UGC NET 2026 December Notification PDF - Summary
National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the detailed information bulletin and notification for the UGC NET December 2026 cycle on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Candidates aspiring for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor eligibility, and Ph.D. admissions in Indian universities and colleges can submit their online applications through the official NTA portal at ugcnet.nta.ac.in from October 8, 2026 to October 28, 2026. The Computer-Based Test (CBT) examination will be conducted between December 14 and December 19, 2026.
UGC NET December 2026 Notification – Overview
| Exam Conducting Agency | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Authority | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
| Exam Name | UGC National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) – December 2026 Cycle |
| Award / Eligibility Categories | 1. Award of JRF & Appointment as Assistant Professor 2. Appointment as Assistant Professor & Admission to Ph.D. 3. Admission to Ph.D. Only |
| Mode of Examination | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of Subjects | 83 Subjects |
| Registration Dates | 08 October 2026 to 28 October 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Exam Dates | 14 December 2026 to 19 December 2026 |
| Official Website | ugcnet.nta.ac.in / nta.ac.in |
Important Dates for UGC NET December 2026
| Event / Schedule | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Release of Official Notification | 08 October 2026 |
| Online Application Submission Starts | 08 October 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application Submission | 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Last Date for Successful Fee Payment | 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Application Submission with Late Fee (₹500) | 29 October 2026 to 31 October 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Application Correction Window | 02 November 2026 to 04 November 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Intimation of Examination City Slip | First week of December 2026 |
| Admit Card Release Date | Second week of December 2026 |
| Dates of Examination | 14 December 2026 to 19 December 2026 |
UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2026
1. Educational Qualifications
- Master’s Degree Holders: Candidates who have secured at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s Degree or equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC in Humanities, Social Sciences, Computer Science & Applications, Electronic Science, etc.
- Relaxation for Reserved Categories: Candidates belonging to OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) / SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender categories require at least 50% marks in Master’s degree or equivalent.
- Final Year / Awaiting Results: Candidates who are pursuing their Master’s degree or equivalent course or students waiting for results can also apply provisionally.
- Four-Year / 8-Semester Bachelor’s Degree: Candidates with a 4-year undergraduate degree with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate (70% for reserved categories) are eligible for JRF and admission to Ph.D.
2. Age Limit & Relaxation
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Not more than 30 years as of the first day of the month in which the examination is completed.
- Age Relaxation for JRF: Up to 5 years relaxation is admissible to candidates belonging to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, Third Gender categories, and Women applicants. Up to 5 years relaxation is also available for candidates with research experience and 3 years for LL.M. degree holders.
- Assistant Professor & Ph.D. Admission: There is no upper age limit for applying for Assistant Professor eligibility or Ph.D. admissions only.
Application Fee Details
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | ₹1,150/- |
| General-EWS / OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | ₹600/- |
| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender | ₹325/- |
The application fee can be paid through Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI payment gateways.
UGC NET December 2026 Exam Pattern
The examination will be held entirely in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode across two papers conducted in a single three-hour session without any break.
| Paper | Syllabus / Scope | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Teaching & Research Aptitude, Reasoning, Comprehension, Divergent Thinking, and General Awareness | 50 (all compulsory) | 100 | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) Continuous |
| Paper-II | Subject chosen by the candidate from 83 designated subjects | 100 (all compulsory) | 200 | |
| Total | Comprehensive Test | 150 Questions | 300 Marks | 180 Minutes |
- Marking Scheme: Each question carries 2 marks (+2 for each correct answer).
- Negative Marking: There is no negative marking for incorrect responses.
- Language Medium: The question paper is bilingual (English and Hindi) except for language specific papers.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026
- Visit Portal: Open the official UGC NET portal at ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
- New Registration: Click on the link “Application Form for UGC NET December 2026” and choose “New Candidate Register Here”. Fill in basic contact details, select a password, and note your generated Application Number.
- Complete Application Form: Sign in with your Application Number and Password. Enter personal details, educational qualifications, choice of category (JRF & Assistant Professor / Assistant Professor & Ph.D. / Ph.D. only), preferred subject, and examination center choices.
- Upload Documents: Upload scanned images of your passport photograph (10 kb to 200 kb) and signature (4 kb to 30 kb) in JPG/JPEG format as per NTA instructions.
- Pay Examination Fee: Pay the prescribed category application fee via SBI/Canara/ICICI/HDFC payment gateway using Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI.
- Download Confirmation Page: Download and print 3-4 copies of the Confirmation Page for future reference.
Important Official Links
| UGC NET 2026 Online Application Form | Apply Online Link |
| UGC NET Official Website | ugcnet.nta.ac.in |
| NTA Official Website | nta.ac.in |
