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

UGC NET 2026 Latest Update

NTA has released the UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin. The examination will be conducted in CBT mode from December 14, 2026 to December 19, 2026. It covers 87 subjects.

Online registration runs from October 08, 2026 to October 28, 2026, up to 11:50 PM. Late submission with a ₹500 late fee is open from October 29, 2026 to October 31, 2026. The correction window is from November 02, 2026 to November 04, 2026. NTA will announce the exam cities, admit card, answer key and result dates later.

The result is declared under three qualification categories: namely:

• JRF and Assistant Professor
• Assistant Professor and PhD Admission
• PhD Admission

Candidates should follow the official notification for confirmed dates, eligibility requirements and examination-related updates..

UGC NET 2026 Notification

The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin on its official website. The application process runs from October 08, 2026 to October 28, 2026. Candidates can make corrections in their application forms from November 02, 2026 to November 04, 2026..

The UGC NET examination is generally conducted twice a year. The December 2026 examination is from December 14, 2026 to December 19, 2026. Candidates should check the official website for further updates.

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

How to Apply Online

The application window for the UGC NET December 2026 cycle is open until October 28, 2026. Candidates can follow these steps to apply:

• Visit the official NTA website https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/.
• Click on the “Application for UGC NET December” link, which will redirect you to a new window. window.
• Next, click on “New Registration”. Register using your own email ID and mobile number.
• 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 a live photograph, a recent photograph (file size 10KB – 200KB) and your signature (file size 10KB – 50KB). Upload the disability or UDID certificate (PDF, 50KB – 300KB) if applicable.
• Pay the applicable application fee through the prescribed online payment mode.
• Download and print the confirmation page of the application form for future reference. It is available only after successful payment.

UGC NET  Application Fee

After submission of the UGC NET application form, candidates must pay the applicable application fee. The application is complete only after successful payment of the fee.

NTA accepts the application fee through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking and UPI. The fee is non-refundable. The application fee differs from category to category.

For the UGC NET December 2026 cycle, the application fee is ₹1,150 for General/Unreserved candidates. It is ₹600 for General-EWS/OBC-NCL candidates. It is ₹325 for SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/Third Gender candidates. Candidates also pay service or processing charges and GST over and above the examination fee. The last date for fee payment is October 28, 2026, up to 11:50 PM.

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 examination 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 category.

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

Candidates pursuing their Master’s degree can also apply provisionally. The same applies to candidates who have appeared for their final-year examination and are awaiting results.

Such candidates must complete their Master’s degree within two years from the date of the NET result. Candidates qualifying for PhD admission only must complete the qualification within one year from the date of the 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 categories. Candidates qualifying through a four-year bachelor’s degree are eligible for JRF and PhD admission. However, they are not eligible for appointment as an Assistant Professor based on that qualification. 

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 December 01, 2026. Candidates belonging to eligible categories can avail themselves of the prescribed age relaxation.

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 OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender candidates, as well as women candidates.

Additional relaxation is available for candidates with research experience, LLM qualification or service in the armed forces. Research experience can provide relaxation for the relevant period, subject to a maximum of 5 years.

Candidates with an LLM degree can receive three years of relaxation. Candidates who have served in the armed forces can receive relaxation of up to 5 years, subject to the prescribed conditions.

The total age relaxation on these grounds cannot exceed 5 years. 

Seat Reservation

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

UGC NET Admit Card 2026

NTA releases the UGC NET admit card through the official UGC NET website, NTA has not yet announced the admit card download date for the December 2026 cycle. Candidates must download their admit cards online and check details such as the examination date, shift, centre and reporting instructions.

The UGC NET December 2026 examination is scheduled from December 14, 2026 to December 19, 2026, in CBT mode. NTA issues the admit card provisionally, subject to eligibility and receipt of the application fee. 

Candidates cannot appear on any date or shift other than the one on their admit card. NTA does not send admit cards by post or issue duplicate admit cards at exam centres.

Candidates must 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 and other examination-related documents.

Candidates who cannot download the admit card can call the NTA helpline at 011-40759000 or 69227700 between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, or write to [email protected]..

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 December 2026 notification is out 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 can submit their UGC NET December 2026 applications from October 08, 2026 to October 28, 2026, up to 11:50 PM. The examination is scheduled from December 14, 2026 to December 19, 2026, in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. NTA will announce the exam cities, admit card, answer key, and result dates later. website.

More details on the UGC NET exam are  given below.