The National Testing Agency (NTA) has started the online application process for the UGC NET December 2026 examination. Candidates seeking eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor, or other applicable NET-related academic pathways can review the eligibility requirements and submit their applications within the prescribed schedule.
The application process began on 8 October 2026, and the last date to apply online and pay the examination fee is 28 October 2026. Candidates who need additional time may have the option to submit their applications with a late fee until 31 October 2026, subject to the official instructions. The application correction window is scheduled from 2 to 4 November 2026.
The NTA UGC NET December 2026 examination is scheduled to take place from 14 to 19 December 2026. Applicants should check their educational eligibility, select the appropriate subject, and read the official information bulletin before completing the application.
This article covers the application dates, examination fee, age limit, educational qualification, subject list, application procedure, and frequently asked questions about the NTA UGC NET December 2026 Online Form.
UGC NET December 2026: Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Examination Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Examination Name | UGC NET December 2026 |
| Examination Cycle | December 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 8 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 28 October 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 28 October 2026 |
| Last Date with Late Fee | 31 October 2026 |
| Correction Window | 2–4 November 2026 |
| Examination Dates | 14–19 December 2026 |
| Exam City Information | Before the Examination |
| Admit Card | Before the Examination |
| JRF Maximum Age | 30 Years |
| NET Upper Age Limit | No Upper Age Limit |
| Official Website | https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in/ |
Important Dates
Candidates should complete their application and payment before the relevant deadline. The late-fee window is separate from the regular application period.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Begins | 8 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 28 October 2026 |
| Last Date for Examination Fee | 28 October 2026 |
| Application with Late Fee | Until 31 October 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | 2–4 November 2026 |
| UGC NET December Examination | 14–19 December 2026 |
| Exam City Intimation | Before the Examination |
| Admit Card Release | Before the Examination |
The examination is scheduled across the period from 14 to 19 December 2026. Candidates should check the official schedule for the date, shift, and examination centre applicable to them. The exam city intimation slip and admit card are separate documents, and applicants should follow the instructions issued for each.
Application Fee
The examination fee varies by category. The fee details provided for this recruitment cycle are listed below.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General | ₹1,150 |
| EWS / OBC | ₹600 |
| SC / ST / PH | ₹325 |
| Late Fee | ₹500 extra, as applicable |
Payment Methods: Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, and UPI.
Candidates should select the correct category while completing the application. Those using the late-fee facility should check the portal for the final payable amount before completing payment.
After payment, save the transaction receipt and application confirmation. If a payment is unsuccessful or the confirmation does not appear, follow the instructions provided on the official portal rather than making repeated payments without checking the transaction status.
NTA UGC NET December 2026 Age Limit
The age criteria depend on the eligibility category for which the candidate is applying.
| Eligibility Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) | Maximum 30 Years |
| NET / Assistant Professor Eligibility | No Upper Age Limit |
The maximum age of 30 years applies to JRF according to the supplied details. There is no upper age limit for NET eligibility under the stated criteria.
Candidates should check the official information bulletin for the prescribed age calculation date, applicable relaxations, and any additional conditions. Applicants targeting JRF should pay particular attention to the age requirement before submitting their forms.
UGC NET December 2026 Educational Qualification
Candidates must meet the prescribed educational qualification for the selected subject and eligibility category.
1. Master's Degree Candidates
Candidates who have passed or are appearing in a master's degree examination in the relevant subject may be eligible, provided they satisfy the prescribed minimum marks and other conditions.
The minimum marks specified in the supplied details are:
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General category candidates: at least 55% marks.
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Candidates from categories eligible for relaxation should check the official notification for the applicable percentage and conditions.
Candidates appearing in the qualifying examination should carefully review the official rules governing provisional eligibility, completion of the degree, and submission of supporting documents.
2. Four-Year Bachelor's Degree Candidates
Candidates with a four-year bachelor's degree may also be eligible under the applicable UGC NET rules. However, eligibility conditions may differ depending on the purpose for which the candidate is applying, including JRF or other academic eligibility pathways.
Applicants with a four-year bachelor's degree should read the official information bulletin carefully to confirm the minimum marks, subject requirements, and the eligibility category available to them.
3. Subject Selection
Candidates should select a subject that matches their postgraduate qualification or the relevant eligibility rules. Choosing an unrelated subject without checking the prescribed conditions may create problems during application scrutiny or later stages.
The detailed notification should be treated as the final reference for accepted qualifications, equivalent degrees, category-based relaxations, and provisional eligibility.
UGC NET December 2026 Subject List
The supplied subject list contains 85 named subjects. Candidates should use the official subject codes and the exact subject names displayed in the application portal when completing the form.
| No. | Subject Name | No. | Subject Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adult Education / Continuing Education / Andragogy / Non-Formal Education | 44 | Maithili |
| 2 | Anthropology | 45 | Malayalam |
| 3 | Arab Culture and Islamic Studies | 46 | Management |
| 4 | Arabic | 47 | Manipuri |
| 5 | Archaeology | 48 | Marathi |
| 6 | Assamese | 49 | Mass Communication and Journalism |
| 7 | Bengali | 50 | Museology and Conservation |
| 8 | Bodo | 51 | Music |
| 9 | Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies | 52 | Nepali |
| 10 | Chinese | 53 | Oriya |
| 11 | Commerce | 54 | Pali |
| 12 | Comparative Literature | 55 | Performing Art – Dance / Drama / Theatre |
| 13 | Comparative Study of Religions | 56 | Persian |
| 14 | Computer Science and Applications | 57 | Philosophy |
| 15 | Criminology | 58 | Physical Education |
| 16 | Defense and Strategic Studies | 59 | Political Science |
| 17 | Dogri | 60 | Politics including International Relations / International Studies |
| 18 | Economics / Rural Economics / Co-operation / Demography / Development Studies and related areas | 61 | Population Studies |
| 19 | Education | 62 | Prakrit |
| 20 | Electronic Science | 63 | Psychology |
| 21 | English | 64 | Public Administration |
| 22 | Environmental Sciences | 65 | Punjabi |
| 23 | Folk Literature | 66 | Rajasthani |
| 24 | Forensic Science | 67 | Russian |
| 25 | French | 68 | Sanskrit |
| 26 | Geography | 69 | Sanskrit Traditional Subjects |
| 27 | German | 70 | Santali |
| 28 | Gujarati | 71 | Sindhi |
| 29 | Hindi | 72 | Social Medicine and Community Health |
| 30 | Hindu Studies | 73 | Social Work |
| 31 | History | 74 | Sociology |
| 32 | Home Science | 75 | Spanish |
| 33 | Human Rights and Duties | 76 | Tamil |
| 34 | Indian Culture | 77 | Telugu |
| 35 | Indian Knowledge System | 78 | Tourism Administration and Management |
| 36 | Japanese | 79 | Tribal and Regional Language / Literature |
| 37 | Kannada | 80 | Urdu |
| 38 | Kashmiri | 81 | Visual Art |
| 39 | Konkani | 82 | Women Studies |
| 40 | Labour Welfare / Personnel Management / Industrial Relations / Human Resource Management | 83 | Yoga |
| 41 | Law | 84 | Disaster Management |
| 42 | Library and Information Science | 85 | Ayurveda Biology |
| 43 | Linguistics | — | — |
Note: The supplied subject list also included a final entry marked “NA.” This is not a named subject and has therefore not been treated as an additional subject in the table. Some subject names above have been shortened for readability; applicants should follow the exact names and subject codes in the official application portal.
How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026
Candidates can follow these steps to complete their online applications:
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Visit the official UGC NET website at https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in/.
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Find the UGC NET December 2026 registration or application link.
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Read the information bulletin and instructions before beginning registration.
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Complete registration using the required personal and contact details.
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Log in to the application portal and enter the requested information.
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Select the appropriate subject and eligibility category.
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Enter educational qualification details carefully.
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Upload the photograph, signature, and other required documents in the prescribed format.
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Pay the applicable examination fee through an available online payment method.
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Review the completed form and correct any errors before final submission.
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Download or print the final application confirmation and keep the payment receipt for future reference.
Candidates should make sure that their name, date of birth, category, educational details, and other information match their supporting documents. Check the official instructions for any requirements relating to photographs, signatures, certificates, or file sizes.
Application Correction Window
The correction window is scheduled for 2–4 November 2026. Candidates who identify an error after submitting their applications should check the official correction instructions and make permitted changes within this period.
Not every field is necessarily editable. Applicants should review the form carefully before final submission rather than relying on the correction window to change every detail.
Exam City Slip and Admit Card
The exam city information and admit card are expected to be released before the examination, according to the supplied schedule.
Candidates should visit the official website regularly and download the relevant documents when they become available. Read the examination instructions carefully, including the reporting time, identification requirements, permitted items, and examination-centre rules.
The examination is scheduled between 14 and 19 December 2026. The exact examination date and shift should be confirmed through the official schedule and admit card.
Important Instructions for Candidates
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Submit the online application by 28 October 2026.
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If using the late-fee facility, complete the process by 31 October 2026.
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Pay the applicable category-wise fee.
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Confirm that your educational qualification meets the requirements for the selected subject.
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Check the separate age rules for JRF and NET eligibility.
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Read the conditions applicable to candidates appearing in their qualifying degree examination.
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Keep the application confirmation and payment receipt safe.
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Use the correction window only for changes permitted by the official instructions.
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Check the official website for exam city details, admit card updates, and further announcements.
UGC NET December 2026: Important Links
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| Online Application | Visit the official UGC NET website |
| Official Website | https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in/ |
| Information Bulletin | Check the official website |
| Exam City Slip | To be released before the examination |
| Admit Card | To be released before the examination |
Candidates should use the official website to locate the December 2026 application portal and information bulletin. Confirm that the notice refers to the correct examination cycle before submitting personal information or making payment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When did the NTA UGC NET December 2026 application start?
The online application process started on 8 October 2026. Candidates should complete their forms and fee payment within the prescribed schedule.
2. What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
The regular last date to apply online is 28 October 2026. The supplied schedule provides a late-fee window until 31 October 2026, subject to the official instructions.
3. What are the UGC NET December 2026 examination dates?
The examination is scheduled from 14 to 19 December 2026. Candidates should check the official schedule for their subject, examination date, and shift.
4. What is the application fee for UGC NET December 2026?
The supplied fee is ₹1,150 for General candidates, ₹600 for EWS/OBC candidates, and ₹325 for SC/ST/PH candidates. A late fee of ₹500 is also listed, so candidates should confirm the total payable amount on the official portal.
5. What is the maximum age for UGC NET JRF December 2026?
The maximum age for JRF is 30 years according to the supplied details. Candidates should verify the official age calculation date and any applicable relaxation rules.
6. Is there an upper age limit for UGC NET?
The supplied information states that there is no upper age limit for NET eligibility. Candidates must still satisfy the applicable educational and other requirements.
7. What is the minimum qualification for UGC NET December 2026?
Candidates who have passed or are appearing in a master's degree in the relevant subject may be eligible, subject to the prescribed marks and other conditions. Four-year bachelor's degree candidates may also qualify under the applicable rules.
8. Can a four-year bachelor's degree holder apply for UGC NET JRF?
Four-year bachelor's degree holders may be eligible under the applicable UGC NET rules, but the conditions depend on the eligibility category and qualification details. Applicants should read the official information bulletin before selecting JRF or another eligibility option.
9. How many subjects are listed for UGC NET December 2026?
The supplied list contains 85 named subjects, including English, Commerce, Computer Science and Applications, Education, History, Political Science, Sociology, Law, and other disciplines. Candidates should use the official application portal to confirm the exact subject names and codes.
10. When will the UGC NET December 2026 admit card be released?
The admit card is expected before the examination. Candidates should monitor the official UGC NET website for the release announcement and follow the instructions provided for downloading it.