NTA UGC NET December 2026 Online Form – Apply Online, Eligibility, Exam Date
UGC NET December 2026
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened the online application process for the UGC NET December 2026 Examination. The examination is conducted on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to determine candidates’ eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes in Indian universities and colleges.
The online application process started on 8 October 2026. The regular application deadline is 28 October 2026, while the official Information Bulletin provides a late application window from 29 October to 31 October 2026 with an additional late fee of ₹500.
The examination is scheduled for 14 December to 18 December 2026 and 21 December 2026. Eligible candidates should check the educational qualifications, JRF age limit, category-wise examination fee, exam pattern and important dates before applying.
NTA UGC NET December 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Examination Name | UGC NET December 2026 |
| Full Form | University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test |
| Session | December 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Examination Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Purpose | JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD admission eligibility |
| Application Start Date | 8 October 2026 |
| Regular Last Date | 28 October 2026 |
| Late Application Window | 29–31 October 2026 |
| Late Fee | ₹500 in addition to the examination fee |
| Correction Window | 2–4 November 2026 |
| Exam City Intimation | 23 November 2026 |
| Admit Card | 7 December 2026, as per the Information Bulletin |
| Examination Dates | 14–18 December and 21 December 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | Not applicable; this is an eligibility examination |
| Official Website | https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/ |
UGC NET December 2026: Important Dates
Candidates should note the following dates for the UGC NET December 2026 examination.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Starts | 8 October 2026 |
| Regular Application Deadline | 28 October 2026 |
| Regular Fee Payment Deadline | 28 October 2026 |
| Late Application Window | 29–31 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Pay Fee with Late Fee | 31 October 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | 2–4 November 2026 |
| Exam City Intimation | 23 November 2026 |
| Admit Card | 7 December 2026 |
| Examination | 14–18 December and 21 December 2026 |
| Answer Key | To be announced |
| Result | To be announced |
The dates above follow the NTA Information Bulletin updated on 16 October 2026. Candidates should continue checking the official website for any subsequent notices or changes.
UGC NET December 2026: Application Fee
The category-wise examination fee is as follows:
| Category | Examination Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | ₹1,150 |
| General-EWS | ₹600 |
| OBC-NCL | ₹600 |
| SC | ₹325 |
| ST | ₹325 |
| Third Gender | ₹325 |
| PwD / PwBD | ₹325 |
An additional late fee of ₹500 applies during the late application window. Applicable payment gateway charges and GST may be extra.
For example, the examination fee plus late fee would be ₹1,650 for General/Unreserved candidates and ₹1,100 for General-EWS/OBC-NCL candidates, before any applicable transaction charges.
Payment must be completed using the payment methods available through the official application portal, such as debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.
UGC NET December 2026: Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must satisfy the educational qualification requirements specified in the official Information Bulletin.
Educational Qualification
- General/Unreserved and General-EWS candidates must have at least 55% marks in a Master’s degree or an equivalent examination from a recognised university or institution.
- OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender candidates must have at least 50% marks in a Master’s degree or equivalent examination.
- Candidates who are pursuing their Master’s degree or have appeared in the final-year examination and are awaiting results may also apply provisionally, subject to the conditions and deadlines specified by NTA.
- Candidates are generally advised to appear in the subject of their postgraduate degree. If their subject is not listed, they may choose a related subject as permitted by the official rules.
Candidates should read the complete Information Bulletin to understand the conditions for eligibility and provisional admission.
UGC NET December 2026: Age Limit
The age limit depends on the purpose for which the candidate is applying.
| Purpose | Age Requirement |
|---|---|
| Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) | Not more than 30 years as on 1 December 2026 |
| Assistant Professor | No upper age limit |
| PhD Admission through UGC NET | No upper age limit |
Age Relaxation for JRF
Age relaxation is available to eligible candidates under the rules specified in the official bulletin. This includes up to five years for specified categories such as OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third Gender and women candidates.
Additional provisions may apply to eligible candidates with research experience, an LL.M. degree or armed forces service, subject to the official conditions and maximum relaxation limits.
Important: The 30-year age limit applies to JRF, not to every UGC NET qualification category.
UGC NET December 2026 Examination Pattern
The examination will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. It consists of two objective-type papers, with no break between Paper 1 and Paper 2.
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Teaching and Research Aptitude | 50 | 100 |
| Paper 2 | Subject selected by the candidate | 100 | 200 |
| Total | 150 | 300 |
Total examination duration: 180 minutes (3 hours).
Candidates should prepare for both papers and check the official subject list and syllabus before beginning their preparation.
What Does UGC NET Qualify You For?
UGC NET results are used to determine eligibility under three categories:
- JRF and Assistant Professor: Candidates qualifying in this category may be eligible for the award of Junior Research Fellowship and appointment as Assistant Professor, subject to applicable rules.
- Assistant Professor and PhD Admission: Candidates qualifying in this category may be eligible for Assistant Professor appointments and PhD admission, but not for JRF.
- PhD Admission Only: Candidates qualifying in this category may use their NET result for PhD admission under the applicable university rules, but this category does not provide JRF or Assistant Professor eligibility.
Qualifying UGC NET does not automatically guarantee a fellowship, teaching appointment or PhD admission. The relevant institution’s selection rules and other conditions continue to apply.
How to Apply Online for UGC NET December 2026
Follow these steps to submit the application:
- Visit the official website: https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/
- Open the UGC NET December 2026 application link.
- Complete the registration using your own email address and mobile number.
- Fill in the application form with accurate personal, educational and category details.
- Upload the required live photograph and scanned documents in the prescribed format.
- Select your postgraduate subject and preferred examination cities as instructed.
- Pay the applicable examination fee online.
- Review the completed application form before final submission.
- Save or print the confirmation page after successful fee payment.
If applying during the late application window, pay the additional ₹500 late fee along with the applicable category-wise examination fee.
Candidates should retain their application number, payment receipt and confirmation page for future reference.
UGC NET December 2026: Documents Required
Keep the following documents and information ready, as applicable:
- Recent photograph and signature.
- Personal and date-of-birth details.
- Master’s degree certificate or mark sheets, if available.
- Category certificate, where applicable.
- PwD/PwBD or UDID documentation, where applicable.
- Active email address and mobile number.
- Details required for examination city selection.
Check the official application instructions for the prescribed file formats, sizes and other document requirements.
UGC NET December 2026: Important Links
| Description | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | UGC NET December 2026 Application |
| Official NTA UGC NET Website | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
| Information Bulletin | Official Documents Page |
| Examination Notifications | Official Notices |
| Home Page | jobs.pincodeofindia.com |
|
Related Links |
Latest Govt Jobs 2026 |
|
UGC NET 2025/2026 Links |
UGC NET June 2026 Certificate  | Out
|
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When did the UGC NET December 2026 application process start?
The application process started on 8 October 2026.
2. What is the regular last date to apply?
The regular application deadline is 28 October 2026.
3. Can candidates apply after 28 October?
The official Information Bulletin provides a late application window from 29 October to 31 October 2026 with an additional late fee of ₹500. Candidates should confirm the live application facility on the official website.
4. What is the UGC NET December 2026 examination date?
The examination is scheduled for 14–18 December 2026 and 21 December 2026.
5. What is the application fee for General candidates?
The examination fee for General/Unreserved candidates is ₹1,150, excluding any applicable transaction charges.
6. What is the maximum age for JRF?
The maximum age for JRF is 30 years as on 1 December 2026, subject to applicable relaxation rules.
7. Is there an upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility?
No. The official Information Bulletin states that there is no upper age limit for applying for UGC NET for Assistant Professor eligibility.
8. What is the minimum Master’s degree percentage required?
General/Unreserved and General-EWS candidates generally require 55% marks. OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender candidates generally require 50%, subject to the official eligibility rules.
9. How many questions are there in UGC NET?
The examination has 150 questions: 50 in Paper 1 and 100 in Paper 2, carrying a total of 300 marks.
10. Is UGC NET a direct recruitment examination?
No. UGC NET is an eligibility examination for JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD admission categories. It does not itself guarantee a job, fellowship or admission.
Conclusion
The NTA UGC NET December 2026 Examination is an important opportunity for postgraduate candidates aiming for research fellowships, academic careers and PhD admission. Before applying, candidates should carefully check their educational qualifications, age eligibility for JRF, category-wise fee and subject requirements.
Complete the application through the official NTA portal, keep the confirmation page safe and follow official notices for examination city details, admit cards, answer keys and results.
✍️ About the Author
Fanish Jha
Fanish Jha is a digital publisher, website creator, and content editor focused on creating useful online resources for Indian audiences. He is the founder and editor of Pincode Of India, Jobs.PincodeOfIndia, Indian Swan, and Gaon Express.
His work includes website development, digital publishing, SEO, content research, and managing online platforms across postal information, government resources, e-commerce, and local services.
He aims to make online information clear, useful, accessible, and easy to understand.
Founder & Editor — Fanish Jha
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