UGC NET December Notification 2026 Out @ugcnet.nta.ac.in, Apply Online Link Active, Check Exam Date

UGC NET December Notification 2026 Out: The UGC NET Notification 2026 for the December session has been released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on October 8, 2026. The official UGC NET December 2026 application form is now available online at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Candidates who are planning to appear for the December session can complete their registration and submit the application form before the deadline.

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As per the official Information Bulletin, the UGC NET December 2026 exam will be conducted from December 14 to December 19, 2026 in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. Candidates should check the complete notification, eligibility criteria, application dates, examination fee, exam pattern and application process before applying.

UGC NET December Notification 2026 Out – Overview

The UGC NET examination is conducted by NTA to determine candidates’ eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor and PhD admission, depending on the category in which they qualify.

The December 2026 application process has started from October 8, 2026, and candidates can submit their forms online through the official UGC NET website.

The official NTA bulletin confirms that the application window will remain open until October 28, 2026, up to 11:50 PM, while the examination is scheduled from December 14 to 19, 2026.

UGC NET December 2026 Application Form

The UGC NET December 2026 application form link is active on the official website. Candidates are required to complete the application process online only.

Candidates should not wait until the last date to submit the form because the application process includes registration, filling in personal and academic details, uploading the required information, fee payment and downloading the confirmation page.

Official Website: UGC NET Official Website

UGC NET December 2026 Important Dates

Candidates can check the complete schedule below:

The official bulletin states that candidates can submit the application with a ₹500 late fee from October 29 to October 31, 2026.

UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee

Candidates need to pay the examination fee according to their category.

Applicable payment gateway/service charges and GST may be charged separately.

UGC NET December 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates should check the eligibility criteria before submitting the application form.

Educational Qualification

General/Unreserved/General-EWS candidates must have at least 55% marks in a Master’s degree or equivalent examination from a UGC-recognized university or institution.

Candidates belonging to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender categories require at least 50% marks in their Master’s degree or equivalent qualification.

Candidates who are currently pursuing their Master’s degree or have appeared in the final-year examination and are waiting for their results may also apply, subject to fulfilling the prescribed conditions.

Candidates with a four-year/eight-semester Bachelor’s degree can also apply under the conditions mentioned in the official notification. Such candidates can be eligible for JRF and PhD admission but are not eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor on the basis of a four-year Bachelor’s degree.

UGC NET Age Limit

For JRF, candidates should not be more than 30 years of age as on December 1, 2026, subject to applicable relaxations.

There is no upper age limit for applying for UGC NET for Assistant Professor or PhD admission.

UGC NET December 2026 Exam Pattern

The UGC NET December 2026 examination will be conducted in CBT mode. The test consists of two papers, and there is no break between Paper 1 and Paper 2.

The total examination duration is 180 minutes (3 hours). Each question carries 2 marks, and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

Paper 1

Paper 1 tests areas such as teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness.

Paper 2

Paper 2 is based on the subject selected by the candidate and tests the candidate’s subject knowledge.

UGC NET December 2026 Application Form – Documents & Details Required

Before starting the registration process, candidates should keep the required information and documents ready.

Candidates will need to provide details such as:

• Personal information
• Date of birth
• Mobile number and email ID
• Educational qualification details
• Category details, wherever applicable
• Choice of examination cities
• Selected UGC NET subject
• Photograph
• Signature
• Disability/UDID certificate, where applicable

The official bulletin specifies that candidates have to upload a recent photograph and signature in the prescribed format. A live photograph is also required during the application process.

How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026?

Candidates can follow the steps below to complete their UGC NET application form.

Step 1: Visit the Official Website

Go to the official UGC NET website:

ugcnet.nta.nic.in

Click on the UGC-NET December 2026 Application Form link.

Step 2: Complete Registration

Register using your own:

• Email ID
• Mobile number
• Basic personal details

Candidates may also use the Meri Pehchaan/Single Sign-On (SSO) facility available for registration.

Step 3: Fill the Application Form

Log in and enter the required details carefully, including:

• Personal details
• Academic qualifications
• Category
• UGC NET subject
• Examination city preferences
• Other required information

Check all details carefully before submitting the form.

Step 4: Upload Photograph and Signature

Upload the required photograph and signature according to the specifications mentioned in the Information Bulletin.

For the photograph, candidates should ensure that the face is clearly visible and the required background and size specifications are followed.

Step 5: Pay the Application Fee

Pay the examination fee through the available online payment options such as:

• Debit Card
• Credit Card
• Net Banking
• UPI

The application will be considered complete only after successful payment of the prescribed examination fee.

Step 6: Download Confirmation Page

After successful fee payment, download and save the Confirmation Page.

Candidates are advised to keep a copy of the confirmation page and payment receipt safely for future reference.

UGC NET December 2026 Exam Date

According to the official Information Bulletin, the UGC NET December 2026 examination will be conducted from December 14 to December 19, 2026.

The exact subject-wise date, shift and examination centre will be mentioned through the admit card and related NTA updates.

The examination will be conducted for three hours without any break between Paper 1 and Paper 2.

What After UGC NET December 2026 Application?

After completing the registration process, candidates should regularly check the official website for further updates.

The next major updates are expected to include:

1. Application correction window
2. Examination city intimation
3. Admit card
4. UGC NET December 2026 examination
5. Provisional answer key
6. Answer key challenge window
7. UGC NET result

The dates for the exam city intimation, admit card, answer key and result will be announced by NTA separately.

UGC NET December 2026 Preparation Tips

Once the application form is submitted, candidates should focus on preparation instead of waiting for the admit card.

A simple preparation strategy is:

• Complete the UGC NET syllabus subject-wise.
• Give equal attention to Paper 1 and Paper 2.
• Practice previous year questions regularly.
• Attempt mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.
• Revise important concepts multiple times.
• Analyse your mock-test performance and work on weak topics.
• Keep checking official NTA updates for any changes in the examination schedule.

Conclusion

The UGC NET Notification 2026 for the December session is now officially released, and the application form is active from October 8, 2026. Eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official NTA UGC NET website until October 28, 2026.

The UGC NET December 2026 examination is scheduled from December 14 to 19, 2026. Candidates should complete their registration carefully, pay the examination fee on time and save the confirmation page after successful submission.

With the application process now underway, candidates should also start their focused preparation for Paper 1 and Paper 2 and regularly follow official NTA updates for the city intimation slip, admit card, answer key and result.

UGC NET December Notification 2026 Out FAQs