The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened the online registration for UGC-NET December 2026, the test that decides the award of the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and eligibility for the post of Assistant Professor and for Ph.D. admission in Indian universities and colleges. The last date to submit the online application is 28 October 2026 at 11:50 PM, and the examination will be held from 14 December to 19 December 2026 in Computer Based Test mode for 87 subjects.
UGC-NET is also the route through which the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC), the National Fellowship for Other Backward Classes (NFOBC) and the Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students (MANF) select their candidates – applicants for those fellowships have to appear in this test.
UGC NET December 2026: quick facts
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | University Grants Commission (UGC) – Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor eligibility through UGC-NET December 2026, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Last date to apply | 28 October 2026 up to 11:50 PM (late submission 29 to 31 October 2026 with a late fee of Rs 500) |
| Official website | UGC-NET official website (NTA) |
UGC NET December 2026: important dates
| Submission of online application form | 8 October 2026 to 28 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM |
| Last date for submission of examination fee | 28 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM |
| Late submission with late fee of Rs 500 | 29 October 2026 to 31 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM |
| Last date of successful transaction with late fee | 31 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM |
| Correction in particulars of the application form | 2 November 2026 to 4 November 2026 |
| Announcement of exam city and admit card | To be intimated later on the official website |
| Date of examination | 14 December 2026 to 19 December 2026 (buffer 20-21 December 2026) |
| Display of recorded responses and answer keys | To be announced later |
What qualifying UGC-NET gives you
- Award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and appointment as Assistant Professor – the JRF is a monthly research fellowship paid to selected candidates who take up research in an Indian university or college.
- Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D. – qualifying in the Assistant Professor category also makes you eligible for Ph.D. admission in universities that use the NET score for admission.
- Admission to Ph.D. only – a third category for candidates who want to use the score only for doctoral admission.
- The selection of candidates for the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC), the National Fellowship for Other Backward Classes (NFOBC) and the Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students (MANF) is also made through UGC-NET, so candidates who want those fellowships also have to apply for the test.
UGC NET December 2026 eligibility
| General, Unreserved and General-EWS candidates | At least 55 percent marks (without rounding off) in the Master’s degree or equivalent examination from a university or institution recognised by the UGC |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and third gender candidates | At least 50 percent marks in the Master’s degree or equivalent examination |
| Ph.D. degree holders whose Master’s was completed by 19 September 1991 | A relaxation of 5 percent in aggregate marks, that is from 55 percent to 50 percent |
| Four-year or eight-semester bachelor’s degree holders | Eligible for the award of JRF and for admission to Ph.D., but NOT eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor. Candidates in the last semester or year of a 4-year bachelor’s programme may also apply, provisionally |
| Candidates whose final Master’s result is awaited | May apply; those who qualify for admission to Ph.D. only must complete the Master’s degree within one year from the date of the NET result with the required percentage of marks |
| Choice of subject | Candidates are advised to appear in the subject of their post-graduation; if the post-graduation subject is not in the list of NET subjects, they may appear in a related subject |
Age limit for JRF and relaxation
- For the Junior Research Fellowship, the candidate must not be more than 30 years as on 1 December 2026, the first day of the month in which the examination is concluded.
- A relaxation of up to 5 years is provided to candidates of the OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and third gender categories and to women applicants.
- Relaxation is also given for research experience, limited to the period spent on research in the relevant subject of the post-graduation degree, subject to a maximum of 5 years, on production of a certificate from the appropriate authority.
- There is no age limit for the Assistant Professor category or for admission to Ph.D. through UGC-NET.
UGC NET December 2026 application fee
| General and Unreserved candidates | Rs 1,150 |
| General-EWS and OBC-NCL candidates | Rs 600 |
| Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and third gender candidates | Rs 325 |
| PwD and PwBD candidates | Rs 325 |
The examination fee has to be paid online through a credit card, debit card, net banking or UPI, and the applicable service or processing charges and GST are paid by the candidate over and above the fee. The application fee for the late window is Rs 500 extra.
Exam pattern and marking scheme
- UGC-NET December 2026 will be conducted for 87 subjects in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.
- Each question carries 2 marks, and there is no negative marking for an incorrect response.
- No marks are given for un-answered, un-attempted or review-marked questions.
- If a question is found to be wrong or is dropped, two marks are awarded to the candidates who attempted it.
- Candidates should report at the examination centre two hours before the commencement of the examination.
How to apply for UGC NET December 2026
- Open the official UGC-NET website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in and open the UGC-NET December 2026 application form link.
- Register with your basic details, fill the online application form and choose your subject, examination city preferences and the category you are applying under.
- Upload the photograph, signature and the required certificates in the prescribed format.
- Pay the examination fee online before the last date – the fee payment deadline is also 28 October 2026 at 11:50 PM.
- Check the filled form during the correction window from 2 November to 4 November 2026 if any particular is wrong, and keep the application number safe for the admit card.
Frequently asked questions
The online application can be submitted from 8 October 2026 to 28 October 2026 up to 11:50 PM. A late submission window runs from 29 October 2026 to 31 October 2026 with a late fee of Rs 500.
The examination will be conducted from 14 December 2026 to 19 December 2026, with 20 and 21 December 2026 kept as buffer days. It will be held in Computer Based Test mode for 87 subjects.
Rs 1,150 for General and Unreserved candidates, Rs 600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL candidates, and Rs 325 for SC, ST, third gender, PwD and PwBD candidates.
A JRF candidate must not be more than 30 years as on 1 December 2026. OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and third gender candidates and women applicants get a relaxation of up to 5 years, and further relaxation up to 5 years is allowed for research experience.
General, Unreserved and General-EWS candidates need at least 55 percent marks in the Master’s degree without rounding off, and OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and third gender candidates need at least 50 percent.
No. Each question carries 2 marks and there is no negative marking for an incorrect response.
Official links
- UGC-NET official website, National Testing Agency
- Public notice: opening of the UGC-NET December 2026 registration portal (official PDF)
- Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026 (official PDF)
- National Testing Agency (official website)
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