UGC NET Exam Date 2026 Out (Dec Cycle), Check Official Schedule

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the UGC NET December 2026 examination, providing candidates with an important update regarding the upcoming exam cycle. According to the official schedule, the examination will take place from 14 to 19 December 2026 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Candidates can use these dates to organise their study plans, focus on revision, and practise mock tests effectively before the examination.

UGC NET Exam Date 2026 Out

The UGC NET December 2026 exam dates have been announced, with the examination scheduled from 14 to 19 December 2026 across 87 subjects. The test will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode at designated examination centres. UGC NET assesses the eligibility of Indian nationals for Assistant Professor positions, Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), and admission to PhD programmes, depending on the applicable eligibility criteria.

UGC NET Exam Date 2026: Overview

Candidates can refer to the table below for a quick summary of the key details related to the UGC NET December 2026 exam.

UGC NET Exam Schedule 2026

The UGC NET December Cycle exam is proposed to run for six days. Candidates are advised to keep checking the NTA website for the detailed notification, which will carry exact shift timings and city-wise scheduling.

What is UGC NET Exam?

UGC NET, or the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test, is a national-level exam conducted by NTA to determine the eligibility of candidates for the post of Assistant Professor and for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The exam is held twice a year, usually in June and December, and covers over 87 subjects across Humanities, Social Sciences, Computer Science and other streams. Qualifying UGC NET is also often considered for PhD admissions in many universities.

Key Points about UGC NET:

• Conducted by NTA on behalf of UGC
• Determines eligibility for Assistant Professor and JRF posts
• Held twice a year, in June and December cycles
• Conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode
• Covers 85+ subjects across various academic streams
• Score also used by many universities for PhD admission

UGC NET Exam Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must fulfil certain academic and age-related conditions before applying for UGC NET. These conditions differ slightly depending on whether the candidate is applying for JRF or for Assistant Professor eligibility, and are checked again at the stage of document verification.

• Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university.
• Final-year postgraduate students and those awaiting their result can also apply.
• Minimum Marks: General/Unreserved/EWS candidates need at least 55% marks in their Master’s degree, while OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and other reserved category candidates need at least 50%.
• Age Limit for JRF: Candidates should not be more than 30 years old as on the first day of the month in which the exam concludes. Age relaxation is available for reserved categories.
• Age Limit for Assistant Professor: There is no upper age limit for candidates applying only for Assistant Professor eligibility.
• Subject Choice: Candidates can choose from over 85 subjects offered under UGC NET, based on their postgraduate specialisation.

UGC NET Exam Pattern

The UGC NET exam is conducted as a single 3-hour computer-based test with two compulsory papers held back-to-back, without any break in between.

Paper 1: General Paper

• Tests teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, divergent thinking, and general awareness
• Carries 50 questions worth 100 marks (2 marks each)
• Compulsory for every candidate, regardless of subject

Paper 2: Subject-Specific Paper

• Tests in-depth knowledge of the subject chosen by the candidate
• Carries 100 questions worth 200 marks (2 marks each)
• Based on the candidate’s postgraduate subject, chosen from over 85 available options

Marking Scheme

• Correct answer: +2 marks
• Wrong answer: 0 marks (no deduction)
• Unattempted question: 0 marks