Quick answer. The UGC NET December 2026 notification has not been released yet. Based on previous cycles 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 and the answer key released on 16 August 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, or 50 percent for reserved categories.
Everything on this page marked as expected is exactly that. We update it the day the notification releases.
UGC NET Statistics complete guide
Current Status
| Session | Status |
|---|---|
| June 2026 | Concluded. Examination 22 to 30 June 2026. Answer key 16 August 2026. |
| December 2026 | Notification awaited. Expected late September or early October 2026. |
Nothing official has been published for December 2026 as of 7 September. Any website showing you confirmed December dates today is guessing, and you should treat those dates accordingly.
UGC NET dates, fee and eligibility
The June 2026 Cycle, as Your Best Guide
These are the confirmed dates from the concluded session. They tell you what shape the December cycle will take.
| Event | June 2026 actual |
|---|---|
| Application window | 29 April to 20 May 2026 |
| Last date for fee payment | 20 May 2026 |
| Correction window | 22 to 24 May 2026 |
| Examination city intimation | By 10 June 2026 |
| Admit card | By 15 June 2026 |
| Examination | 22 to 30 June 2026 |
| Answer key | 16 August 2026 |
Reading that timeline gives you the pattern: roughly three weeks of application window, a very short correction window two days after it closes, city intimation about twelve days before the examination, and the admit card about a week before.
Expected December 2026 Timeline
Every date here is expected, not confirmed.
| Event | Expected |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| City intimation | Roughly two weeks before the exam |
| Admit card | Roughly one week before the exam |
| Examination | December 2026 or early January 2027 |
Do not book travel, decline work commitments or build a revision calendar around these. Wait for the notification.
What You Can Confirm Today
Some things do not change between cycles, and you can act on them right now.
Exam pattern
| Paper | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 50 | 100 |
| Paper 2, your subject | 100 | 200 |
| Total | 150 | 300 |
Three hours, no break between the papers, all multiple choice, and no negative marking anywhere.
Every question carries 2 marks. A correct answer earns 2, an incorrect answer costs nothing, and an unanswered question earns nothing.
That means you attempt all 150 questions. A blank is a guaranteed zero and a guess is not. If you are coming from GATE or IIT JAM preparation, this reverses a habit those examinations spend months building. Unlearn it deliberately.
Full UGC NET exam pattern and marking scheme
Eligibility
| Category | Minimum in Master’s |
|---|---|
| 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. Check your marksheet today rather than in October.
Candidates still completing their Master’s may apply 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. Note that the PhD only category has the shorter deadline.
Age limit
| Outcome | Limit |
|---|---|
| JRF | 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the examination concludes |
| Assistant Professor | No age limit |
Relaxation of up to 5 years for JRF is available to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender candidates, to candidates with armed forces service, and to women applicants in all categories.
That last one is missed constantly. If you are a woman over 30 and assumed JRF was closed to you, read the relaxation clause in the official notification before ruling it out. Research experience also earns relaxation up to 5 years, and an LLM earns 3.
Fee, from the June 2026 cycle
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General and Unreserved | Rs 1,150 |
| General EWS and OBC-NCL | Rs 600 |
| SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender | Rs 325 |
NTA may revise this for December. Confirm against the notification when it releases.
The Three Outcomes
UGC NET does not produce a single pass or fail. There are three separate results, each with its own cut off.
| Qualified for | JRF | Assistant Professor | PhD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1: JRF with Assistant Professor eligibility | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Category 2: Assistant Professor and PhD admission | No | Yes | Yes |
| Category 3: PhD admission only | No | No | Yes |
Set your target against the category you actually need. A candidate aiming at JRF is competing for far fewer positions than one aiming at Assistant Professor eligibility, and the age limit applies only to JRF.
What to Do Instead of Waiting
The notification tells you when the examination is. It does not add a single mark to your score. Three things you can start today.
1. Verify your eligibility percentage
Take out your actual Master’s marksheet and check the aggregate, without rounding. Five minutes, and it saves a wasted application fee and a wasted preparation cycle.
2. Start Paper 1
Paper 1 is identical for all 85 UGC NET subjects and carries 100 of the 300 marks. There is no reason at all to wait for a notification to begin it.
The official syllabus specifies that exactly five questions carrying two marks each are set from every unit. Ten units, so every unit carries exactly 10 marks.
| Unit | Topic |
|---|---|
| I | Teaching Aptitude |
| II | Research Aptitude |
| III | Comprehension |
| IV | Communication |
| V | Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude |
| VI | Logical Reasoning |
| VII | Data Interpretation |
| VIII | Information and Communication Technology |
| IX | People, Development and Environment |
| X | Higher Education System |
Three consequences follow. No unit can be skipped, because each one costs exactly 10 marks. No unit deserves extra time over another. And your weakest unit, not your strongest, is where your marks are hiding.
For a Statistics candidate, Units V and VII are usually easy marks. Unit VI is the one that catches you, specifically the Indian Logic portion covering Pramanas, Anumana, Vyapti and Hetvabhasas. It is unfamiliar terminology for anyone from a science background and it is examined directly.
Complete Paper 1 syllabus, all 10 units
3. Audit your subject syllabus honestly
If you are preparing UGC NET Statistics and have a GATE or IIT JAM background, you have covered a real part of it and missed a great deal. UGC NET Statistics uniquely includes sampling methods, design of experiments, econometrics, the entire time series unit, the Indian Statistical System and R programming. None of those appear in GATE ST or JAM MS.
Three of those are full units. Start them now, because they are the ones candidates run out of time for.
UGC NET Statistics syllabus, all 10 units
IIT JAM Mathematical Statistics section
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the UGC NET December 2026 notification been released?
No. As of 7 September 2026 the notification has not been released. 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 to 30 June 2026. The answer key was released on 16 August 2026.
What is the UGC NET exam pattern?
150 questions worth 300 marks in three hours. Paper 1 has 50 questions worth 100 marks and Paper 2 has 100 questions worth 200 marks. There is no break between the papers.
Is there negative marking in UGC NET?
No. There is no negative marking for any question, so every question should be attempted.
What percentage is needed in the Master’s degree?
55 percent for General, Unreserved and General EWS, and 50 percent for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third gender candidates. The percentage is applied without rounding off.
Is there an age limit for UGC NET?
For JRF, 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the examination concludes, with relaxations available. 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 relaxation of up to 5 years for JRF.
How many times a year is UGC NET conducted?
Twice, in June and December.
What is the subject code for Statistics in UGC NET?
Statistics is subject code 107.
