KB–200 KB.
• The signature file size specified in the bulletin is 10 KB–50 KB.
• PwD/PwBD candidates should follow the specified instructions for uploading a disability certificate or UDID document, where applicable.

Candidates must satisfy the eligibility requirements specified in the official UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin.

Educational Qualification for Master's Degree Candidates

• General/Unreserved and General-EWS: At least 55% marks, without rounding off, in a Master's degree or equivalent examination from a recognized university/institution.
• OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender: At least 50% marks, without rounding off, in a Master's degree or equivalent examination.
• Candidates pursuing their Master's degree, those who have appeared in the final-year examination with results awaited, and those whose qualifying examinations have been delayed may apply provisionally, subject to the conditions in the Information Bulletin.
• Provisional candidates must obtain the prescribed qualifying marks within the stipulated period after the NET result. The applicable period depends on the qualifying category.
• Candidates are generally advised to appear in the subject of their postgraduate qualification. If the postgraduate subject is not included among the NET subjects, candidates may select a related subject as permitted by the bulletin.

Eligibility for Four-Year Bachelor's Degree Candidates

• Candidates who have completed or are pursuing a four-year/eight-semester bachelor's degree programme must meet the prescribed minimum of 75% aggregate marks or equivalent grade.
• A relaxation of 5% may be available to the categories specified in the Information Bulletin, including SC/ST/OBC-NCL, differently-abled and EWS candidates, subject to the applicable rules.
• Candidates qualifying through a four-year undergraduate degree can be eligible for JRF and Ph.D. admission under the applicable conditions.
• Such candidates are not eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor on the basis of this four-year bachelor's degree qualification.
• Four-year bachelor's degree candidates may select the subject in which they wish to pursue a Ph.D., irrespective of the discipline of their bachelor's degree, subject to the bulletin's provisions.

UGC NET Age Limit for JRF

For the December 2026 examination, the upper age limit for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is 30 years as on 1 December 2026, subject to the prescribed relaxations.

• Relaxation of up to 5 years is available for specified categories, including OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third Gender and women applicants, according to the bulletin.
• Eligible candidates may receive age relaxation for research experience, subject to the prescribed conditions and maximum limits.
• Three years' relaxation is specified for candidates with an LL.M. degree.
• Eligible candidates who have served in the armed forces may receive relaxation subject to the prescribed rules.

Age Limit for Assistant Professor and Ph.D. Admission

• Assistant Professor: There is no upper age limit for applying for UGC NET.
• Ph.D. Admission: There is no upper age limit for applying for UGC NET for Ph.D. admission.

UGC NET Qualification Categories

According to the December 2026 Information Bulletin, the UGC NET examination will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The test consists of two sections containing objective-type multiple-choice questions.

Paper I: Teaching and Research Aptitude

Paper I assesses teaching and research aptitude. It primarily evaluates reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness.

Paper II: Subject-Specific Knowledge

Paper II assesses domain knowledge in the subject selected by the candidate. Candidates should consult the official subject list and syllabus before completing their application.

UGC NET Marking Scheme

• Each question carries 2 marks.
• Each correct response earns 2 marks.
• There is no negative marking for an incorrect response.
• No marks are awarded for unanswered questions or questions marked for review.
• All questions are compulsory.

Medium of Question Paper

The question paper is provided in English and Hindi, except for language papers. Candidates must carefully select the examination medium in the application form. The option cannot be changed after it is exercised, as specified in the bulletin.

The UGC NET December 2026 examination covers 87 subjects. The syllabus consists of Paper I, which assesses teaching and research aptitude, and Paper II, which assesses knowledge of the candidate's selected subject.

Paper I Syllabus

Paper I tests teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness. Candidates should prepare using the official syllabus rather than relying solely on unofficial summaries.

Paper II Syllabus

Paper II is subject-specific. Candidates should select the appropriate NET subject code and refer to the official syllabus for that subject before starting their preparation.

The Information Bulletin states that the syllabi for NET subjects can be downloaded from the UGC syllabus website. NTA does not provide a printed copy of the syllabus to candidates.

View Official UGC NET Syllabus

Check December 2026 Information Bulletin & Subject Codes

The official December 2026 Information Bulletin specifies the following category-wise examination fees.

Late Application Fee

Candidates submitting the application during the late window from 29 October to 31 October 2026 must pay an additional late fee of ₹500, along with the applicable examination fee.

Applications and payments must be completed within the applicable deadlines. Candidates should check the payment status and download the Confirmation Page after successful submission.

Keep the following information and files ready before completing the online application. The exact requirements and file specifications in the Information Bulletin should be followed.

• Accessible email address and mobile number.
• Personal details, including name, date of birth and parents' names.
• Postgraduate qualification and marks details, wherever applicable.
• Category details and relevant certificates, where applicable.
• EWS certificate details, where applicable.
• PwD/PwBD or UDID certificate, where applicable.
• Recent photograph and live photograph captured during the application process.
• Scanned signature.
• Selected subject, question paper medium and examination-city preferences.
• Payment method for the examination fee.

• Apply only through the official UGC NET website.
• The regular application deadline is 28 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM.
• The late application window is 29–31 October 2026, with an additional late fee of ₹500.
• The regular examination fee payment deadline is 28 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM.
• Fee payment with the late application must be completed by 31 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM.
• The correction window is scheduled for 2–4 November 2026. Only changes permitted by NTA can be made during this period.
• Submit only one application form.
• Enter personal and educational details carefully. NTA states that requests for changes after the correction period will not be entertained.
• Use your own or your parents'/guardians' accessible email address and mobile number, as allowed in the notice.
• Capture the required live photograph and upload the prescribed images and certificates.
• Download and preserve the Confirmation Page after successful fee payment.
• The examination is scheduled from 14 to 19 December 2026. The examination centre, date and shift assigned to a candidate will be indicated on the admit card.
• Exam city intimation, admit card, answer key and result dates will be announced separately.

Has the UGC NET December 2026 notification been released?

Yes. NTA released the public notice for UGC NET December 2026 on 8 October 2026. The Information Bulletin is also available on the official website.

When did UGC NET December 2026 registration start?

Online registration started on 8 October 2026.

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

The regular application deadline is 28 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM. The late application window runs from 29 October to 31 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM on the final day, with an additional late fee of ₹500.

What is the UGC NET December 2026 examination date?

The examination is scheduled from 14 December to 19 December 2026.

What is the UGC NET December 2026 application fee?

The examination fee is ₹1,150 for General/Unreserved candidates, ₹600 for General-EWS/OBC-NCL candidates, and ₹325 for SC/ST/Third Gender and PwD/PwBD candidates. Applicable service charges and GST are extra.

What is the late fee for UGC NET December 2026?

The official notice specifies an additional late fee of ₹500 for applications submitted during 29–31 October 2026.

When is the UGC NET December 2026 correction window?

The correction window is scheduled from 2 November to 4 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM on 4 November.

What is the educational qualification for UGC NET?

Generally, candidates need at least 55% marks in a Master's degree or equivalent qualification for General/Unreserved and General-EWS categories, and 50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender categories, subject to the detailed eligibility rules. Separate provisions apply to candidates with four-year bachelor's degrees.

What is the age limit for UGC NET JRF?

The upper age limit for JRF is 30 years as on 1 December 2026, subject to the relaxations specified in the Information Bulletin. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or Ph.D. admission through UGC NET.

How many questions are there in UGC NET?

UGC NET consists of 150 compulsory multiple-choice questions: 50 questions in Paper I and 100 questions in Paper II. The examination carries 300 marks and lasts 180 minutes without a break.

Is there negative marking in UGC NET?

No. According to the December 2026 Information Bulletin, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

How many subjects are included in UGC NET December 2026?

NTA will conduct UGC NET December 2026 for 87 subjects. Candidates should consult the official subject list and syllabus before selecting their subject.

When will the UGC NET December 2026 admit card be released?

The admit card release date has not yet been announced. Candidates should check the official UGC NET website for updates.

Where can I download the UGC NET December 2026 notification and brochure?

The official public notice and Information Bulletin are available through the PDF links provided below.

Check Official UGC NET Website

Use the official NTA and UGC resources below for the notification, application form, eligibility rules, syllabus, exam city intimation, admit card, answer key and result.

Download Official Notification PDF

Download Official Information Bulletin / Brochure

Official UGC NET Portal & Application Form

Official National Testing Agency Website

Official UGC NET Syllabus