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

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the online application deadline for the University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) December 2026 examination. According to public notices issued on October 27 and October 28, 2026, candidates now have until October 31, 2026, to submit their applications.

This extension aims to provide additional time for prospective candidates to apply for the examination, which determines eligibility for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. As of October 22, 2026, 2.18 lakh candidates had registered for the UGC NET and CSIR NET exams.

Revised Application and Fee Submission Schedule

The NTA’s revised schedule indicates that the last date for submitting online application forms without a late fee is now October 31, 2026, until 11:50 PM. The online application process for UGC NET December 2026 commenced on October 8, 2026. Candidates who apply between October 29, 2026, and October 31, 2026, will be required to pay a late fee of Rs. 500.

The last date for successful transaction of examination fees, including those with a late fee, is also October 31, 2026, until 11:50 PM. Following the application period, a correction window for online application forms will be available from November 2, 2026, to November 4, 2026, until 11:50 PM.

Eligibility Criteria and Application Fees

To be eligible for the UGC-NET December 2026 examination, candidates must hold a Master’s Degree or an equivalent qualification. General/EWS candidates are required to have a minimum of 55% aggregate marks, while OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender candidates need a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.

For the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the maximum age limit is 30 years. There is no upper age limit for candidates applying for Assistant Professor/Lectureship and Ph.D. Admission. The application fees vary by category, as detailed by the NTA.

Examination Structure and Purpose

The UGC-NET December 2026 examination will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode for 87 subjects. The exam dates are scheduled from December 14 to December 18, 2026, and December 21, 2026. The test is designed to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor positions in Indian universities and colleges.

Beyond academic appointments, the UGC-NET also serves as the basis for selection for various national fellowships, including the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC), National Fellowship for Other Backward Classes (NFOBC), and Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students (MANF), administered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Minority Affairs, respectively. The examination consists of two papers, Paper I and Paper II, with a total duration of 180 minutes.

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 EdCET 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.

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