Overview
The UGC NET December 2026 examination is scheduled to be conducted across 26 exam cities in Uttar Pradesh by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the University Grants Commission. The examination determines eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD programmes; it is not a direct recruitment drive, so no fixed number of posts or vacancies has been announced.
Candidates from Uttar Pradesh will be able to select preferred examination cities while completing the online application form. The final centre allotment will depend on availability and administrative feasibility, and candidates should verify the complete list of city names and codes in the official information bulletin.
Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|
| Organization | National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of UGC |
| Post Name | UGC NET December 2026 – JRF and Assistant Professor Eligibility |
| Total Vacancies | Not applicable; this is an eligibility examination |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | ugcnet.nta.ac.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|
| Application Start | TBA |
| Last Date | TBA |
| Exam Date | December 2026 cycle; exact date TBA |
| Result Date | TBA |
Applicants should rely on the detailed notification for the subject-wise examination schedule, correction window, advance city intimation slip and admit card dates. Separate notices may be issued for each stage.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Candidates should hold a master’s degree or equivalent qualification from a university or institution recognised by the UGC.
- General and unreserved category candidates are generally required to secure at least 55% marks in the qualifying postgraduate examination.
- Candidates belonging to eligible reserved categories generally require at least 50% marks, subject to the December 2026 information bulletin.
- Applicants appearing in the final year or awaiting the result of their master’s degree may apply provisionally, provided they meet the prescribed conditions within the permitted period.
- Subject eligibility must be checked carefully. Candidates should ordinarily appear in the subject of their postgraduate degree or an officially permitted related subject.
Age Limit
- For Junior Research Fellowship, the upper age limit is generally 30 years, calculated on the cut-off date specified in the notification.
- Age relaxation is normally available to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD, women and other eligible candidates under applicable rules.
- There is usually no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility.
- Candidates must confirm the final age cut-off and relaxation provisions from the December 2026 bulletin.
Fees
- The category-wise application fee for UGC NET December 2026 is TBA.
- Different fee rates are expected for general, OBC-NCL/EWS and SC/ST/PwD/third-gender candidates.
- Payment will be accepted online through the options provided on the application portal.
- Processing charges and applicable taxes may be collected separately by the payment service provider.
Selection Process
- Computer-Based Test: Candidates will appear for Paper I and Paper II in a single examination session. Paper I assesses teaching and research aptitude, while Paper II covers the selected subject.
- Result and Cut-off Assessment: NTA will prepare results using the prescribed qualifying criteria, category-wise cut-offs and applicable normalisation rules, if required.
- Eligibility and Document Verification: Successful candidates must satisfy educational, category and age conditions when claiming JRF, Assistant Professor eligibility or PhD admission benefits.
Merely receiving an admit card or appearing in the examination does not establish eligibility. Applications may be cancelled if the information or documents submitted by a candidate are found to be incorrect.
How to Apply
- Visit the official UGC NET portal at ugcnet.nta.ac.in after the application window opens.
- Open the December 2026 registration link and download the information bulletin before proceeding.
- Complete new-candidate registration using an active mobile number and email address. Preserve the system-generated application number.
- Enter personal, academic, category and communication details exactly as recorded in official documents.
- Select the appropriate UGC NET subject and choose preferred Uttar Pradesh exam cities from the available list of 26 cities. City preferences do not guarantee allotment of a particular centre.
- Upload the photograph, signature and required certificates in the prescribed format and file size.
- Pay the applicable examination fee online and wait for confirmation before leaving the payment page.
- Download the confirmation page and retain a copy of the submitted form, fee receipt and uploaded documents. Use the correction window, if provided, to fix permitted errors.
The precise venue will be printed on the admit card. Candidates should not treat the advance city intimation slip as an admit card.
Important Links
FAQs
1. How many UGC NET December 2026 exam cities are available in Uttar Pradesh?
The examination is expected to be conducted in 26 cities across Uttar Pradesh, subject to the final official bulletin and operational requirements.
2. Can candidates choose a specific examination centre?
Candidates can select preferred exam cities, but they cannot normally select a specific venue. NTA will allot the final centre based on availability.
3. Is UGC NET December 2026 a recruitment examination?
No. UGC NET determines eligibility for JRF, Assistant Professor appointments and specified PhD admission categories. It does not itself provide direct appointment to a fixed number of vacancies.
