UGC NET December 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has initiated the online application process for the UGC NET December 2026 examination. Interested and eligible candidates can apply from October 8 to October 28. To do so, students must visit the official NTA website. Please note that applications will be accepted only through the online mode.

Through this exam, students can qualify for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the post of Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes. Candidates are advised to verify the dates, application fees, and educational qualification requirements before applying.

Exam to be held in 87 subjects
The UGC NET December 2026 examination will be conducted across a total of 87 subjects. Candidates can apply for any of these 87 subjects. Qualifying in the exam makes candidates eligible for roles such as assistant professor or for PhD admission (or both).

Important dates for UGC NET
Registration begins on October 8, and the last date to apply is October 28, 2026. The deadline for paying the registration fee is October 28, 2026, while the window for paying the late fee is from October 29 to October 31, 2026. The correction window for rectifying any errors in the application form is from November 2 to November 4. The date for the release of the exam city slip by the NTA has not yet been announced. The examination is likely to be held between December 14 and December 19. Dates for the release of the answer key and results will be announced later.

How to fill out the form online
Candidates can fill out the UGC NET 2026 form from the comfort of their homes by following a few simple steps.
First, visit the official UGC website at ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
Next, click on the ‘UGC NET December 2026 Application’ link on the homepage.
On the new page, click on ‘New Registration’ and enter the required details to complete your registration.
Once registered, fill in the necessary information requested in the application form.
Upload the required photograph and signature.
Finally, pay the prescribed fee and take a printout of the application.

Application Fee Details
General category candidates are required to pay an application fee of ₹1,150 for the UGC NET exam. The fee is set at ₹600 for candidates belonging to the OBC and EWS categories. Candidates belonging to the SC, ST, and PH categories must pay a fee of ₹325. Payments can be made online.

Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the UGC NET exam, candidates must hold a postgraduate degree in the relevant subject or be currently pursuing their final year of study. Candidates pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree are also eligible to apply. For those applying for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the upper age limit is 31 years; however, there is no age limit for the NET (Assistant Professor) category.