UGC NET December 2026 Latest Updates: Application Form, Fees & Eligibility
The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is the national-level test that decides who qualifies for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes in Indian universities and colleges. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts it on behalf of the UGC twice a year, in June and December, in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.
UGC NET December 2026 registration is open. Last date to apply: 28 October 2026, 11:50 PM. This guide covers the officially confirmed dates, fees, eligibility rules and form-filling steps.
UGC NET December 2026 Latest Updates
NTA released the official public notice for UGC NET December 2026 on 8 October 2026, and online registration opened the same day. Here are the key confirmed updates:
- Status: Registration is live; the regular last date is 28 October 2026 (up to 11:50 PM).
- Subjects: The exam will be held for 87 subjects in CBT mode.
- Exam dates: 14 to 19 December 2026. Exam city and admit card dates will be intimated later.
- Late window: Forms can still be submitted from 29 to 31 October 2026 with a late fee of ₹500.
- Three qualifying categories: (i) JRF and Assistant Professor, (ii) Assistant Professor and PhD admission, and (iii) PhD admission only.
- Login options: Registration is also enabled through Meri Pehchaan single sign-on, and NTA advises using Aadhaar verification where possible.
NTA has stated that these dates are tentative. Always verify updates on the official portal ugcnet.nta.nic.in and read the official public notice dated 8 October 2026.
UGC NET December 2026 Application Form
The UGC NET December 2026 application form is accepted only online. To Apply Online, open the official portal and click “UGC-NET Dec 2026 Application form” under Candidate Activity. Forms sent by any other mode are rejected, and each candidate may submit only one application.
- Read the documents first: Download the Information Bulletin and the replica of the form, and confirm your eligibility.
- Register: Create your account with your own email ID and mobile number. You can also sign in through Meri Pehchaan.
- Fill the form: Enter personal, category, educational and subject details, choose the question paper medium, and pick four exam cities from your state of permanent or present address. Note your application number.
- Upload images: Capture a live photograph through your webcam (or the QR code on a phone), then upload your scanned photograph, signature and, if applicable, your disability/UDID certificate.
- Pay the fee: Pay online through debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.
- Save the confirmation page: It is generated only after successful payment. Download it and keep printed copies.
The registration, form-filling and payment steps can be completed at different times, but the application is complete only after the fee is received.
UGC NET December 2026 Application Fees
The category-wise fees below are taken from the UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin (page 4).
| Category | Fee (₹) |
| General / Unreserved | 1,150 |
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | 600 |
| SC / ST / Third Gender | 325 |
| PwD / PwBD | 325 |
- Late fee: ₹500 extra for forms submitted between 29 and 31 October 2026.
- Bank charges: Processing charges and GST apply on top of the fee, depending on the payment mode. The bulletin’s payment annexure lists no processing charge for UPI; the exact charge for your mode is shown before you pay.
- No refunds: NTA does not refund the fee once it is paid.
- OBC note: Only candidates in the central OBC-NCL list may choose OBC-NCL. State-list OBC candidates must select General.
UGC NET December 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Master’s degree marks (without rounding off):
- General / Unreserved / General-EWS: at least 55%
- OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender: at least 50%
- PhD holders who completed their master’s by 19 September 1991 get a 5% relaxation (55% to 50%).
What each qualification makes you eligible for (as per section 2.1 of the December 2026 Information Bulletin):
| Your qualification | JRF | Assistant Professor | PhD admission |
| Master’s degree (55% / 50%) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Four-year bachelor’s degree (75%, with 5% relaxation for eligible categories) | Yes | No | Yes |
Your final eligibility also depends on the “qualify for” option you choose in the form and your result: JRF and Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor and PhD, or PhD only.
Final-year students can apply provisionally:
- Final-year master’s students (or those awaiting results) must pass with the required marks within two years of the NET result to be eligible for JRF or Assistant Professor. If they qualify for PhD admission only, the limit is one year.
- Final-year four-year bachelor’s students (last semester or year) must meet the UGC PhD Regulations 2022 requirements within two years if they qualify for JRF, or within one year if they qualify for PhD admission only.
Four-year degree holders may choose the subject in which they want to pursue a PhD, even if it differs from their bachelor’s discipline.
Age limit:
| Qualifying for | Upper age limit |
| JRF | 30 years as on 1 December 2026 |
| Assistant Professor | No upper age limit |
| PhD admission | No upper age limit |
JRF age relaxations, as stated in the bulletin:
- Up to 5 years for OBC-NCL (central list), SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender candidates, and for women.
- Research experience: relaxation equal to the time spent on research in the relevant or related subject of your postgraduation, up to 5 years. You need a certificate from a recognised university, Institute of National Importance, recognised foreign university or government PSU. Research done for your graduation or postgraduation degree does not count.
- LLM degree holders: 3 years.
- Armed forces service: up to 5 years, limited to the length of service up to 1 December 2026.
The bulletin adds that the total relaxation on all the above grounds cannot exceed five years.
Documents Required for UGC NET December 2026 Registration
NTA asks for very few uploads, but you need several details ready for reference.
| Item | Upload or reference | Specification |
| Live photograph | Captured on the form | Webcam or phone via QR; light background, 80% face visible including ears, no mask |
| Scanned photograph | Upload | 10–200 KB, colour or black and white, white background, 80% face visible |
| Signature | Upload | 10–50 KB |
| Disability / UDID certificate (PwD only) | Upload | PDF, 50–300 KB, clearly legible |
| Aadhaar details | Reference (recommended) | Keep Aadhaar updated with your current photo, name and date of birth |
| Email ID and mobile number | Reference | Must be your own or a parent’s |
| Master’s / bachelor’s marks and course details | Reference | Percentage, year, university |
| EWS / OBC-NCL certificate | Reference | OBC-NCL must be from the central list |
| Payment details | Reference | Card, net banking or UPI |
You do not need to post any document to NTA. However, keep your certificates safe, because reservation benefits are given only after document verification.
Important Dates and Application Process
All dates below are from the official NTA notice and bulletin. NTA calls them tentative, so recheck the portal before each deadline.
| Event | Date |
| Notification released | 8 October 2026 |
| Registration opens | 8 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 28 October 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Last date for fee payment | 28 October 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Late submission with ₹500 late fee | 29–31 October 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Correction window | 2–4 November 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Exam city intimation | To be announced |
| Admit card | To be announced |
| Examination dates | 14–19 December 2026 |
| Answer key and result | To be announced |
The bulletin’s exam schedule also keeps 20 and 21 December 2026 as buffer days. These are reserve dates, not announced exam days; your actual date and shift will appear on your admit card.
As per the bulletin’s marking scheme, the exam lasts 3 hours with no break. Paper 1 has 50 questions (100 marks) and Paper 2 has 100 questions (200 marks). Each question carries 2 marks, and there is no negative marking.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Filling the UGC NET Form
- Wrong personal details: Match your name, date of birth and parents’ names exactly with your Aadhaar and certificates.
- Wrong category: Choosing OBC-NCL with a state-list certificate, or claiming EWS without a valid certificate, can cost you the reservation benefit.
- Wrong “Qualify for” option: Choose JRF, Assistant Professor or PhD-only carefully, because it decides what you can be declared eligible for.
- Poor photo or signature: Blurry images, a coloured background, a mask or a face covering less than 80% can lead to rejection.
- Using someone else’s contact details: All updates come only to the registered email and mobile number.
- Waiting for the last day: The portal gets heavy traffic near 28 October. Apply early.
- Not saving the confirmation page: If it is not generated after payment, check with your bank before paying again.
- Missing the correction window: Changes are allowed only from 2 to 4 November 2026. After that, NTA will not edit any detail.
How to Prepare for UGC NET December 2026
With the examination scheduled to begin on 14 December 2026, candidates have approximately six to seven weeks after the regular application deadline to revise and practise.
- Know the syllabus: Download the subject-wise syllabus from the official UGC NET syllabus page. NTA does not send it to candidates.
- Paper 1: Cover all ten units, including teaching aptitude, research aptitude, comprehension, reasoning, data interpretation, ICT, and higher education. These are scoring topics.
- Paper 2: Focus on high-weightage units of your subject and revise core concepts, thinkers and theories.
- Previous-year papers: Solve at least five years of papers to understand question style and repeated topics.
- Mock tests: Take full-length 3-hour tests in CBT format. Since there is no negative marking, practise attempting every question.
- Revision: Keep the last two weeks for short notes and revision only.
- Realistic timetable: Divide each day between Paper 1, Paper 2 and practice, and review progress every week.
If you prefer guided preparation, Competition Guru Coaching Centre Chandigarh offers UGC NET coaching in Chandigarh for Paper 1 and subject-wise Paper 2, in both online and offline modes. You can also practise with its online test series. Candidates preparing for science subjects can explore its CSIR NET coaching.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the UGC NET December 2026 application form be released? It was released on 8 October 2026. The last date is 28 October 2026, with a late window until 31 October.
What is the application fee for UGC NET December 2026? ₹1,150 for General, ₹600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL, and ₹325 for SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender candidates.
What is the minimum qualification for UGC NET? A master’s degree with 55% marks (50% for reserved categories), or a four-year bachelor’s degree with 75% marks for JRF and PhD only.
Is there an age limit for UGC NET? Only for JRF: 30 years as on 1 December 2026, with relaxations. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD admission.
Can final-year postgraduate students apply? Yes, provisionally. They must complete the degree with the required marks within two years of the result.
Where can candidates check the official notification? On ugcnet.nta.nic.in and nta.ac.in. For help, call 011-40759000 / 011-69227700 or email ugcnet@nta.ac.in.
Conclusion
The UGC NET December 2026 registration is open until 28 October 2026, and the exam will be held from 14 to 19 December 2026. Check your eligibility, keep your photo and signature ready, pay the correct fee and save your confirmation page. Always verify updates on the official NTA portal. If you want structured guidance for Paper 1 and Paper 2, you can book a demo class at Competition Guru Coaching Centre Chandigarh.