UGC NET December 2026, Notification (Soon), Exam Date, Eligibility, Registration

UGC NET December 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is the conducting authority for the UGC NET December 2026 exam. Candidates can expect the UGC NET December notification to be released in September 2026 (Expected). NTA will publish the official notification on the portal. UGC NET exam is for candidates who want to pursue a PhD course program, an Assistant Professor profile, and fellowship programs in India. Once the notification is live in December 2026, candidates can fill out the application form using the NTA portal. 

UGC NET December 2026 Overview

UGC NET December 2026 exam is a national-level test conducted for a student to become eligible for the post of Assistant Professor or to get a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). Candidates can expect the official notification to be issued in September 2026. The application process will commence from October to November 2026 (expected). 

UGC NET December 2026 Notification (Soon)

UGC NET December 2026 Notification will include the officially announced information for the candidates' reference. Candidates can download the notification once the link is live on the portal. It will include the officially announced details regarding the application dates, eligibility criteria, important dates, and instructions. 

Important Dates for UGC NET December 2026

Staying informed about the critical deadlines is essential for a smooth application process. All specific dates for the December 2026 cycle will be announced in the official notification.

Step-by-Step UGC NET December Application Process

The application for UGC NET December 2026 must be submitted online through the official NTA portal. Follow these steps carefully to complete your application.

Step 1: Registration: Visit the official website, ugcnet.nta.ac.in, and register using your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and email address.

Step 2: Form Filling: Enter your personal details, academic qualifications, and select your preferred subject and examination city.

Step 3: Document Upload: Upload scanned copies of your recent photograph (10kb – 200kb) and signature (4kb – 30kb) as per the specified format and size.

Step 4: Fee Payment: Complete the application by paying the requisite fee online using Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI.

UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee

• General Category: ₹1150

• General-EWS/OBC-NCL: ₹600

• SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: ₹325

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must satisfy specific educational and age requirements to be eligible for the UGC NET December 2026 examination. 

Educational Qualifications

• General/EWS Category: A Master’s degree with at least 55% aggregate marks is required.

• OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender Categories: Candidates need a Master’s degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.

• Final Year Students: Those who are awaiting their final Master’s degree results can apply provisionally.

• Four-Year Bachelor’s Degree Holders: Candidates with a 75% aggregate in a 4-year or 8-semester undergraduate program are eligible for JRF and PhD only, not for Assistant Professor.

Age Limit (As of June 1, 2026)

• Assistant Professor & PhD: There is no upper age limit for these categories.

• Junior Research Fellowship (JRF):

• Unreserved Category: Maximum age of 30 years.
• OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Women/Third Gender: Maximum age of 35 years.
• LLM Degree Holders: Maximum age of 33 years.

UGC NET Exam Pattern & Syllabus

The UGC NET examination comprises two papers, both conducted in a single three-hour session without any breaks. Understanding the structure is crucial for effective preparation.

Paper 1: General Paper (Teaching & Research Aptitude)

• Number of Questions: 50 (compulsory)

• Total Marks: 100

• Key Topics: This paper assesses candidates on teaching aptitude, research methodology, logical reasoning, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and data interpretation.

Paper 2: Subject-Specific

• Number of Questions: 100

• Total Marks: 200

• Subjects: This paper covers the candidate's chosen subject. Examples include English (Code 30), Commerce (Code 08), Psychology (Code 04), and Education (Code 09).

Please note that there is no negative marking for incorrect answers in the UGC NET examination. Each correct answer carries 2 marks.