National Testing Agency (NTA)
UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) — December 2026 Cycle
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has commenced the online registration process for the UGC NET December 2026 examination. Aspiring candidates for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professorship, and direct Ph.D. admissions in Indian universities and colleges must submit their application forms before 28 October 2026.
Important Dates & Summary
| Exam Conducting Agency | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Examination Cycle | UGC NET December 2026 |
| Last Date of Online Application | 28 October 2026 |
| Mode of Examination | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Test Papers & Duration | Paper 1 (General Paper) + Paper 2 (Subject Specific) — 3 Hours (No Break) |
Three Eligibility Categories Explained
Candidates qualifying in this category receive the monthly Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) stipend upon Ph.D. enrollment and are also fully qualified for recruitment as Assistant Professor in colleges and universities. Age limit: Maximum 30 years (with applicable category relaxations).
Qualifies candidates for appointment as an Assistant Professor and for admission into doctoral (Ph.D.) programmes (without JRF financial grant). In Ph.D. admissions, 70% weightage is given to NET scores and 30% to interview/viva-voce. No upper age limit.
Qualifies candidates solely for entrance into Ph.D. programmes in Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages, and Commerce (70% test score + 30% interview/viva-voce). Scores remain valid for 1 year from the date of result declaration. No upper age limit.
Academic Qualifications
- Master’s Degree or equivalent in Humanities (including languages), Social Sciences, Computer Science & Applications, Electronic Science, Commerce, etc., from UGC-recognized institutions.
- Minimum Qualifying Marks: At least 55% marks (without rounding off) for General / Unreserved / General-EWS candidates, and 50% marks for OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender candidates.
- Final Year Students: Candidates appearing in the final semester/year of their Master’s program or awaiting results can apply under the Result Awaited (RA) category.
- Four-Year Bachelor’s Degree: Candidates in the final year or with a completed 4-year / 8-semester Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 75% marks are eligible for JRF and Ph.D. admission.
Official Application Portal
Submit your online application, upload documents, and pay the examination fee through the official portal:
Centre for Training & Academic Guidance (An initiative of Human Welfare Foundation)