In short:
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened the UGC NET December 2026 application form. Apply at ugcnet.nta.nic.in by 28 October 2026 (11:50 PM). The exam will be held from 14 to 19 December 2026 across 87 subjects in CBT mode. Separately, applications for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET are open until 5 November 2026, and this cycle brings a major change: DBT-BET has been merged into the Life Sciences paper. Apply at ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
Key Takeaways
- UGC NET December 2026 form: 8 October to 28 October 2026
- Late fee window: 29 to 31 October 2026, with an extra ₹500
- Correction window: 2 to 4 November 2026
- Exam dates: 14 to 19 December 2026, computer-based test (CBT)
- Fee: ₹1,150 (General), ₹600 (EWS/OBC-NCL), ₹325 (SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender)
- JRF age limit: 30 years as on 1 December 2026, with relaxation of up to 5 years
- No upper age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD admission
UGC NET December 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification and form release | 8 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply and pay fee | 28 October 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Application with late fee (₹500 extra) | 29 to 31 October 2026 |
| Application correction window | 2 to 4 November 2026 |
| Examination dates (CBT mode) | 14 to 19 December 2026 |
| Buffer exam dates | 20 and 21 December 2026 |
| Joint CSIR-UGC NET application deadline | 5 November 2026 |
| City intimation and admit card | To be announced on ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
Application Fee (Non-refundable, Online Only)
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | ₹1,150 |
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender | ₹325 |
| Late Fee Surcharge (29–31 October 2026) | ₹500 extra |
Eligibility for UGC NET December 2026
Educational Qualification
- General/Unreserved/General-EWS: at least 55% in a Master's degree or equivalent.
- OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender: at least 50%.
- Final-year Master's students and those awaiting results can also apply, subject to the bulletin's conditions.
- Four-year bachelor's degree holders with at least 75% (70% for reserved categories) are eligible for JRF and PhD admission.
Age Limit
- JRF: maximum 30 years as on 1 December 2026.
- Relaxation of up to 5 years: OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, Third Gender and women candidates.
- Assistant Professor / PhD admission: no upper age limit.
JRF, Assistant Professor or PhD only: Which Should You Choose?
You pick one category while applying, and it decides what your score can be used for.
- JRF + Assistant Professor + PhD admission: The funded research route. It also qualifies you for university/college teaching roles. Has an upper age limit of 30 years (with applicable category relaxations).
- Assistant Professor + PhD admission: For teaching-focused candidates without age limit restrictions or research fellowship requirements. No upper age limit.
- PhD admission only: For candidates who strictly seek eligibility for doctoral programme admissions in Indian universities and higher educational institutions without fellowship or teaching eligibility.
Choose carefully, because the wrong category can limit what your result is valid for.
Exam Pattern at a Glance
- Computer-Based Test (CBT) in English and Hindi
- 87 subjects
- Two papers, 180 minutes in total
- Held twice a year (June and December)
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Open ugcnet.nta.nic.in (official NTA website).
- Click the December 2026 application link and register. Registration runs through the Meri Pehchaan single sign-on using your verified mobile number and email.
- Fill in personal, academic, postgraduate mark details and subject preferences exactly as on your qualifying marksheets.
- Choose your category carefully (JRF + Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor only, or PhD only) and select 4 preferred exam cities.
- Upload your scanned photograph, signature, and category or PwD certificates in the prescribed format and dimensions.
- Pay the non-refundable examination fee online via debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.
- Submit the application and download and print the confirmation page for future reference.
Keep Ready Before You Start
- Master's degree (or final-year qualifying) marks sheets and roll details
- Scanned passport-size photograph and specimen signature in prescribed format
- Valid Category Certificate (OBC-NCL, EWS, SC/ST) or PwD Certificate if applicable
- Active mobile number and valid email ID for Meri Pehchaan verification
- Net banking / UPI / Debit card / Credit card for online application fee
Profile Match & Application Advisory
Who Should Definitely Apply:
- Post-graduates with minimum 55% marks (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, Third Gender) seeking Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or Assistant Professorship in Indian universities.
- Final-year Master degree students or candidates awaiting final qualifying exam results (must complete degree with requisite percentage within 2 years).
- Four-year Bachelor degree holders with minimum 75% marks eligible directly for JRF and PhD admissions under revised UGC guidelines.
- Aspirants aged 30 or under as on 1 December 2026 targeting funded research fellowships (up to 35 years for reserved categories and women candidates).
Who Should Reconsider or Skip:
- Candidates scoring below 55% marks in Master degree (below 50% for reserved categories) who do not possess a qualifying 4-year Bachelor degree with 75%.
- Candidates exceeding 30 years of age as on 01-12-2026 who are only interested in JRF fellowship without eligible age relaxations (though eligible for Assistant Professor and PhD).
- Aspirants seeking state-level lectureship who prefer state-specific SET exams in regional languages.
Common Registration Mistakes to Avoid
- Selecting the wrong eligibility category (e.g. PhD only instead of JRF + Assistant Professor).
- Mismatched name, father name or date of birth compared to official matriculation and degree certificates.
- Uploading blurry or non-compliant passport photos and signatures.
- Waiting until the final hours of 28 October when the NTA payment gateway experiences peak traffic.
- Not downloading and saving the final Confirmation Page after successful payment.
Interactive Candidate Utilities Suite
Free statutory calculators and specification validators for UGC NET aspirants
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
The last date to apply and pay the normal examination fee is 28 October 2026 (11:50 PM). An extended late fee window is open from 29 to 31 October with a ₹500 penalty.
What are the examination dates for UGC NET December 2026?
The exam is scheduled from 14 to 19 December 2026 as a Computer-Based Test (CBT), with buffer dates on 20 and 21 December 2026.
What is the application fee for UGC NET December 2026?
The fee is ₹1,150 for General/Unreserved, ₹600 for General-EWS/OBC-NCL, and ₹325 for SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender candidates.
What is the upper age limit for UGC NET JRF in December 2026?
The maximum age for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is 30 years as on 1 December 2026. A relaxation of up to 5 years is provided to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, Third Gender, and women candidates.
Is there an age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD admission?
No. There is no upper age limit for applying for Assistant Professor or PhD admission only.
Can final-year Master students apply for UGC NET?
Yes. Candidates in their final year of a Master’s degree or awaiting final results are eligible to apply, subject to fulfilling the minimum percentage criteria within two years.
What is the big change regarding DBT-BET this cycle?
DBT-BET has been merged into the Joint CSIR-UGC NET Life Sciences paper under the discipline Life Sciences and Biotechnology (LS & BT). Applications for Joint CSIR-UGC NET are open until 5 November 2026.
Official Links
UGC NET Application Portal: ugcnet.nta.nic.in
Joint CSIR-UGC NET Portal: csirnet.nta.ac.in