Important dates
Live countdowns update automatically from today’s date. Dates are from NTA’s public notice of 8 October 2026.
NTA says all dates are tentative and will be updated on its website if anything changes. The badge on the late window shows time left to its final day.
Application fee
Pay online by credit card, debit card, net banking or UPI.
Only one application per candidate is allowed. Use your own email address and mobile number (or a parent or guardian’s), because NTA sends all updates there.
Who can apply
UGC NET tests the eligibility of Indian nationals for three outcomes. You choose one while applying.
JRF + Assistant Professor
- Junior Research Fellowship and eligibility for Assistant Professor posts.
Assistant Professor + Ph.D.
- Eligibility for Assistant Professor posts and for Ph.D. admission.
Ph.D. admission only
- Eligibility for Ph.D. admission in Indian universities and colleges.
| Qualification | Master’s degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks (50% for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD and Third Gender). Final-year students can apply. Candidates with a 4-year / 8-semester Bachelor’s degree and at least 75% marks (about 70% for reserved categories) can apply for JRF and Ph.D. admission. |
|---|---|
| Age limit | JRF: up to 30 years, with relaxation for eligible categories. Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission: no upper age limit. |
| Check before you pay | These criteria follow earlier UGC NET cycles and reported details for this cycle. NTA’s Information Bulletin is the final word, so read its eligibility section before you submit. |
Exam pattern and selection
The exam is a computer based test (CBT) held for 87 subjects, according to NTA’s public notice.
| Paper | What it covers | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Teaching and research aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, divergent thinking, general awareness | 50 | 100 |
| Paper II | The subject you choose, based on your post-graduation specialisation | 100 | 200 |
| Total | Both papers back to back in one 3-hour sitting, no break | 150 | 300 |
How results are decided
In earlier cycles the qualifying marks were 40% aggregate for General and EWS candidates and 35% for reserved categories. Only the top 6% of candidates who appear in both papers are declared eligible for Assistant Professor. JRF is then awarded from within that group on a separate merit list, depending on the fellowships available. There is no negative marking.
The full subject list with codes is in the official Information Bulletin on the NTA site. It is long and can change, so we do not reprint it here.
How to apply, step by step
- 1Go to ugcnet.nta.nic.in, the official NTA UGC NET website.
- 2Register as a new candidate. NTA has also enabled sign-in through the government’s Meri Pehchan service, and it advises using Aadhaar verification where possible.
- 3Fill in your personal and education details and choose one of the three categories above.
- 4Pick your subject and your preferred exam cities as the form asks.
- 5Upload your photograph and signature exactly as per the sizes given in the Information Bulletin.
- 6Pay the fee online before 28 October 2026, or with the late fee by 31 October 2026.
- 7Check every entry, because no changes are allowed after final submission except in the correction window. Then submit and save a printout of the confirmation page.
Keep these ready
- ✓Post-graduation marksheets or final-year details
- ✓Category certificate, if applicable
- ✓Scanned photograph and signature
- ✓Aadhaar or Meri Pehchan login for verification
- ✓Your own email and mobile number
- ✓Debit card, UPI or net banking for the fee
Official links
- Apply online / UGC NET official siteugcnet.nta.nic.in
- Official public notice (8 Oct 2026)PDF hosted on a government server
- National Testing Agencynta.ac.in
NTA helpdesk: 011-40759000 or 011-69227700, email ugcnet@nta.ac.in.
UGC NET दिसंबर 2026: जरूरी बातें (हिंदी में)
- ऑनलाइन आवेदन 8 अक्टूबर 2026 से शुरू हैं और अंतिम तारीख 28 अक्टूबर 2026 (रात 11:50 बजे तक) है।
- लेट फीस ₹500 के साथ 29 से 31 अक्टूबर तक आवेदन हो सकता है। सुधार की विंडो 2 से 4 नवंबर है।
- परीक्षा CBT मोड में 14 से 19 दिसंबर 2026 के बीच होगी।
- फीस: सामान्य ₹1150, EWS/OBC-NCL ₹600, SC/ST/PwD/थर्ड जेंडर ₹325।
- आवेदन सिर्फ ugcnet.nta.nic.in पर करें। किसी एजेंट को पैसे न दें।
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
28 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM, for both the form and the fee. Late submission with a Rs 500 late fee is open from 29 to 31 October.
When is the UGC NET December 2026 exam?
The CBT is planned for 14 to 19 December 2026. The exam city slip and admit card dates will be announced later.
How much is the UGC NET application fee?
Rs 1150 for General/Unreserved, Rs 600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL, and Rs 325 for SC, ST, PwD and Third Gender candidates.
How many subjects are there this time?
NTA's public notice says 87 subjects. Some websites still show an older count, so rely on the official bulletin.
Is there negative marking?
No, wrong answers are not penalised in UGC NET.
Can I correct mistakes after submitting?
Yes, only during the correction window from 2 to 4 November 2026. After that no changes are allowed.
Does ApnaJob.in charge anything?
No. ApnaJob.in is free for candidates and does not collect UGC NET applications or fees. You pay only NTA, only on the official portal.
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Disclaimer: ApnaJob.in is an independent information website and is not affiliated with the National Testing Agency, the University Grants Commission or any government body. Dates and fees come from NTA’s public notice dated 8 October 2026, which we re-checked on 12 October 2026; eligibility and pattern follow earlier UGC NET guidelines. Confirm everything in the Information Bulletin on ugcnet.nta.nic.in before you apply. We never ask for money to help you apply.
