UGC NET December 2026 Application Form Out: Apply by 28 October for JRF and Assistant Professor, Exam 14-19 December
NTA has opened the UGC-NET December 2026 application form on 8 October 2026 for JRF, Assistant Professor and Ph.D. eligibility in 87 subjects. Apply online by 28 October 2026; the CBT exam will be held from 14 to 19 December 2026.
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UGC NET December 2026 Application Form: Overview
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened the online application form for UGC-NET December 2026. The public notice is dated 8 October 2026, and the official UGC-NET website posted the message "UGC-NET Dec 2026 Application form live!" on the same day. Candidates can apply online from 8 October to 28 October 2026. The exam will be held from 14 to 19 December 2026 in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode for 87 subjects.
UGC-NET is the national test that decides eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D. in Indian universities and colleges. If you want a teaching career in higher education or a funded research seat, this is the exam to apply for now. All facts below are taken from the NTA public notice and the official Information Bulletin for December 2026.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam name | UGC-NET December 2026 |
| Conducting body | National Testing Agency (NTA), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education |
| Notice date | 8 October 2026 |
| Purpose | JRF and Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission, or Ph.D. admission only |
| Subjects | 87 |
| Mode of exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) only |
| Exam dates | 14 to 19 December 2026 |
| Apply online | 8 October to 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Official website | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application starts | 8 October 2026 |
| Last date to submit application | 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Last date for fee payment | 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Late application with late fee of ₹500 | 29 October to 31 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Correction in application form | 2 November to 4 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Exam city intimation and admit card | To be announced later on the website |
| Examination dates | 14 December to 19 December 2026 |
| Recorded responses and answer keys | To be announced later on the website |
NTA says all dates are tentative. Your exact date, shift and centre will be shown on the admit card.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | ₹1,150 |
| Gen-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹600 |
| SC / ST / PwD (PwBD) / Third Gender | ₹325 |
Fee can be paid online through credit card, debit card, net banking or UPI. Bank processing charges and GST are payable over and above the exam fee, as per the Information Bulletin.
Eligibility
Educational qualification
- General / Unreserved / Gen-EWS: at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in Master's degree or equivalent.
- OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender: at least 50% marks (without rounding off) in Master's degree or equivalent.
- Candidates whose Master's result is still awaited can apply, but they are admitted provisionally and must pass with the required marks.
- Four-year undergraduate degree holders: need at least 75% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade (5% relaxation for eligible categories). They can qualify for JRF and Ph.D. admission, but not for Assistant Professor.
Age limit
- JRF: not more than 30 years as on 1 December 2026.
- Relaxation of up to 5 years for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third Gender and women. LL.M. degree holders get 3 years. Research experience and armed forces service also give relaxation, but total relaxation cannot exceed five years.
- Assistant Professor: there is no upper age limit.
Three Categories of Qualification
- Category 1: Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor (also eligible for Ph.D. admission).
- Category 2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D. (no JRF).
- Category 3: Admission to Ph.D. only.
Your category depends on your total performance in Paper 1 and Paper 2.
Exam Pattern
| Paper | Questions | Marks | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 50 MCQs | 100 | Teaching and research aptitude: reasoning, comprehension, divergent thinking, general awareness |
| Paper 2 | 100 MCQs | 200 | Subject chosen by the candidate |
| Total | 150 | 300 | Duration: 180 minutes (3 hours), no break |
- Each question carries 2 marks.
- There is no negative marking for wrong answers.
- Question papers are in English and Hindi, except language papers. The medium chosen in the form cannot be changed.
How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026
- Open the official website ugcnet.nta.nic.in and click "UGC-NET Dec 2026 Application form live!".
- Step 1 – Registration: register with your own (or parent's/guardian's) email ID and mobile number. Registration uses MeitY's Meri Pehchan single sign-on. Aadhaar verification is recommended.
- Step 2 – Application form: fill in personal, academic and subject details. Choose four exam cities from the state of your permanent or present address. Note the system-generated Application Number.
- Upload a live photograph (captured during form filling), a recent photograph (10 KB to 200 KB), signature (10 KB to 50 KB) and, if applicable, disability/UDID certificate in PDF (50 KB to 300 KB).
- Step 3 – Fee payment: pay online by debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI by 28 October 2026.
- Download and save the confirmation page. It is generated only after successful payment.
Submit only one application. Check all details carefully, because changes are allowed only during the official correction window (2 to 4 November 2026).
Important Official Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply online (UGC-NET Dec 2026) | examinationservices.nic.in |
| NTA Public Notice (8 October 2026) | Download PDF |
| Information Bulletin December 2026 | Download PDF |
| UGC-NET official website | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
| NTA website | nta.ac.in |
Helpdesk: 011-40759000 / 011-69227700, email [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
The last date is 28 October 2026 (11:50 PM) for both application and fee. A late window with a ₹500 late fee is open from 29 to 31 October 2026.
When will the UGC NET December 2026 exam be held?
The exam is scheduled from 14 to 19 December 2026 in CBT mode.
What is the age limit for JRF?
Not more than 30 years as on 1 December 2026, with relaxation up to 5 years for eligible categories. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor.
Is there negative marking in UGC NET?
No. Each correct answer gets 2 marks and there is no deduction for wrong answers.
Can final-year PG students apply?
Yes. Candidates whose Master's result is awaited can apply provisionally, but they must later pass with 55% (50% for reserved categories).
How many exam cities can I choose?
You must choose four cities, all within the state of your permanent or present address.
Conclusion
The UGC-NET December 2026 application window is open from 8 to 28 October 2026, and the exam will be held from 14 to 19 December 2026. Check your eligibility, keep your photo, signature and documents ready, and apply early on ugcnet.nta.nic.in to avoid last-day server rush. Follow the official website for the exam city slip and admit card.
References
- https://www.nta.ac.in/Download/Notice/Notice_20261008212430.pdf – NTA Public Notice: Opening of Online Registration Portal for UGC-NET December 2026, 08 October 2026
- https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s301eee509ee2f68dc6014898c309e86bf/uploads/2026/10/202610081852912625.pdf – Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026 (as on 08.10.2026)
- https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/ugc-net-dec-2026-application-form-live/ – UGC-NET Dec 2026 Application form live!, 08 October 2026
- https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/information-bulletin/ – UGC-NET Information Bulletin page, accessed 13 October 2026