The National Testing Agency (NTA) officially commenced online registrations for the UGC-NET December examination cycle on October 9, 2026, opening applications for candidates across the country seeking Junior Research Fellowships, Assistant Professor eligibility, and Ph.D. program admissions. Prospective candidates across diverse academic disciplines can submit their credentials, upload verified digital documents, and complete examination fee payments through the dedicated testing portal before the end-of-month deadline. Under the revised examination framework released by higher education authorities, the computerized test will evaluate candidates across multiple operational shifts to ensure standardized assessment procedures and robust anti-cheating protocols across all testing centers. University vice-chancellors and academic department chairs welcomed the timely notification, emphasizing that maintaining a structured biannual testing schedule ensures predictable recruitment pipelines for higher education institutions and research organizations nationwide. NTA officials urged applicants to double-check their eligibility criteria, category certificates, and preferred examination cities before submitting final applications to ensure a seamless hall ticket generation process.

Online Application Portal Goes Live Across Digital Platforms

Initiating the recruitment and eligibility cycle for higher education academics across India, the National Testing Agency (NTA) activated the online registration link for the UGC-NET December examination. Candidates can complete their registration, fill out personal and academic credentials, upload required documentation, and process examination fees directly via the NTA's official web portal (ugcnet.nta.ac.in).

The testing agency clarified that all steps of the application process will be conducted exclusively online, rejecting offline or hard-copy submissions.

Overview: Key Schedule and Application Parameters

Event / ParameterOfficial Timelines & Details
Notification & Application StartOctober 8, 2026 (Portal Active Online)
Regular Registration DeadlineOctober 28, 2026 (Up to 11:50 PM IST)
Late Registration WindowOctober 29 to October 31, 2026 (₹500 Late Fee)
Application Correction WindowNovember 2 to November 4, 2026
Scheduled Examination DatesDecember 14 to December 19, 2026
Official Registration Portalugcnet.nta.ac.in / ugcnet.nta.nic.in

Eligibility Parameters and Fee Structure

The examination awards eligibility across three distinct categories: Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor, appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D., and admission to Ph.D. programs only.

Candidates holding or pursuing a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) with at least 55% aggregate marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Third Gender/PwD candidates) are eligible to apply. For the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), candidates must not exceed 30 years of age as of December 1, 2026, while there is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or Ph.D. eligibility.

UGC-NET Application Workflow: ----------------------------- Visit ugcnet.nta.ac.in ──> Register & Generate Credentials ──> Fill Personal/Academic Form ──> Upload Photos/Docs ──> Complete Online Fee Payment

Fee Details & Submission Guidelines:

  • General / Unreserved: ₹1,150

  • General-EWS / OBC-NCL: ₹600

  • SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender: ₹325

The NTA has urged candidates to verify all entered information—such as chosen subject code, examination city preferences, and category details—prior to final submission, as corrections during the November 2–4 window will be restricted to select fields.