UGC NET Exam 2026: Notification, Syllabus, Eligibility & Key Details

UGC NET 2026 Latest Update

The UGC NET June 2026 examination was conducted by NTA in CBT mode across 655 examination centres in 286 cities. The examination covered 87 subjects.

The result for 84 subjects was declared on August 28, 2026. According to NTA, 7,73,806 candidates registered for these 84 subjects and 6,07,151 candidates appeared for the examination.

The result was declared under three qualification categories, namely

• JRF and Assistant Professor in which 4,241 candidates were qualified
• Assistant Professor and PhD Admission in which 45,904 candidates were qualified
• PhD Admission in which 97,434 candidates were qualified

The English, Commerce and Sociology examinations are being re-conducted on September 9 and 10, 2026. Candidates who appeared for these subjects will receive their scorecards after the re-examination.

Candidates preparing for the next cycle should note that the latest UGC NET rules now cover three broad outcomes: JRF and Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor and PhD admission, and PhD admission only.

UGC NET 2026 Notification

The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the UGC NET June 2026 Information Bulletin on its official website. The application process for the June 2026 cycle was conducted from April 29 to May 20, 2026. Candidates could make corrections in their application forms from May 22 to May 24, 2026.

The UGC NET examination is generally conducted twice a year. Candidates should wait for the official notification for the next cycle for confirmed application dates, examination dates and other important details.

The notification and information bulletin contain important details regarding the application process, eligibility criteria, examination scheme, syllabus, reservation, age limit and other examination rules. details.

How to Apply Online

Given below are the step-by-step instructions of how to apply online for the UGC NET exam.

• Visit the official NTA website https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/.
• Click on the "Application for UGC NET June" link, which will redirect you to a new window.
• Next, click on "New Registration".
• Proceed to fill up the UGC NET Application Form, and take a note of the system generated Application Number.
• Select the subject and examination-related details carefully.
• Upload all your scanned documents like the recent photograph (file size 10Kb – 200Kb) and signature (file size: 4kb - 30kb).
• Next step is to pay the application fee.
• Take a printout of the UGC NET application form for future reference.

UGC NET  Application Fee

After submission of the UGC NET  application form, you will be required to pay the UGC NET application fee. Please note that the application process will be considered complete only after the payment of the application fee.

Furthermore, the application fee will be accepted through the online mode only, and is non-refundable. The Application fee for the UGC NET Exam differs form category to category. Please refer to the table below to know the category wise UGC NET application fees.

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2026

To apply for the UGC NET exam, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the University Grants Commission (UGC). These requirements cover educational qualifications, age limits and other conditions applicable to different categories of candidates.

Before applying, make sure you meet the prescribed eligibility requirements. Candidates who do not satisfy the required conditions may have their candidature cancelled at any stage of the selection process.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must meet the prescribed educational qualification to appear for the UGC NET exam. The eligibility requirements differ based on the candidate's qualifying degree and the category under which they are applying.

For the UGC NET June 2026 cycle, candidates with a Master's degree or equivalent qualification from a UGC-recognized university or institution could apply. General and General-EWS candidates must have at least 55% marks, while candidates belonging to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender categories must have at least 50% marks.

Candidates who are appearing in the final year of their Master's degree or are awaiting their results can also apply provisionally. However, they must complete the required qualification within the prescribed period after the UGC NET result.

Candidates with a four-year or eight-semester bachelor's degree can also apply subject to the conditions specified by NTA. Such candidates must have at least 75% marks or an equivalent grade. A relaxation of 5% is available to eligible reserved and specified categories. However, candidates qualifying through a four-year bachelor's degree are eligible for JRF and PhD admission, but not for appointment as an Assistant Professor based on that qualification alone.

Age Limit Criteria

The UGC NET age limit depends on the category of eligibility being pursued. There is no upper age limit for candidates appearing for Assistant Professor or PhD admission.

For JRF, candidates must not be more than 30 years old as of June 1, 2026. The prescribed relaxation is available to eligible categories as per the UGC NET rules.

Take a look at the table below for the detailed UGC NET age limit criteria. 

Age Relaxation

Candidates applying for JRF can avail themselves of relaxation in the upper age limit as per the prescribed rules. A relaxation of up to 5 years is available to candidates belonging to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender categories, as well as women candidates.

Additional relaxation may be available for candidates with research experience, LLM qualification or service in the armed forces, subject to the conditions mentioned in the official UGC NET Information Bulletin. The total age relaxation cannot exceed the prescribed limit.

Seat Reservation

Reservation in UGC NET follows the Government of India policy applicable to Central Educational Institutions. The prescribed reservation percentages for the major categories are given below. 

UGC NET Admit Card 2026

The UGC NET admit card is released by NTA through the official UGC NET website. For the June 2026 cycle, NTA had initially scheduled the release of admit cards by June 15, 2026. Candidates were required to download their admit cards online and check details such as the examination date, shift, centre and reporting instructions.

The UGC NET June 2026 examination was conducted in CBT mode from June 22 to June 30, 2026, with some papers subsequently re-conducted. The English, Commerce and Sociology papers are being re-conducted on September 9 and 10, 2026. Candidates appearing for these papers must download the revised admit card issued by NTA.

Candidates should carry a printed copy of the admit card along with the required identification documents to the examination centre. They should also carefully follow the instructions mentioned on the admit card.centre.

UGC NET Free Mock Tests

Preparing with regular mock tests can help you become familiar with the UGC NET exam pattern and improve your time management. ixamBee's UGC NET mock tests can help you practise Paper 1 related questions while assessing your preparation.

Attempting mock tests regularly can also help you identify your strong and weak areas. You can use the results to adjust your preparation strategy and focus more on topics that need improvement. .

UGC NET Exam Dates 2026 

The UGC NET June 2026 notification was released on April 29, 2026, on the official NTA UGC NET website. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the UGC NET exam to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor, and PhD admission in Indian universities and higher educational institutions.

Eligible candidates could submit their UGC NET June 2026 applications from April 29 to May 20, 2026. The examination was scheduled from June 22 to June 30, 2026, in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. However, the English, Commerce and Sociology papers were later rescheduled and are being re-conducted on September 9 and 10, 2026.

The results for 84 subjects were declared on August 28, 2026. The results for candidates appearing in the re-conducted English, Commerce and Sociology papers will be processed after the re-examination. Further details regarding the upcoming UGC NET cycle will be announced by NTA through the official website.

More details on the UGC NET exam are  given below.