The UGC NET 2026 exam is scheduled for June 16, 2026. The exam mode is offline, and the duration is 3 hours. It consists of two papers, Paper 1 with 100 marks and Paper 2 with 200 marks. There is no negative marking in this exam. Candidates who clear the UGC NET 2026 exam can apply for Assistant Professor and JRF positions in Indian universities and colleges.
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UGC NET exam pattern comprises two papers- Paper 1 and 2. As per the prescribed UGC NET 2026 exam pattern, both papers contain multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Candidates need to complete both papers in a single duration of three hours. Have a look at the detailed UGC NET exam pattern 2026 below. Negative marking 0.5 marks.
| UGC NET Paper | Number of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 50 | 100 |
| Paper 2 | 100 | 200 |
| Total | 150 | 300 |
The UGC NET application form for 2026 is expected to be released in April 2026, along with its notification. The UGC NET 2026 exam is scheduled from June 10 to 21, 2026, for which admit cards will be issued in May 2026.
| UGC NET 2026 Notification (June Session) | 20th April 2026 |
| UGC NET 2026 Online Application Process Started | 20th April 2026 |
| UGC NET 2026 Online Application Process Ends | 19th May 2026 |
| Correction in the Particulars of Application Form online only | 21 May 2026 to 23 May 2026 |
| UGC NET Exam Date 2026 | 18th June 2026 |
| UGC NET Admit Card 2026 | Expected in May 2026 |
| Application Fee 2026 | |
|---|---|
| General | Rs 1150/- |
| General-EWS/OBC | Rs 600/- |
| SC/ST/PwD | Rs 325/- |
Candidates who wish to take the exam should carefully review the eligibility criteria on the NTA’s official website. In addition to providing information on the exam dates, the educational authority also publishes eligibility criteria,
| Educational Qualification |
|---|
| Eligibility Criteria 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Particulars | Details |
| Educational Qualifications | Master’s Degree |
| Age Limit | • 30 years for Junior Research Fellowship • No age limit for Assistant Professorship |
| Number of Attempts | No limit on attempts |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Subject Eligibility | Subject of Post-Graduation as chosen by the candidate |
Candidates must have the specified educational qualifications to be eligible to apply for the UGC NET exam in 2026. Aside from age, the educational background of the candidate is another critical eligibility criterion to consider. For a general overview of the UGC NET 2026 educational qualification required to participate in the exam, see the table below:
| Category | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| General/ Unreserved/ General-EWS candidates | Candidates in this category must secure a minimum of 55% marks in their Master’s Degree or an equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC. Subjects such as Computer Science and Applications, Electronic Science, etc., are eligible for the UGC NET Test. |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | OBC candidates, falling under the Non-Creamy Layer, along with SC, ST, PwD, and Third Gender category, require a minimum of 50% marks in their Master’s degree or an equivalent examination to qualify for the UGC NET Test. |
| Master’s Degree | Aspiring candidates currently pursuing a Master’s degree or those who have appeared for their qualifying Master’s degree exams are eligible to apply for the UGC NET Test. However, admission is provisional, and confirmation of eligibility for JRF/Assistant Professor roles is contingent upon completing the Master’s Degree. |
| Third Gender Category | Candidates from the Third Gender category benefit from the same fee, age, and eligibility criteria relaxations as candidates in the SC/ST/PwD categories for the UGC NET Test. |
| Ph.D. degree holders | Ph.D. degree holders, completing their Master’s level examination by 19th September 1991 (regardless of result declaration date), are eligible for a 5% reduction in aggregate marks for the UGC NET Test. |
| Post-Graduate diploma/ certificate from Indian/ Foreign University | Candidates holding a post-graduate diploma/certificate from an Indian University or a Foreign University must ensure its equivalence to a Master’s degree from a recognized Indian university through the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, before applying for the UGC NET Test. |
The age limit and relaxation criteria for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professorship in UGC NET 2026 are as follows:
| Age Limit | |
|---|---|
| Category | Upper Age Limit |
| JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) | Not more than 30 years as of the 1st day of the month in which the examination is concluded. |
| Assistant Professor | No upper age limit for applying to UGC NET 2026 for the role of Assistant Professor. |
The UGC NET 2026 provides age relaxations to candidates, as shown in the table below. It is important to note that these age relaxations only apply to candidates applying for the JRF category.
| UGC NET 2026 Age Relaxation | |
|---|---|
| Category | Age Relaxations |
| Candidates pursuing LLM degree | 3 years |
| Ex-Army personnel (Service length up to the first day of the month of the UGC-NET) | 5 years |
| SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Female/Transgender | 5 years |
| Research candidates (with a valid certificate from the appropriate authority) | 5 years |
| UGC NET Electronics & Communication Expected Cut Off 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sub. | Sub. Code | Category | AS Cut-Off | JRF & AS Cut-Off |
| General | 92-94 | 96-99 | ||
| EWS | 90-91 | 94-97 | ||
| English | 30 | OBC (NCL) | 89-90 | 92-94 |
| SC | 85-87 | 90-92 | ||
| ST | 82-84 | 87-88 | ||