The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the UGC NET December 2026 Notification and opened the online application on 08 October 2026. UGC-NET decides eligibility for (i) Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor, (ii) Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D., and (iii) admission to Ph.D. only, in Indian universities and colleges. The exam will be held in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode for 87 subjects.
On 16 October 2026, NTA published a Corrigendum and an Updated Information Bulletin. As per the updated bulletin, the exam will be held on 14 to 18 December 2026 and 21 December 2026. The last date to apply is 28 October 2026.
UGC NET December 2026 – Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application | 08.10.2026 to 28.10.2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Last date for fee payment | 28.10.2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Late submission with late fee of ₹500 | 29.10.2026 to 31.10.2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Correction in application form | 02.11.2026 to 04.11.2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Intimation of exam city | 23.11.2026 |
| Admit card download | 07.12.2026 |
| Exam dates | 14.12.2026 to 18.12.2026 and 21.12.2026 |
| Result | To be announced later |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | ₹1,150 |
| Gen-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹600 |
| SC / ST / Third Gender | ₹325 |
| PwD / PwBD | ₹325 |
A late fee of ₹500 (over and above the category fee) applies for applications submitted between 29 and 31 October 2026. Bank/payment-gateway service charges and GST are extra. Fee can be paid via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking or UPI.
Eligibility Criteria
- General/Unreserved/Gen-EWS: at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s Degree or equivalent from a UGC-recognised university/institution.
- OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/Third Gender: at least 50% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s Degree or equivalent.
- Candidates pursuing or awaiting results of their final-year Master’s degree can also apply provisionally; they must complete the degree with required marks within two years of the NET result (one year for ‘Admission to Ph.D. only’).
- Ph.D. holders whose Master’s level exam was completed by 19 September 1991 get 5% relaxation (55% to 50%).
Age Limit
- JRF: Not more than 30 years as on 01.12.2026. Up to 5 years relaxation for OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/Third Gender and women; relaxation for research experience (max 5 years) and 3 years for LL.M. degree holders.
- Assistant Professor: No upper age limit.
- Admission to Ph.D.: No upper age limit.
Exam Pattern
Paper I (50 questions) and Paper II (100 questions) are held in a single sitting of 180 minutes (3 hours) with no break between the papers. The maximum marks are 300 and there is no negative marking. Qualification is decided on the aggregate of Paper I and Paper II.
How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026
- Visit the official website ugcnet.nta.nic.in and click on “UGC-NET Dec 2026 Application form”.
- Register using your own email ID and mobile number (registration is enabled through the Meri Pehchaan Single Sign-On).
- Fill in the application form and note the system-generated Application Number.
- Capture a live photograph and upload a recent photo (10 KB–200 KB), signature (10 KB–50 KB) and, if applicable, Disability/UDID certificate PDF (50 KB–300 KB).
- Pay the fee online by 28.10.2026 and download the confirmation page.
Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply Online – UGC-NET Dec 2026 Application form | Apply Here |
| Updated Information Bulletin (as on 16.10.2026) (PDF) | Download |
| Corrigendum to Information Bulletin (16.10.2026) (PDF) | Download |
| Public Notice – Opening of registration (08.10.2026) (PDF) | Download |
| UGC NET official website | https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/ |
| NTA official website | https://nta.ac.in/ |
हिंदी में जानकारी
राष्ट्रीय परीक्षा एजेंसी (NTA) ने UGC NET दिसंबर 2026 परीक्षा का नोटिफिकेशन जारी कर दिया है। ऑनलाइन आवेदन 08 अक्टूबर 2026 से शुरू हैं और अंतिम तिथि 28 अक्टूबर 2026 है। ₹500 लेट फीस के साथ 29 से 31 अक्टूबर तक आवेदन किया जा सकता है। 16 अक्टूबर 2026 को जारी अपडेटेड बुलेटिन के अनुसार परीक्षा 14 से 18 दिसंबर 2026 और 21 दिसंबर 2026 को CBT मोड में होगी।
- आवेदन शुल्क: सामान्य ₹1,150, EWS/OBC-NCL ₹600, SC/ST/थर्ड जेंडर/PwD ₹325।
- योग्यता: मास्टर डिग्री में सामान्य/EWS के लिए 55% और OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/थर्ड जेंडर के लिए 50% अंक।
- आयु: JRF के लिए 01.12.2026 को अधिकतम 30 वर्ष; असिस्टेंट प्रोफेसर और PhD के लिए कोई ऊपरी आयु सीमा नहीं।
- एडमिट कार्ड 07 दिसंबर 2026 को और परीक्षा शहर की सूचना 23 नवंबर 2026 को जारी होगी।
- आवेदन केवल ugcnet.nta.nic.in पर करें।
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM). With a late fee of ₹500, you can apply from 29 to 31 October 2026.
When will the UGC NET December 2026 exam be held?
As per the updated Information Bulletin dated 16.10.2026, the exam will be held from 14 to 18 December 2026 and on 21 December 2026.
What is the application fee for UGC NET December 2026?
₹1,150 for General/Unreserved, ₹600 for Gen-EWS/OBC-NCL and ₹325 for SC/ST/Third Gender and PwD/PwBD candidates.
Is there an age limit for UGC NET Assistant Professor?
No. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission. For JRF, the maximum age is 30 years as on 01.12.2026 (with relaxations).
Is there negative marking in UGC NET?
No. As per the Information Bulletin, there is no negative marking for incorrect responses.
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Source: National Testing Agency – ugcnet.nta.nic.in
Note: This article is prepared from the official notice/website. Dates and details can change – always verify the latest information on the official website before applying or downloading. / नोट: आवेदन या डाउनलोड से पहले आधिकारिक वेबसाइट पर नवीनतम जानकारी अवश्य जांचें।
