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

The National Testing Agency has announced good news for UGC NET aspirants across the country. NTA has released its proposed schedule for the UGC NET December 2026 Cycle as part of its Examination Calendar, giving candidates an early view of when the exam is likely to be held. This helps lakhs of aspirants plan their study and revision timelines well in advance. This article covers the UGC NET Exam Date 2026, eligibility criteria, exam pattern and other important details.

UGC NET Exam Date 2026 Out

NTA issued a public notice on September 16, 2026, releasing its Examination Calendar for exams proposed to be conducted from December 2026 up to March 2027. As per this calendar, the UGC NET December Cycle exam is proposed to be held in the mid of December 2026, with few days kept as buffer dates. Candidates should note that these dates are tentative, and NTA will release a separate, detailed notification with the complete information bulletin closer to the exam.

UGC NET Exam Date (December Cycle) 2026 Notice PDF

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 85 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