UGC NET application deadline extended: apply by 31 October for December 2026 exam

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the last date for submitting online application forms for the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) December 2026 examination. Candidates now have until 31 October 2026 to complete their applications without a late fee.

This extension follows a public notice issued by the NTA on 27 October 2026, which moved the deadline from 28 October 2026. The NTA had previously extended deadlines for the UGC-NET June 2026 examination in response to requests from numerous candidates.

UGC NET December 2026 Application Details

The online application process for the UGC NET December 2026 examination commenced on 8 October 2026. The examination is conducted to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to Ph.D. programmes in Indian universities and colleges. As of 22 October 2026, 2.18 lakh candidates had registered for the UGC NET and CSIR NET exams, according to data shared by the NTA on its official X account.

Candidates who need to make corrections to their submitted application forms for the December 2026 exam will have a dedicated window from 2 to 4 November 2026. The examination itself is scheduled to be held from 14 to 18 December 2026 and on 21 December 2026.

Eligibility Criteria and Fees for UGC NET

To be eligible for the UGC NET examination, candidates must hold a Master’s Degree or an equivalent qualification in the relevant subject. General and EWS category candidates are required to have a minimum of 55% aggregate marks in their Master’s Degree. For OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, and Third Gender candidates, the minimum aggregate marks required are 50%.

The application fees vary by category. General category candidates are required to pay ₹1150, while OBC and EWS candidates pay ₹600. SC, ST, and PwD candidates have an application fee of ₹325. Required documents for the application include a mobile number, email ID, 10th-grade mark sheet for date of birth and name verification, Master’s Degree, a recent photograph and signature, and a list of subjects.

Previous Extensions for UGC-NET June 2026

The NTA had also extended deadlines for the UGC-NET June 2026 examination earlier in the year. A public notice on 23 May 2026 announced a further extension for the submission of online application forms. The deadline for online application submission for the June 2026 exam was extended from 23 May 2026 (10:00 A.M.) to 24 May 2026 (11:50 P.M.).

Similarly, the last date for submitting the examination fee for UGC-NET June 2026 was extended from 23 May 2026 to 24 May 2026. The correction window for particulars in the online application form for the June 2026 exam was also adjusted, running from 26 May 2026 to 28 May 2026.

Candidates for the UGC-NET June 2026 examination who faced difficulties were advised to contact 011-40759000 / 011-69227700 or e-mail at ugcnet@nta.ac.in. The NTA conducts the UGC NET exam twice a year, in June and December.

Further reading

• NTA revised exam calendar 2026-27 out: check new JEE Main, UGC NET, CUET PG dates
• JEE Main, CUET PG, UGC NET: NTA releases revised exam calendar for 2026-27
• AP Ed.CET registration: dates and steps to apply
• UGC NET: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →