UGC NET December 2026
Important Dates
About UGC NET December 2026
UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) is conducted by NTA for determining eligibility for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges.
The exam is conducted twice a year (June and December cycles). The December 2026 session has been officially announced with exam dates from Dec 14-19, 2026.
Qualifying UGC NET is mandatory for teaching positions in Indian universities and colleges. JRF qualification also makes candidates eligible for research fellowships.
Quick Facts
Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Master's degree with minimum 55% (50% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD) |
| Age Limit (JRF) | Maximum 30 years (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/Women) |
| Age Limit (Assistant Prof) | No upper age limit |
| Attempts | No limit on attempts for Assistant Professor |
| Category Relaxation | 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwD in Master's |
Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (General) | 50 | 100 |
| Paper 2 (Subject) | 100 | 200 |
Syllabus
Cutoff Trends (Last 3 Years)
| Year | General | OBC | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 60 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 58 |
| 2023 | 58 | 53 | 48 | 48 | 56 |
| 2022 | 55 | 50 | 45 | 45 | 53 |
Preparation Tips for Bihar Students
Paper 1 is common for all — focus on Teaching and Research Aptitude
No negative marking — attempt all questions
Target top 6% for JRF qualification
Practice previous year papers — Paper 1 patterns are consistent
Important Links
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