UGC NET December 2026 Notification: Eligibility, Exam Dates, Fee and How to Apply
Good news for every post-graduate who dreams of teaching in a college or doing a PhD. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the UGC NET December 2026 notification on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). This is not a job with a fixed number of posts. It is a national eligibility test in 87 subjects that can make you eligible for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), for appointment as Assistant Professor, and for PhD admission in Indian universities and colleges. If you want a career in teaching and faculty jobs, this test is your entry ticket.
Online applications are open from 08 October 2026 to 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM). The exam is planned for 14 to 19 December 2026, but NTA has said these dates are tentative. You need a Master’s degree with 55% marks (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, Third gender); final-year students may apply. In this article we cover eligibility, age limit, exam pattern, fee and every rule that can cancel your candidature. Keep following GovtJobsAlert.in for every NET update.
What Are the UGC NET December 2026 Key Highlights?
NTA is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education that conducts national entrance and eligibility tests. For UGC NET, it handles the full process — application, admit card, exam and result — while UGC decides the qualifying criteria.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UGC NET December 2026 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| On Behalf Of | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
| Purpose | JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD admission |
| Vacancies | Not applicable – eligibility test |
| Subjects | 87 |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) only |
| Application Window | 08 October 2026 to 28 October 2026 |
| Exam Dates (tentative) | 14 December 2026 to 19 December 2026 |
| Exam Location | Exam cities across India |
What Are the UGC NET December 2026 Qualifying Categories?
There are no posts or seats here, so there is no vacancy table. Instead, your result places you in one of three categories, and each opens a different door.
| Category | JRF / Assistant Professor | PhD Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1: Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor | JRF: Yes / Assistant Professor: Yes | Yes |
| Category 2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD | JRF: No / Assistant Professor: Yes | Yes |
| Category 3: Admission to PhD only | JRF: No / Assistant Professor: No | Yes |
Candidates who qualify only under Category 2 or Category 3 will not be considered for the award of JRF. So choose your options in the form thoughtfully. Assistant Professor eligibility is still governed by the recruitment rules of the university, college or state government that hires you.
What Is the Eligibility Criteria for UGC NET December 2026?
Educational Qualification
| Candidate | Requirement |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved / General-EWS | Master’s degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks (without rounding off) from a UGC-recognised university or institution |
| OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender | Master’s degree or equivalent with at least 50% marks (without rounding off) |
| PhD holders (Master’s completed by 19 September 1991) | 5% relaxation in aggregate marks (55% to 50%) |
| 4-year / 8-semester bachelor’s degree | Minimum 75% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade (5% relaxation for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, Differently-Abled, EWS and other categories as per UGC) |
| Final-year Master’s students or result awaited | May apply provisionally |
| Last semester / year of a 4-year bachelor’s degree | May apply provisionally |
If you hold a post-graduate degree, you are the main audience for this test. Appear in the subject of your Post-Graduation. If your subject is not in the NET list, you may appear in a related subject.
A few rules here matter a lot. If you qualify on the basis of a four-year undergraduate degree, you become eligible for JRF and PhD admission, but you will not be eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor. Four-year degree holders may pick any NET subject in which they want to do a PhD.
Provisional candidates must finish their Master’s with the required percentage within two years of the NET result — within one year if they qualify for PhD admission only — failing which they shall be treated as disqualified. The same one-year and two-year limits apply to students in the last year of a four-year bachelor’s degree.
Third gender candidates get the same relaxation in fee, age and eligibility as SC, ST, PwD and PwBD candidates. State-list OBC candidates who are not in the Central OBC-NCL list must choose General / Unreserved. Candidates with a foreign qualification or an Indian Post-Graduate diploma should confirm its equivalence before applying.
Age Limit
| Purpose | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| JRF | Not more than 30 years as on 01 December 2026 |
| Assistant Professor | No upper age limit |
| PhD admission | No upper age limit |
The JRF age limit can be relaxed on these grounds:
| Ground | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC-NCL (Central list), SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender | Up to 5 years |
| Women applicants | Up to 5 years |
| Research experience in the relevant subject (certificate required) | Period spent on research, maximum 5 years |
| LL.M. degree holders | 3 years |
| Service in the armed forces (up to 01 December 2026) | Up to 5 years |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including any age relaxation you qualify for. →
Remember one thing: the total age relaxation shall not exceed five years under any circumstances, even if you fall under more than one ground. Research done towards your graduation or post-graduation degree does not count for this relaxation.
What Do You Get After Qualifying UGC NET December 2026?
Qualifying NET does not come with a salary from NTA. What it gives you is eligibility:
- JRF qualifiers can receive a UGC fellowship under various schemes, subject to finding a placement in a university, IIT or institution. The JRF offer is valid for three years from the date of the JRF Award Letter. The bulletin does not state the fellowship amount.
- Assistant Professor eligibility lets you apply for teaching posts, as per the hiring institution’s rules.
- PhD admission: NET can be used in place of separate university entrance tests.
For Category 2 and Category 3 qualifiers, your NET marks stay valid for PhD admission for one year from the result date.
What Is the UGC NET December 2026 Exam Pattern and Selection Process?
The exam is a single sitting of 3 hours (180 minutes) with no break between the two papers. All questions are objective, multiple-choice and compulsory.
| Paper | Questions / Marks | What It Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | 50 / 100 | Teaching and research aptitude, reasoning, reading comprehension, divergent thinking, general awareness |
| Paper II | 100 / 200 | Your chosen subject (domain knowledge) |
| Total | 150 / 300 | 3 hours, no break |
Each correct answer gets 2 marks, and the bulletin clearly says there is no negative marking. The paper is in English and Hindi (except language papers), and your medium choice cannot be changed once made. You can download the subject-wise UGC NET syllabus and start revising early.
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum marks | 40% aggregate in both papers for General / General-EWS; 35% for all reserved categories |
| Assistant Professor slots | 6% of candidates who appeared in both papers, allotted by category as per reservation policy |
| JRF slots | Allotted as per the Government of India reservation policy |
| PhD-only qualifiers | Number decided by the results committee |
| Result format | Percentile with marks / normalised marks |
| PhD admission (Categories 2 and 3) | 70% weightage to NET marks + 30% to interview / viva voce by the university |
| PhD admission (JRF) | Interview as per UGC PhD Regulations, 2022 |
UGC’s decision on the qualifying criteria is final and binding.
How to Apply Online for UGC NET December 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit the official UGC NET application portal (link in Essential Links below) |
| 2 | Register with your own email ID and mobile number (registration runs through the Meri Pehchaan single sign-on) |
| 3 | Fill the application form, note your Application Number, capture a live photograph, and upload your photo (10 KB–200 KB), signature (10 KB–50 KB) and, if applicable, Disability / UDID certificate (PDF, 50 KB–300 KB) |
| 4 | Pay the fee online through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI, and keep proof of payment |
| 5 | Submit, then download and print the Confirmation Page |
Your form is complete only after Step 3 and the fee payment succeed — otherwise it stands rejected. Submit only one application. You do not need to post any documents to NTA, but keep your Master’s marksheet and, for PwD/PwBD, your UDID or disability certificate ready, because eligibility can be checked at any stage.
What Are the UGC NET December 2026 Important Dates?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Public notice released | 08 October 2026 |
| Online application | 08 October 2026 to 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Last date for fee payment | 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Late submission with late fee | 29 October 2026 to 31 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Correction window | 02 November 2026 to 04 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Exam city intimation | To be intimated later |
| Admit card | To be intimated later |
| Exam dates (tentative) | 14 December 2026 to 19 December 2026 |
| Buffer dates (per bulletin) | 20 December 2026 to 21 December 2026 |
| Answer key and result | To be announced later |
NTA says these dates are tentative and candidates will be informed of any change.
What Is the UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | ₹1,150 |
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹600 |
| SC / ST / Third Gender | ₹325 |
| PwD / PwBD | ₹325 |
| Late submission (29–31 October 2026) | ₹500 late fee |
Pay online by Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI. Bank service charges and GST are extra. Fee once paid is not refunded under any circumstances.
Which UGC NET 2026 Rules Can Cancel Your Candidature?
| Condition | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Not following the Information Bulletin | You shall be summarily disqualified |
| Ineligibility found at any stage | Candidature cancelled, and you may face legal action |
| Admit card issued | Issue of an admit card does not necessarily mean acceptance of eligibility — it is scrutinised again at admission |
| No valid admit card and authorised photo ID at the centre | You shall not be permitted to take the examination under any circumstances |
| Changes to particulars or uploaded scanned images after the correction window | Requests will not be considered |
| Email ID and mobile number not your own | NTA is not responsible for any non-communication or miscommunication |
| PwD/PwBD claims after the correction window | Not entertained once the window closes |
| Appearing in more than one shift using false information | Candidature cancelled and result not declared |
| Unable to appear on your scheduled date | No re-test under any circumstances |
| Unfair means | Result cancelled; debarment from public examinations for up to 3 years and criminal action |
| Writing from a centre other than the allotted one | Result cancelled |
| Answer key challenges | ₹200 per answer key challenged (non-refundable); only paid challenges made in time through the prescribed link are considered |
UGC NET December 2026 Essential Links
- Download UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin (PDF)
- Download NTA Public Notice of 08 October 2026 – UGC NET December 2026 (PDF)
- Apply Online for UGC NET December 2026
- Visit UGC NET December Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
If you have your Master’s degree or are in its final year, don’t let this chance slip away. Apply before 28 October 2026 so you avoid the ₹500 late fee and last-day server rush, then start Paper I practice right away with previous year papers. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for the UGC NET admit card, answer key and result updates.