UGC NET Exam Analysis 3rd Jan 2026, Check Shift-wise Difficulty Level
UGC NET Exam Analysis 3rd January 2026 provides a detailed shift-wise review of Paper 1 and Paper 2. The overall difficulty ranged from Easy to Moderate across both shifts, with subject-wise variations helping candidates assess performance and expected cut-offs.
Share
UGC NET Exam Analysis 3rd Jan 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) successfully conducted the UGC NET examination on 3 January 2026 in two shifts across various exam centres in India. Thousands of candidates appeared for the eligibility test for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). As per initial feedback from students and experts, the exam followed the expected pattern and syllabus. This detailed UGC NET Exam Analysis 3rd Jan 2026 highlights the shift-wise difficulty level, section-wise breakup of Paper 1, and subject-wise review of Paper 2, helping aspirants understand trends, good attempts, and overall exam standards.
UGC NET Exam Analysis 3rd Jan 2026 Paper 1 – Shift 1
Paper 1 in Shift 1 was largely Easy to Moderate. Teaching and Research Aptitude questions were straightforward, while Data Interpretation and Reading Comprehension required more analytical effort. ICT and Teaching Aptitude were scoring sections for most candidates.
| UGC NET 2026 – 3 January Shift 1 Paper 1 Difficulty Level | |
| UGC NET Paper 1 Sections | Difficulty Level |
| Teaching Aptitude | Easy |
| Research Aptitude | Easy |
| Data Interpretation | Moderate |
| Reading Comprehension | Moderate |
| Maths | Easy to Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning | Moderate |
| Communication | Moderate |
| Higher Education System, Governance, Polity & Admin | Easy to Moderate |
| People & Environment | Moderate |
| ICT | Easy |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate |
UGC NET Exam Analysis 3rd Jan 2026 Paper 2 – Shift 1
Paper 2 in Shift 1 was subject-dependent. Language-based papers were mostly easy, while conceptual subjects like Commerce and Criminology were moderate. Questions were mostly syllabus-based with limited surprises.
| UGC NET 2026 Paper 2 – Shift 1 Difficulty Level | |
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
| Commerce | Moderate |
| Sanskrit | Easy |
| Santali | Easy |
| Criminology | Moderate |
| Disaster Management | Easy |
| Museology & Conservation | Moderate |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate |
UGC NET Exam Analysis 3rd Jan 2026 Paper 1 – Shift 2
Shift 2 Paper 1 was slightly more balanced, with several sections rated Moderate. Research Aptitude and Logical Reasoning required conceptual clarity, while ICT and Communication remained scoring.
| UGC NET 2026 – 3 January Shift 2 Paper 1 Difficulty Level | |
| UGC NET Paper 1 Sections | Difficulty Level |
| Teaching Aptitude | Easy to Moderate |
| Research Aptitude | Moderate |
| Data Interpretation | Easy |
| Reading Comprehension | Moderate |
| Maths | Easy to Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning | Moderate |
| Communication | Easy |
| Higher Education System, Governance, Polity & Admin | Easy to Moderate |
| People & Environment | Easy |
| ICT | Easy |
| Overall | Moderate |
UGC NET Exam Analysis 3rd Jan 2026 Paper 2 – Shift 2
Paper 2 Shift 2 was generally easy, especially for language and culture-based subjects. Geography and Indian Culture had a moderate difficulty due to analytical questions.
| UGC NET 2026 Paper 2 – Shift 2 Difficulty Level | |
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
| Geography | Moderate |
| Education | Easy |
| Folk Literature | Easy |
| Maithili | Easy |
| Indian Culture | Moderate |
| Persian | Easy |
| Comparative Study of Religions | Easy |
| Overall | Easy |
Benefits of UGC NET Exam Analysis 3rd Jan 2026
UGC NET exam analysis helps candidates understand the actual difficulty level of the exam and compare their performance with peers. It provides clarity on scoring sections, subject-wise trends, and expected cut-off range. Aspirants preparing for upcoming sessions can fine-tune their strategy based on section-wise weightage. It also helps in predicting the results and deciding future preparation plans for JRF or Assistant Professor eligibility.