The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened online registration for UGC-NET December 2026. The computer-based exam will cover 87 subjects and is scheduled for 14 to 19 December 2026, with 20–21 December kept as buffer days. Apply at ugcnet.nta.nic.in from 8 to 28 October 2026, or until 31 October with a ₹500 late fee.
UGC-NET decides eligibility for a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) with Assistant Professor, for Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission, or for Ph.D. admission only. You need a Master's degree with 55% marks (50% for reserved categories). There is no negative marking. Candidates from Uttarakhand can choose from five exam cities in the state: Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee, Pauri Garhwal and Almora. Science subjects are tested separately through the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026. All details below are from the official NTA Information Bulletin.
UGC-NET December 2026 — Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application and fee payment | 8 – 28 October 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Late application with ₹500 late fee | 29 – 31 October 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Correction window | 2 – 4 November 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Exam city slip and admit card | To be announced |
| Exam dates | 14 – 19 December 2026 (buffer: 20–21 December) |
| Duration | 3 hours, with no break between Paper 1 and Paper 2 |
| Answer key, responses and result | To be announced |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | ₹1,150 |
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third gender | ₹325 |
| Late fee (29–31 October) | + ₹500 |
You can pay through the SBI, Canara Bank or Union Bank gateway. UPI has no charge. The fee is not refundable. OBC candidates whose caste is only on a state list, and not on the central OBC list, must choose General.
What UGC-NET Qualifies You For
| Category | JRF | Assistant Professor | Ph.D. admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 — JRF + Assistant Professor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Category 2 — Assistant Professor + Ph.D. | No | Yes | Yes |
| Category 3 — Ph.D. only | No | No | Yes |
- Ph.D. admission (Categories 2 and 3): NET marks count for 70% and the university interview for 30%. The marks are valid for one year from the result. NET can replace a university's own Ph.D. entrance test.
- JRF: the award letter is valid for three years. JRF qualifiers are also eligible for Assistant Professor posts.
- State SET: if you cleared a state SET on or after 1 December 2002, it makes you eligible as Assistant Professor only in that state. NET is valid all over India.
Eligibility
Educational qualification
- Master's degree or equivalent with at least 55% for General/EWS, or 50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third gender. There is no rounding off, so 54.99% does not count as 55%.
- You should appear in the subject of your post-graduation. If your subject is not on the NET list, you can take a related subject.
- Final-year Master's students and those awaiting results can apply. They must pass with the required marks within 2 years of the NET result, or within 1 year for "Ph.D. only".
- 4-year bachelor's degree holders need at least 75% (70% for reserved categories). They can take any subject they want to do a Ph.D. in. They are eligible only for JRF and Ph.D., not for Assistant Professor.
- Ph.D. holders who completed their Master's by 19 September 1991 get a 5% relaxation.
Age limit
| Purpose | Upper age limit |
|---|---|
| JRF | 30 years as on 1 December 2026 |
| Assistant Professor | No upper age limit |
| Ph.D. admission | No upper age limit |
For JRF, relaxation is up to 5 years for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, third gender and women. Up to 5 years is also given for research experience and for service in the armed forces, and 3 years for LLM holders. The total relaxation cannot exceed 5 years.
Exam Pattern
| Paper | Questions | Marks | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (common to all) | 50 | 100 | Teaching and research aptitude: reasoning, reading comprehension, divergent thinking, general awareness |
| Paper 2 (your subject) | 100 | 200 | Domain knowledge of the subject you choose |
| Total | 150 | 300 | 3 hours, no break, all questions compulsory |
- Each question carries 2 marks, and there is no negative marking. Attempt every question.
- Questions marked "for review" without an answer get zero.
- Papers are in English and Hindi, except the language papers. The medium you choose in the form cannot be changed later.
- Download the syllabus from ugcnetonline.in. NTA does not send it to candidates.
How the Result Is Prepared
- To be considered, you must appear in both papers and score at least 40% aggregate (General/EWS) or 35% (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD, third gender).
- Only the top 6% of candidates who appeared are declared eligible for Assistant Professor. These slots are split by category and subject, so the real cut-off is much higher than 40%.
- The result is declared as a percentile along with marks. NTA plans one shift per subject, but if a subject is held in more than one shift, scores are normalised using the equi-percentile method.
- Answer key challenges cost ₹200 per question. There is no re-evaluation after the result.
Exam Cities in Uttarakhand
| City | Code |
|---|---|
| Dehradun | UK01 |
| Haldwani | UK02 |
| Roorkee | UK06 |
| Pauri Garhwal | UK08 |
| Almora | UK09 |
You choose 4 cities, only in the state of your permanent or present address. Pauri and Almora are listed this time, which helps candidates in the hills. NTA may merge cities if too few candidates choose one.
Popular Subjects and Codes
| Subject | Code | Subject | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 01 | Political Science | 02 |
| Psychology | 04 | Sociology | 05 |
| History | 06 | Commerce | 08 |
| Education | 09 | Management | 17 |
| Hindi | 20 | Sanskrit | 25 |
| English | 30 | Physical Education | 47 |
| Law | 58 | Library & Information Science | 59 |
| Geography | 80 | Computer Science & Applications | 87 |
| Environmental Sciences | 89 | Yoga | 100 |
The list also includes Hindu Studies (102), Indian Knowledge System (103), Disaster Management (104), Ayurveda Biology (105), Forestry (106) and Statistics (107). The full list of 87 subjects is in Annexure II of the bulletin.
How to Apply
- Go to ugcnet.nta.nic.in and register through MeriPehchaan / DigiLocker, or with your own email and mobile number.
- Fill in your details exactly as on your Class 10 certificate. Your name, parents' names and date of birth cannot be changed later.
- Choose your subject, medium, 4 exam cities and what you are applying for (JRF / Assistant Professor / Ph.D.).
- Capture a live photo by webcam, or by phone using the QR code. Then upload a photo (10–200 KB) and signature (10–50 KB) in JPG format.
- Pay the fee and print the confirmation page. Submit only one form.
Exam-Day Rules
- Printed admit card with the self-declaration filled in, plus one passport photo (the same as the one uploaded)
- Original photo ID: college ID, PAN, passport, Aadhaar/e-Aadhaar or bank passbook with photo
- Reach 2 hours early. Frisking is compulsory.
- Wear simple clothes. Slippers or low-heel sandals are allowed, but heavy shoes are not.
- Not allowed: watch, belt, wallet, jewellery or any metal item, pen, water bottle, food, phone
- A marriage certificate or similar document if your name has changed
Free Official Mock Test
NTA offers a free UGC-NET mock test and the National Testing Abhyas practice platform, both linked from the official site. Take at least one before December so that you are used to the CBT screen and the "mark for review" button.
Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply online and Information Bulletin | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
| Syllabus | ugcnetonline.in |
| Helpdesk | 011-40759000 / 011-69227700 · [email protected] |
| CSIR NET (science subjects) | CSIR UGC NET December 2026 |
This page is based on the NTA public notice dated 8 October 2026 and the UGC-NET December 2026 Information Bulletin. UttarakhandJobs.in is not affiliated with NTA or UGC.