UGC NET December 2026 Notification Out: Apply Online, Exam Date

UGC NET December 2026 Notification Out: Apply Online, Exam Date

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the UGC NET December 2026 Notification for the December examination cycle. Eligible candidates can apply online for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) through the official examination portal.

According to the notification details provided for the December 2026 cycle, the online application process is scheduled from October 8 to October 28, 2026.

The UGC NET examination is conducted on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor, as well as for admission to Ph.D. programmes under the applicable UGC regulations. The NTA conducts the examination in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.

Candidates preparing for the December 2026 cycle should carefully check the official notification, eligibility conditions, subject requirements, application procedure and examination instructions before submitting the form.

UGC NET December 2026 Notification: Overview

• Exam: UGC NET December 2026
• Conducting Agency: National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Exam Authority: University Grants Commission (UGC)
• Examination Cycle: December 2026
• Application Mode: Online
• Notification Date: October 8, 2026
• Application Start Date: October 8, 2026
• Last Date to Apply: October 28, 2026
• Exam Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Proposed Examination Window: December 14 to 19, 2026
• Official Website: ugcnet.nta.ac.in

The December 2026 examination window of December 14–19, 2026 is also reflected in the NTA's 2026–27 examination calendar. The detailed subject-wise schedule and candidate-specific examination information are issued separately by NTA.

UGC NET December 2026 Notification Released

UGC NET is a national-level eligibility examination conducted by the NTA on behalf of the UGC.

The examination is used to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges. UGC-NET qualification can also be relevant for Ph.D. admission under the applicable regulations and categories.

The December 2026 cycle is the second regular UGC-NET examination cycle of the year.

UGC NET December 2026 Apply Online

The online application process for the December 2026 cycle is scheduled to begin on October 8, 2026.

Candidates should complete the application through the official NTA UGC-NET website and carefully enter their personal, academic and examination-related information.

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day because incomplete applications, unsuccessful fee transactions or technical problems near the deadline can create difficulties.

UGC NET December 2026 Application Dates

According to the notification details supplied for this cycle:

• Application begins: October 8, 2026
• Last date to submit application: October 28, 2026
• Examination: December 14–19, 2026

Candidates should check the official NTA portal for any subsequent modification, extension or correction notice.

UGC NET December 2026 Apply Online Link

Eligible candidates can submit their application through the official UGC-NET/NTA application portal.

Official UGC-NET website: ugcnet.nta.ac.in

Application Portal: UGC NET December 2026 Apply Online

Candidates should make sure that the application portal corresponds to the December 2026 UGC-NET examination before entering their details.

How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026

Candidates can follow these general steps to complete the online application:

Step 1: Visit the Official Website

Go to the official UGC-NET website and open the December 2026 application link.

Step 2: Complete Registration

Select the new registration option and provide the required basic details, including an active mobile number and email address.

Step 3: Fill the Application Form

Log in using the credentials generated during registration and enter the required personal, academic and examination details.

Step 4: Select Subject and Examination Preferences

Choose the relevant UGC-NET subject and provide the examination-related preferences requested in the application form.

Step 5: Upload Required Documents

Upload the photograph, signature and other documents/information required by NTA according to the prescribed specifications.

Step 6: Pay the Examination Fee

Pay the applicable examination fee through the online payment method available on the official portal.

Step 7: Review the Form

Before final submission, carefully check your name, date of birth, category, academic details, subject and other information.

Step 8: Submit and Save

Submit the application form and download/save the confirmation page and payment receipt for future reference.

UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee

The UGC-NET examination fee in recent NTA cycles has been:

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

These amounts are documented in NTA's UGC-NET information material.

Important: Candidates should verify the fee shown on the December 2026 application portal/information bulletin before making payment, particularly if the newly issued December 2026 notification has changed any fee category or payment condition.

Applicable payment gateway charges and taxes, wherever applicable, may be payable in addition to the examination fee.

UGC NET Eligibility 2026

Candidates must satisfy the eligibility conditions prescribed by UGC/NTA for the December 2026 examination.

Educational Qualification

The standard UGC-NET eligibility route requires a Master's degree or equivalent examination from a recognised university/institution with the prescribed minimum percentage.

In recent UGC-NET rules, candidates belonging to the General/Unreserved category generally require at least 55% marks, while candidates belonging to eligible reserved categories, including SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD/PwBD and third gender, generally require at least 50% marks.

Candidates who are pursuing their qualifying Master's degree or are awaiting their final result may also be eligible subject to the conditions and time limits prescribed by UGC/NTA.

Four-Year Bachelor's Degree Route

Candidates qualifying through the four-year bachelor's degree route may be eligible for JRF and/or Ph.D. admission subject to the applicable UGC regulations and prescribed marks/conditions.

Candidates should therefore read the December 2026 information bulletin carefully instead of relying solely on previous-cycle eligibility rules.

UGC NET Age Limit 2026

Junior Research Fellowship

For JRF, an upper age limit applies under the UGC-NET rules.

The recent UGC-NET framework has prescribed 30 years as the upper age limit for JRF, with applicable relaxations for specified categories.

Assistant Professor

There is no upper age limit for eligibility for Assistant Professor through UGC-NET.

Ph.D. Admission

Age and eligibility conditions for Ph.D. admission depend on the applicable UGC regulations and the rules of the admitting university/institution.

UGC NET Age Relaxation

Relaxation in the JRF upper age limit is available to eligible categories as per the applicable UGC rules.

Candidates should check the December 2026 information bulletin for the exact relaxation provisions applicable to their category.

UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026

The UGC-NET examination consists of two papers conducted in a single CBT session.

Paper I

Paper I evaluates areas related to teaching and research aptitude, including reasoning, comprehension, communication, data interpretation and other general aptitude areas.

• Questions: 50
• Marks: 100

Paper II

Paper II is based on the candidate's selected UGC-NET subject.

• Questions: 100
• Marks: 200

Total

• Total Questions: 150
• Total Marks: 300
• Duration: 3 hours
• Mode: Computer-Based Test
• Negative Marking: No negative marking for incorrect answers

The NTA's established UGC-NET pattern uses 50 questions in Paper I and 100 questions in Paper II, with a total of 300 marks and a three-hour examination.

UGC NET December 2026 Exam Date

The UGC NET December 2026 examination is scheduled/proposed for December 14 to December 19, 2026.

The examination calendar provides the December 2026 window, while candidates should wait for the detailed subject-wise schedule and their examination date, shift and centre information from NTA.

Candidates should not assume that every subject will be conducted on every date within this window.

UGC NET December 2026 Syllabus

UGC-NET has two papers.

Paper I Syllabus

Paper I covers general teaching and research aptitude areas, including:

• Teaching Aptitude
• Research Aptitude
• Reading Comprehension
• Communication
• Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
• Logical Reasoning
• Data Interpretation
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• People, Development and Environment
• Higher Education System

Paper II Syllabus

Paper II covers the candidate's selected subject and tests subject-specific knowledge.

Candidates should download and follow the latest syllabus applicable to their chosen UGC-NET subject.

Documents and Information Required for UGC NET Application

Candidates should keep the following information/documents ready before starting the application, as applicable:

• Valid mobile number
• Active email ID
• Educational qualification details
• Master's degree/qualifying examination details
• Date of birth details
• Category information, where applicable
• PwD/PwBD details, where applicable
• Photograph and signature in the prescribed format
• Valid identity/document details as required by the application portal
• Preferred examination city information, wherever requested

Candidates should follow the exact upload specifications mentioned in the December 2026 application instructions.

UGC NET December 2026 Correction Window

NTA generally provides an application correction facility after the application submission period.

However, the exact correction dates and list of editable fields for the December 2026 cycle should be taken from the official NTA notice.

Candidates should use the correction facility within the notified period because changes may not be permitted after the correction window closes.

UGC NET December 2026 Selection/Qualification Process

UGC-NET is an eligibility examination, rather than a direct recruitment examination.

Candidates appear in Paper I and Paper II, and their performance is used to determine eligibility under the applicable UGC criteria.

Depending on the category and qualification, candidates may be considered for:

• JRF and Assistant Professor
• Assistant Professor
• Ph.D. admission eligibility, where applicable

Actual appointment as an Assistant Professor is governed by the recruitment rules of the concerned university, college or institution. Similarly, Ph.D. admission is governed by the applicable rules of the admitting institution.

The NTA's description of UGC-NET confirms that qualification for JRF/Assistant Professor depends on performance in both papers in aggregate.

UGC NET JRF Stipend

Candidates qualifying for JRF may receive fellowship support subject to the applicable UGC fellowship rules and conditions.

The fellowship amount, tenure, HRA and other financial provisions should be checked from the latest UGC/JRF guidelines rather than treating figures from previous cycles as automatically applicable to December 2026.

Therefore, candidates should not assume that a particular stipend figure is guaranteed merely because they qualify for JRF.

UGC NET Exam Centres

UGC-NET is conducted at examination centres across India.

The exact examination centre allotted to an individual candidate is communicated through the examination city intimation slip/admit card issued by NTA.

Candidates should rely on their official city intimation slip and admit card for the final centre, date and shift information.

What Happens After UGC NET Application?

After the application window closes, candidates should regularly monitor the official NTA UGC-NET website for subsequent updates, including:

1. Application correction window
2. Examination city information
3. Admit card
4. Subject-wise examination schedule
5. Examination
6. Provisional answer key
7. Answer key challenge facility
8. Final answer key
9. Result and qualification details
10. E-certificate/fellowship-related updates, wherever applicable

The NTA's previous UGC-NET cycles have followed this general sequence, with answer-key challenges conducted before preparation of the final result.

Important Instructions for UGC NET December 2026 Candidates

Candidates should keep the following points in mind:

• Apply only through the official NTA/UGC-NET portal.
• Read the information bulletin carefully before submitting the form.
• Enter personal and academic details exactly as required.
• Select the correct UGC-NET subject.
• Check category details before payment.
• Complete fee payment successfully.
• Save the application number and confirmation page.
• Keep a copy of the payment receipt.
• Do not wait until the final day to submit the application.
• Regularly check the official website for correction, city-intimation, admit-card and examination updates.

UGC NET December 2026: Frequently Asked Questions

Is the UGC NET December 2026 Notification released?

According to the notification details supplied for this update, the UGC NET December 2026 Notification was released on October 8, 2026.

When does UGC NET December 2026 registration start?

The supplied notification details state that online applications begin on October 8, 2026.

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

According to the supplied details, the last date to submit the application is October 28, 2026.

When will UGC NET December 2026 be conducted?

The December 2026 examination window is December 14 to 19, 2026, as reflected in the NTA examination calendar. The subject-wise schedule is issued separately.

What is the UGC NET exam mode?

UGC-NET is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.

How many papers are there in UGC NET?

There are two papers — Paper I and Paper II. Both are conducted in a single three-hour session.

Is there negative marking in UGC NET?

There is no negative marking for incorrect answers under the established UGC-NET examination pattern.

What is the UGC NET application fee?

Recent UGC-NET cycles have prescribed ₹1,150 for General/Unreserved, ₹600 for General-EWS/OBC-NCL and ₹325 for SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender candidates. Candidates should verify the amount displayed for the December 2026 cycle before payment.

What is the minimum qualification for UGC NET?

The standard eligibility route requires a Master's degree/equivalent with the prescribed minimum percentage. Recent rules specify 55% for General/EWS/OBC-NCL and 50% for eligible reserved categories, subject to the detailed UGC/NTA conditions.

Is there an age limit for Assistant Professor through UGC NET?

There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility through UGC-NET.

What is the JRF age limit?

The recent UGC-NET framework has prescribed an upper age limit of 30 years for JRF, subject to applicable relaxations.

Conclusion

The UGC NET December 2026 examination is the upcoming December cycle of the National Eligibility Test conducted by the National Testing Agency on behalf of the University Grants Commission.

According to the notification details supplied for this update, the application window is scheduled from October 8 to October 28, 2026, while the December examination window is December 14–19, 2026.

Candidates should complete their applications carefully, retain the confirmation page and payment receipt, and regularly monitor the official UGC-NET/NTA website for correction, city-intimation, admit-card and subject-wise examination updates.