The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is one of India’s most prestigious examinations for aspiring academicians and researchers. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), this exam determines eligibility for the post of Assistant Professor and the award of the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. Over the years, UGC has also approved NET scores for PhD admissions, making the exam even more significant for students pursuing higher education.
The official notification for the UGC NET 2025 December session is expected to be released in September 2025. Once the schedule is announced, eligible candidates can register online through the official website, ugcnet.nta.ac.in. The application process will likely be open during October and November 2025, with an application correction window available within the same period. The examination itself is expected to be held in January 2026, conducted in two daily shifts — from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Before the exam, candidates will receive a city intimation slip, generally released 10 days before the test, which informs them of the city of their exam center. The admit card, containing the exact address and exam details, will be released about a week prior to the exam. The test will be conducted online in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across 83 subjects. It will consist of two papers, both held in a single three-hour session. Paper 1, common to all candidates, will assess teaching and research aptitude, while Paper 2 will focus on subject-specific knowledge. In total, there will be 150 multiple-choice questions carrying 300 marks, with no negative marking for incorrect answers.
The eligibility criteria for UGC NET require candidates to hold a master’s degree with at least 55% marks (50% for SC, ST, OBC, PwD, and EWS candidates). For the Junior Research Fellowship, the maximum age limit is 31 years with applicable relaxations, while there is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility. The application fee has been fixed at ₹1150 for General candidates, ₹650 for OBC/EWS, and ₹325 for SC/ST/PwD categories.
Results of the UGC NET are usually declared within two to three months of the exam. Qualified candidates are awarded an e-certificate, which remains valid for two years in the case of JRF and for a lifetime in the case of Assistant Professor eligibility. These certificates can be downloaded directly from the official UGC NET portal.
