Quick answer. The UGC NET December 2026 notification has not been released yet. It is expected around late September or early October 2026 on the NTA website. The June 2026 session concluded with the examination held from 22 to 30 June 2026. UGC NET is conducted twice a year by the National Testing Agency for the University Grants Commission. Eligibility requires a Master’s degree with 55 percent marks, or 50 percent for reserved categories. The JRF age limit is 30 years with relaxations, and there is no age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility.
Everything on this page applies to all UGC NET subjects, including Statistics, subject code 107.
Current Status
UGC NET December 2026 notification: awaited.
As on 5 September 2026 the National Testing Agency has not released the December 2026 notification. Based on previous cycles it is expected around late September or early October 2026, with the application window following immediately.
We update this page the day the notification releases. Until then, treat every December 2026 date on this page as expected rather than confirmed, and check the official NTA website before making any plans.
The June 2026 Cycle, for Reference
These are the confirmed dates from the concluded June 2026 session. They are the most reliable guide to how the December cycle will run.
| Event | June 2026 Actual Date |
|---|---|
| Application window | 29 April 2026 to 20 May 2026 |
| Last date for fee payment | 20 May 2026 |
| Correction window | 22 May 2026 to 24 May 2026 |
| Intimation of examination city | By 10 June 2026 |
| Admit card | By 15 June 2026 |
| Examination | 22 June 2026 to 30 June 2026 |
| Answer key | 16 August 2026 |
Reading that timeline tells you what to expect for December: roughly three weeks of application window, a short correction window two days after it closes, city intimation about twelve days before the examination, and the admit card about a week before.
UGC NET December 2026 Expected Schedule
Every date in this table is expected, not confirmed.
| Event | Expected Timing |
|---|---|
| Notification release | Late September to early October 2026 |
| Application window opens | Immediately after the notification |
| Application window closes | Roughly three weeks later |
| Correction window | Two to three days after the window closes |
| Examination city intimation | Roughly two weeks before the examination |
| Admit card | Roughly one week before the examination |
| Examination | December 2026 or early January 2027 |
Do not book travel, decline other commitments or plan your revision schedule around these. Wait for the notification.
Application Fee
The fee structure from the June 2026 cycle. NTA may revise it for December, so confirm against the notification when it releases.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General and Unreserved | Rs 1,150 |
| General EWS and OBC-NCL | Rs 600 |
| SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender | Rs 325 |
Payment is online only through net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI. Service charges and GST are payable by the candidate over and above the examination fee.
Registration Process
Registration is completed online at the NTA UGC NET website. The entire process, including uploading live photographs, is online.
- Register with your name, date of birth, contact number and email address
- Note your application number and password
- Fill in personal details, academic qualifications and category information
- Select your subject and examination city preferences
- Upload your photograph and signature in the specified format and size
- Pay the examination fee online
- Review everything carefully
- Submit and download the confirmation page
One application per candidate. Submitting more than one application can lead to rejection.
The correction window is short, usually two to three days, and it does not cover every field. Getting the form right the first time is far easier than correcting it later.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
| Category | Minimum Marks in Master’s Degree |
|---|---|
| General, Unreserved and General EWS | 55 percent |
| OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender | 50 percent |
The percentage is applied without rounding off. A candidate with 54.9 percent in the general category is not eligible, and no rounding rule applies.
The Master’s degree must be from a university or institution recognised by UGC.
If You Are Still Completing Your Master’s
Candidates who are pursuing their Master’s degree, or who have appeared in the final year examination and are awaiting results, may apply. Such candidates are admitted provisionally.
Two deadlines then apply, and they differ by outcome:
| Outcome qualified for | Deadline to complete the Master’s degree |
|---|---|
| JRF, or Assistant Professor eligibility | Within two years from the date of the NET result |
| Admission to PhD only | Within one year from the date of the NET result |
Failing to complete within the applicable period, with the required percentage, means being treated as disqualified. Note carefully that the PhD only category has the shorter deadline.
Age Limit
| Outcome | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| JRF | Not more than 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the examination concludes |
| Assistant Professor | No age limit |
JRF Age Relaxations
Relaxation of up to 5 years is available to:
- OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender candidates
- Women applicants, in all categories
- Candidates who have served in the armed forces
Relaxation is also available for research experience, limited to the period actually spent on research in the relevant or related subject of the postgraduate degree, up to a maximum of 5 years, on production of a certificate from an appropriate authority. Research carried out towards completing a graduation or postgraduation degree does not count.
Candidates with an LLM degree receive 3 years of relaxation.
The relaxation most people miss. Women applicants in every category receive up to 5 years of age relaxation for JRF, not only reserved category candidates. If you are a woman over 30 and assumed JRF was closed to you, check the exact rule in the official notification before ruling it out.
Additional Relaxation
Candidates holding a PhD whose Master’s level examination was completed by 19 September 1991, irrespective of the date the result was declared, are eligible for a relaxation of 5 percent in the aggregate marks requirement.
Examination Day
The examination is conducted in Computer Based Test mode only. The keyboard attached to the computer is disabled for the entire duration of the examination. All answers are entered using the mouse, either by clicking options or by using an on screen virtual keyboard where applicable.
Answers may be changed or modified at any time during the examination. If a computer or mouse malfunctions, the candidate is moved to another system and the lost time is adjusted on the server so the full duration is preserved.
Do Not Wait for the Notification to Start Preparing
The notification tells you when the exam is. It does not add a single mark to your score. UGC NET rewards coverage and speed: 150 questions in 180 minutes with no break.
What to Do Now
- Confirm your eligibility percentage against your actual marksheet, without rounding. This takes five minutes and saves a wasted application fee.
- Check the JRF age limit as on the first day of the examination month, and check whether any relaxation applies to you.
- Get your photograph and signature ready in the specified format now, rather than on the last day of the window.
- Start on the syllabus. Paper 1 is common to every subject and carries a third of the marks. There is no reason to wait for a notification to begin it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the UGC NET December 2026 notification been released?
Not as on 5 September 2026. It is expected around late September or early October 2026 on the NTA website.
When was the UGC NET June 2026 exam held?
From 22 June 2026 to 30 June 2026. The answer key was released on 16 August 2026.
What is the UGC NET application fee?
In the June 2026 cycle it was Rs 1,150 for General and Unreserved, Rs 600 for General EWS and OBC-NCL, and Rs 325 for SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender candidates. Confirm against the December notification when it releases.
What percentage is needed in the Master’s degree for UGC NET?
55 percent for General, Unreserved and General EWS candidates, and 50 percent for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender candidates. The percentage is applied without rounding off.
Can final year Master’s students apply for UGC NET?
Yes, provisionally. Those qualifying for JRF or Assistant Professor must complete the degree within two years of the result. Those qualifying for PhD admission only must complete it within one year.
Is there an age limit for UGC NET?
Yes for JRF, at 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the examination concludes. There is no age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility.
Do women get age relaxation for JRF?
Yes. Women applicants in all categories are eligible for a relaxation of up to 5 years for JRF, along with OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender candidates.
How many times a year is UGC NET conducted?
Twice, in June and December.
Official Resources
Related Pages
- UGC NET: Complete Guide
- UGC NET Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
- UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus
- UGC NET Statistics
All dates, fees and rules on this page are drawn from the official UGC NET June 2026 Information Bulletin and the official NTA website, and are subject to change for the December 2026 cycle. The official NTA notification is the final authority.