UGC NET 2026 – Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus, Preparation, Results

UGC NET 2026 (University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test) is a national-level eligibility exam conducted to determine the qualification for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The exam is conducted twice every year and is one of the most important tests for candidates aiming to build a career in academics and research.
UGC NET 2026 will assess a candidate’s teaching aptitude, reasoning skills, and subject mastery across more than 80 subjects.

UGC NET 2026 Highlights

Important Dates for UGC NET 2026

(Expected based on past exam cycles)

Eligibility Criteria for UGC NET 2026 

Educational Qualification

• Candidates must have Master’s degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD).

• Those appearing in the final year of their post-graduation are also eligible.

Age Limit

• For JRF:
  Maximum age: 30 years (age relaxation for reserved categories).

• For Assistant Professor:
  No upper age limit.

Relaxations

• OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender candidates receive 5% relaxation in marks.

• Age relaxation up to 5 years for reserved categories for JRF.

Application Process for UGC NET 2026 

Follow these steps to submit your application successfully:

1. Visit the official NTA UGC NET portal once released.

2. Click on the “New Registration” button and fill in personal details.

3. Fill out the application form including academic and contact details.

4. Upload a passport-size photograph and signature in the required format.

5. Select exam center preferences and subject.

6. Pay the application fee through net banking/UPI/debit or credit card.

7. Save the confirmation page for future reference.

Document Upload Rules

• Photo: 10–200 KB

• Signature: 4–30 KB

• Format: JPG/JPEG

UGC NET 2026 Application Fee

UGC NET 2026 Exam Pattern

Paper I

• 50 questions | 100 marks

• Tests teaching & research aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, communication, data interpretation.

Paper II

• 100 questions | 200 marks

• Subject-specific based on candidate’s post-graduation discipline.

Common Exam Features

• Duration: 3 hours (combined)

• No negative marking

• All questions are objective multiple-choice.

UGC NET 2026 Syllabus

Paper I Syllabus

• Teaching Aptitude

• Research Aptitude

• Reading Comprehension

• Communication

• Mathematical Reasoning

• Logical Reasoning

• Data Interpretation

• Information & Communication Technology

• People, Development & Environment

• Higher Education System

Paper II Syllabus

• Specialized syllabus depending on chosen subject (e.g., Commerce, English, Economics, Sociology, Computer Science, etc.)

UGC NET Subject List (Paper II)

Some popular subjects include:

• English

• Commerce

• Management

• Economics

• Computer Science

• Education

• History

• Political Science

• Geography

• Law

• Psychology

• Sociology

• Hindi

• Environmental Science

• Mathematics
  (Full list contains 80 subjects.)

UGC NET 2026 Cut Off (Previous Years Trend)

Cut-offs vary by subject and category.

UGC NET 2026 Admit Card

• Download using the application number and date of birth.

• Check exam center, date, shift timing, and instructions.

• Candidate must carry:

  • Admit Card

  • Valid Photo ID

  • Passport-size photograph

If any error is found, contact NTA helpdesk immediately.

UGC NET 2026 Exam Day Guidelines

• Reach at least 1 hour before reporting time.

• Carry only permitted items (ID proof, photo, admit card).

• Prohibited items include calculators, electronics, watches, notes, study materials.

• Follow the seating plan and instructions displayed on the computer screen.

• Keep an eye on the timer for Paper I and Paper II.

UGC NET 2026 Answer Key

• Provisional answer key released first.

• Candidates can challenge the key by paying a fee per question.

• Final answer key is released after evaluation of challenges.

• Response sheets are also provided for transparency.

UGC NET 2026 Result

• Results available online in scorecard format.

• Merit list includes qualifiers for both Assistant Professor and JRF.

• Percentile-based scoring is used.

• UGC NET certificate is issued electronically after the result.

UGC NET 2026 Selection Process

• Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks.

• Final selection for JRF depends on overall performance number of vacancies.

• Assistant Professor eligibility is based on cut-off and percentile.

• Certificates can be downloaded from NTA/UGC portals and are essential for academic recruitment.

Preparation Tips for UGC NET 2026

• Start with understanding the complete syllabus of Paper I & II.

• Solve previous years’ question papers to identify important topics.

• Build strong conceptual clarity for your subject.

• Create short notes for quick revision.

• Take mock tests regularly to improve speed and accuracy.

• Revise consistently in the last 30 days.

Best Books for UGC NET 2026

For Paper I

• Trueman’s UGC NET Paper 1

• KVS Madaan UGC NET Paper 1

• Arihant UGC NET Teaching & Research Aptitude

For Paper II (Subject-wise)

• Commerce: Trueman’s, Arihant

• English: A.P. Bhardwaj, Arihant

• Political Science: Pearson, McGraw Hill

• Computer Science: R.S. Aggarwal, GATE-level references

• Economics: H.L. Ahuja, Schaum Series