UGC NET 2026: Notification, Exam Date, Syllabus, Result

UGC NET — the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test — is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), on behalf of the University Grants Commission as an eligibility test for teaching posts. The UGC-NET June 2026 was held from 22 June to 5 July 2026, and the December 2026 cycle is scheduled for 14 to 18 December 2026 and 21 December 2026, with online applications open from 8 October 2026; the last date was extended to 31 October 2026.

A single three-hour session of two papers with no break between them. Paper I tests teaching and research aptitude; Paper II tests the subject the candidate selects. Conducted as a Computer Based Test across the country.

UGC NET exam pattern

All questions are objective multiple choice. No. There is no negative marking for an incorrect response in either paper.

Qualifying marks

Qualifying candidates are placed in one of three categories: JRF, Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission; Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission but not JRF; or Ph.D. admission only, which confers neither JRF nor eligibility for Assistant Professor.

Validity of the certificate

The category a candidate qualifies in determines what the certificate is worth. A Ph.D.-only qualification does not make you eligible for Assistant Professor, and this is the distinction most often misread.

Three ways to qualify, and they are not equivalent

UGC NET does not simply pass or fail you. Qualifying candidates fall into three categories — JRF with Assistant Professor and Ph.D., Assistant Professor with Ph.D., or Ph.D. admission alone. The third confers neither the fellowship nor Assistant Professor eligibility. Check which category your result places you in before assuming the certificate does what you need.

What this qualification is for

Award of the Junior Research Fellowship, eligibility for appointment as Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges, and admission to Ph.D. programmes — depending on the category a candidate qualifies in.

What is next

The UGC-NET June 2026 result was declared on 28 August 2026; for English, Commerce and Sociology, re-examined on 9 and 10 September 2026, it was declared on 17 September 2026. NTA notified the December 2026 cycle on 8 October 2026: applications, first due by 28 October 2026, were extended to 31 October 2026 without any late fee (Public Notice of 27 October 2026) and the exam, first given as 14 to 19 December 2026, is now scheduled for 14 to 18 December 2026 and 21 December 2026 under the Information Bulletin updated on 16 October 2026.

UGC NET Eligibility

UGC NET eligibility criteria are set out in the official information bulletin.

Minimum educational qualification

A Master’s degree or equivalent in the subject chosen, with the minimum percentage of marks prescribed by the UGC. Candidates awaiting their result may apply, and relaxations in the qualifying percentage apply to reserved categories as set out in the Information Bulletin.

Structure of the examination

A single three-hour session of two papers with no break between them. Paper I tests teaching and research aptitude; Paper II tests the subject the candidate selects.

UGC NET Application Form

UGC NET applications are submitted online only, through ugcnet.nta.nic.in.

For UGC-NET December 2026, the online application window is 8 to 31 October 2026 (up to 11:50 p.m.; extended without any late fee by NTA's Public Notice of 27 October 2026) and corrections from 2 to 4 November 2026. The exam is scheduled for 14 to 18 December 2026 and 21 December 2026, with city intimation on 23 November 2026 and admit cards on 7 December 2026.

Important dates — UGC-NET June 2026

Application fee

General / Unreserved: ₹1,150. Gen-EWS and OBC-NCL: ₹600. SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender: ₹325. Bank and payment gateway charges apply on top.