UGC NET December 2026 exam dates revised; apply by 28 October
In short
- The UGC NET December 2026 examination will now be held from December 14 to 18, 2026, and on December 21, 2026.
- The online application window for the exam closes on October 28, 2026, which is also the last date for fee payment.
- Candidates can submit applications with a late fee of ₹500 from October 29 to October 31, 2026.
- The correction window for application particulars will be open from November 2 to November 4, 2026.
- Admit cards for the Computer-Based Test will be available for download from the NTA website on December 7, 2026.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released a revised official notification for the University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) December 2026 examination. The corrigendum to the UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin was issued on October 16, 2026, outlining changes to the examination schedule and other procedural details.
The UGC NET is conducted to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for Assistant Professor, Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), and PhD admission in Indian universities and colleges. The selection for National Fellowships for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC), Other Backward Classes (NFOBC), and Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students (MANF) is also supported through this examination. The previous UGC NET June 2026 exam was held on September 9 and 10, 2026, for specific subjects.
Revised Examination Schedule and Application Deadlines
The UGC NET December 2026 examination is now scheduled to take place from December 14 to December 18, 2026, and on December 21, 2026. This revises the earlier tentative schedule which included December 19, 2026, and buffer dates of December 20 and 21, 2026. The online application process commenced on October 8, 2026, and the deadline for submitting applications and paying fees is October 28, 2026.
Candidates who miss the initial deadline can apply with a late fee of ₹500 from October 29 to October 31, 2026. The last date for successful transaction with a late fee is October 31, 2026, up to 11:50 P.M. A correction window for application particulars will be available from November 2 to November 4, 2026, until 11:50 P.M.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| UGC NET December 2026 Application Starts | 8 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 28 October 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 28 October 2026 |
| Application with Late Fee | 29 to 31 October 2026 |
| Last Date of Successful Transaction with Late Fee through Credit/ Debit Cards/Net-Banking/UPI | 31 October 2026 (up to 11:50 P.M.) |
| Correction in the Particulars of Application Form online only | 02 November 2026 to 04 November 2026 (up to 11:50 P.M.) |
| Intimation of Cities of exam centres | 23 November 2026 |
| Downloading of Admit Card by the Candidate from NTA Website | 07 December 2026 |
| Dates of Examination | 14 December 2026 to 18 December 2026 and 21 December 2026 |
Key Changes in the Revised Notification
The corrigendum introduces several updates to the UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin. These include specific dates for the intimation of exam cities on November 23, 2026, and the availability of admit cards for download from the NTA website on December 7, 2026. The notification also clarifies late fee rules, stating that the ₹500 is an additional fee over and above the category-wise exam fee.
Regarding the examination process, the NTA has clarified that the exam will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode and will consist of two papers with a total of 150 questions for 300 marks, to be completed in 180 minutes without any break. There will be no negative marking. The result format will now include marks along with a Percentile Score, though cut-offs will be based on aggregate marks of Paper I and Paper II. The answer key challenge fee remains ₹200 per question challenged.
| Particulars | Earlier Notification | Revised Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Dates | 14–19 December 2026 (buffer dates: 20–21 December) | 14–18 December and 21 December 2026 |
| City Intimation Slip | To be intimated later | 23 November 2026 |
| Admit Card Download | To be intimated later | 7 December 2026 |
| Late Fee | ₹500 late fee mentioned | ₹500 is an additional late fee over and above the category-wise exam fee, applicable to all candidates |
| Fee Refund | No refund under any circumstances | No refund for a successful single payment; failed or duplicate transactions are refunded through a verified refund procedure |
| Correction Window | No change accepted at any stage | No change after the correction window closes, and only in NTA’s permitted fields |
| Medium of Paper | Option once chosen cannot be changed | Papers are bilingual (English and Hindi), except language papers |
| City Choice | Four cities from the permanent or present address state only | If fewer than four cities are available in the state, candidates can choose from the cities shown. Preferences can be revised in the correction window. |
| Evaluation of Questions | No marks for unanswered, unattempted or marked-for-review questions | Answered or attempted questions are evaluated even if marked for review. Unanswered questions are not evaluated. |
| Result Format | Result in percentile with marks or normalised marks | Result in marks along with a Percentile Score |
| Qualification and Cut-off | Based on percentile (lowest percentile as cut-off in multi-shift cases) | Based on aggregate marks of Paper I and Paper II (normalised marks for multi-shift subjects). The Percentile Score is shown on the scorecard but not used for cut-offs. |
| Answer Key Challenge Fee | ₹200 per answer key | ₹200 per question challenged |
| PwD/PwBD Certificates | One general certificate rule | Separate rules by disability type and level: UDID or disability certificate for blindness, locomotor disability (both arms) and cerebral palsy; Annexure VI for 40% or more disability with writing limitation; Annexure VIII for below 40% with writing limitation |
| Pen | Pen listed as a barred item | Pen is provided at the centre; candidates need not bring one |
| Gate Closing | Late reporting not allowed | Gates close before the exam begins. Late reporting is not allowed, and forceful entry or arguing with staff may be treated as unfair means. |
| Footwear | Slippers and low-heeled sandals allowed; heavy shoes not allowed | Normal shoes, slippers and low-heeled sandals allowed; long boots not allowed |
| Diabetic Candidates | No provision | Sugar tablets and unpacked whole fruits (banana, apple, orange) allowed |
| Drinking Water | Water barred | Water in transparent bottles allowed for all candidates |
Eligibility Criteria and Exam Day Instructions
To be eligible for the UGC NET December 2026 examination, candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks. A relaxation to 50% marks is provided for candidates belonging to reserved categories, including OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD. Postgraduate final year students are also provisionally eligible to apply. The Assistant Professor eligibility certificate has lifetime validity, while the Junior Research Fellowship is valid for four years.
The examination will be conducted in English and Hindi, except for language papers, across 87 subjects. New exam-day instructions include allowing normal shoes, slippers, and low-heeled sandals, while long boots are prohibited. Diabetic candidates are permitted to bring sugar tablets and unpacked whole fruits like bananas, apples, or oranges. All candidates are allowed to carry water in transparent bottles, and pens will be provided at the examination centre.
| Category | Minimum Marks Required in Master’s Degree |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 55% aggregate marks |
| OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD | 50% aggregate marks |
Further reading
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