UGC NET June 2026 Answer Key Challenge Deadline Today for 84 Subjects: Check Fee, Evaluation Rules, and Detailed Procedure
Thousands of candidates across India are facing a crucial deadline today. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will permanently close the online objection window for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) June 2026 session tonight, August 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
The UGC NET serves as India’s benchmark examination to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowships (JRF), Assistant Professor appointments, and Ph.D. program admissions in Indian universities and colleges. Following the nationwide examination conducted between June 22 and June 30, the release of provisional keys for 84 subjects marks the final stage before scorecards are generated.
Candidates who appeared for these 84 subjects have a limited window to review their official response sheets against the master answer key. If any discrepancy—such as an incorrect option, ambiguous question statement, or technical error—is identified, candidates must submit a formal challenge before the midnight deadline. No offline requests, emails, or late submissions will be processed under any circumstances.
UGC NET June 2026 Answer Key Challenge: Key Overview
| Key Details | Official NTA Guidelines |
| Exam Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Name | UGC NET June 2026 Session |
| Subjects Covered in Key Release | 84 Subjects |
| Answer Key Challenge Deadline | August 18, 2026 (up to 11:59 PM) |
| Processing Fee | ₹200 per question challenged |
| Payment Deadline | August 18, 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Official Portal | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
| Excluded Subjects | English, Commerce, and Sociology (handled under a separate notice) |
Detailed Fee Structure and Refund Policy
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Processing Fee: Candidates must pay a non-refundable processing fee of ₹200 for each question challenged. For instance, challenging 3 separate questions requires a total payment of ₹600.
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Accepted Payment Modes: Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI.
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Refund Eligibility: If the subject expert panel accepts an objection and revises the provisional answer key, the ₹200 processing fee for that specific question will be refunded in full to the account used for payment. If the challenge is rejected, the fee is forfeited.
Important Note on Excluded Subjects: The current key challenge window applies to 84 subjects. The provisional keys for English, Commerce, and Sociology are governed under a separate notice following expert committee reviews.
Standard Marking Scheme and Evaluation Rules
Before raising objections, candidates should calculate their probable scores using the NTA marking criteria:
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Paper 1 (General Aptitude & Teaching Skills): 50 Questions | 100 Marks
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Paper 2 (Domain Subject): 100 Questions | 200 Marks
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Correct Answer: +2 Marks
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Incorrect / Unattempted: 0 Marks (There is no negative marking in UGC NET)
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Multiple Correct Options: If more than one option is declared correct by experts, +2 marks are awarded to all candidates who chose any of the valid options.
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Dropped Questions: If a question is found to be incorrect or invalidated, it is dropped, and +2 marks are awarded to all candidates who appeared for that shift.
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Language Authority: In cases of translation mismatches between English and Hindi versions, the English question version is considered final.
Step-by-Step Guide to Challenge the UGC NET Answer Key
Next Steps: Final Key and Result Declaration
Once the objection window closes tonight at 11:59 PM, NTA’s panel of subject experts will evaluate all submitted grievances. Individual candidates will not receive confirmation regarding the outcome of their specific challenge.
Instead, NTA will release a Final Answer Key reflecting all valid updates. Scores for the UGC NET June 2026 session will be compiled strictly on the basis of this Final Answer Key.
