TeachingCentral🔔 Notification Out

UGC NET 2026 – Complete Guide
(June Session)

UGC NET is India's most prestigious eligibility test for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). Conducted by NTA twice a year across 85 subjects. June 2026 notification released — applications open now.

Conducting Body

NTA (for UGC)

Frequency

Twice a Year

Subjects

85 Subjects

JRF Fellowship

₹37,000/month

Conducting Body

NTA (for UGC)

Frequency

Twice a Year

Subjects

85 Subjects

JRF Fellowship

₹37,000/month

UGC NET 2026 Important Dates

June 2026 Session — NOW OPEN

Event	Date	Status
Notification Released	29 April 2026	✅ Done
Application Window Opens	29 April 2026	✅ Open Now
Last Date to Apply	20 May 2026	⏳ Active
Application Correction Window	22–24 May 2026	🔜 Upcoming
City Intimation Slip	~June 12, 2026	🔜 Upcoming
Phase 1 Admit Card Released	5 June 2026	✅ Released
Exam Dates	22–30 June 2026	🔜 Upcoming
Provisional Answer Key	July 2026 (TBN)	TBN
Result Declaration	August 2026 (TBN)	TBN
e-Certificate Issuance	September 2026 (TBN)	TBN

⚠ TBN = To Be Notified. Always verify exact dates on the official site: ugcnet.nta.nic.in

December 2025 Session — Completed

Event	Date
Notification Released	7 October 2025
Application Window	7 October – 7 November 2025
Application Correction	10–12 November 2025
Exam Dates	31 Dec 2025 – 7 Jan 2026
Provisional Answer Key	14 January 2026
Answer Key Challenge	14–17 January 2026
Result Declared	4 February 2026
e-Certificate Issued	23 April 2026

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality

Indian National

Educational Qualification

Master's Degree (55% for General/EWS, 50% for OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwBD/Transgender)

Age Limit – JRF

30 years (as of 01 June 2026)

Age Limit – Assistant Professor / PhD

No upper age limit

Age Relaxation (for JRF only)

Category	Relaxation	Effective Age Limit
OBC – Non Creamy Layer	3 Years	33 Years
SC / ST	5 Years	35 Years
PwBD (40%+ disability)	10 Years	40 Years
Women candidates	5 Years	35 Years
Ex-Servicemen (ESM)	5 Years	35 Years
Transgender (OBC/SC/ST)	Applicable as per category	As applicable

Note: Total age relaxation cannot exceed 5 years under any combination of grounds.

✅ Qualification Note

• Candidates appearing in the final year of their Master's degree are also eligible to apply (provisionally).
• Candidates with a 4-year Bachelor's Degree (FYUP) can also apply for PhD admission subject to UGC regulations.
• No limit on the number of attempts — you can appear as many times as needed.
• JRF certificate is valid for 3 years; Assistant Professor certificate is valid for lifetime.

UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026

UGC NET is conducted in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode in a single sitting of 3 hours. Both papers are compulsory. There is no negative marking.

Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration	Negative Marking
Paper I – Teaching & Research Aptitude (General)	50	100	—	None
Paper II – Subject Specific (your chosen subject)	100	200	—	None
Total	150	300	3 Hours	None

💡

Mode

Computer-Based Test (CBT) — online at exam centres

🌐

Language

English and Hindi (except language-specific papers)

📋

Question Type

Objective MCQs — 4 options, 1 correct answer

Qualifying Criteria & Categories

1JRF + Assistant Professor: Top merit + age ≤ 30 yrs. JRF fellowship ₹37,000/month (1st 2 years) → ₹42,000/month (next 3 years as SRF).

2Assistant Professor + PhD Admission: Top 6% candidates per subject qualify. No age limit. Lifetime validity.

3PhD Admission Only: Separate merit list for candidates who only seek PhD admission.

40%

General / EWS

35%

OBC-NCL

35%

SC / ST / PwBD

35%

Transgender

Minimum qualifying percentages in aggregate (Paper I + Paper II combined)

UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus (All Subjects)

Paper 1 is common for all candidates, regardless of their chosen subject. It tests teaching & research aptitude across 10 units — 5 questions per unit.

Unit 1: Teaching Aptitude

Nature, Objectives, Levels of Teaching; Teaching Methods & Aids; Characteristics of effective teachers; Evaluation Systems

Unit 2: Research Aptitude

Research: Meaning, Types, Methods; Steps of Research; Thesis & Article Writing; Research Ethics

Unit 3: Reading Comprehension

Passage-based questions — inference, vocabulary, analysis (5 questions from one passage)

Unit 4: Communication

Communication: Meaning, Types, Barriers; Effective Communication; Mass Communication; Digital Communication

Unit 5: Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude

Number Series; Letter Series; Codes; Relationships; Venn Diagrams; Data Interpretation

Unit 6: Logical Reasoning

Deductive & Inductive Reasoning; Verbal and Non-verbal Arguments; Analogy; Syllogism; Fallacies

Unit 7: Data Interpretation

Bar Chart, Pie Chart, Line Graph, Table; Reading, Comparing & Interpreting Data

Unit 8: Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

ICT: Basics, Internet, Email, Social Media; Digital Divide; Cybersecurity; Digital Initiatives in Education

Unit 9: People, Development & Environment

Human and Environment Interaction; Climate Change; Sustainable Development; Environmental Policies; Biodiversity

Unit 10: Higher Education System

Governance & Institutions: UGC, NAAC, AICTE, NEP 2020; Professional Ethics; Central & State Acts; Research Institutions

Paper 2 – Subject-Specific

Paper 2 is based on the subject you choose at the time of application. There are 85 subjects available — ranging from Commerce, Economics, History, Psychology, Computer Science, Hindi, English, Environmental Science, to Law, Education, and more. The syllabus for each subject is available on the official UGC website.

Download Subject-wise Syllabus PDF →

Application Fee & How to Apply

Application Fee (June 2026)

Category	Fee
General / Unreserved (UR)	₹1,150
EWS / OBC – Non Creamy Layer	₹600
SC / ST / PwBD / Transgender	₹325

Payment modes: Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking / UPI. Fee once paid is non-refundable.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply Online

1
Visit Official Website
Go to ugcnet.nta.nic.in — click "Apply for UGC NET June 2026".
2
New Registration
Enter name, date of birth, mobile number, and email. Generate your application number and password.
3
Fill Application Form
Log in and complete personal details, category, educational qualifications, and choose your subject for Paper 2.
4
Select Exam Cities
Choose 4 preferred exam cities from the available list (you will be allotted one).
5
Upload Documents
Upload recent passport-size photo and scanned signature in the required format (JPG, specified dimensions).
6
Pay Application Fee
Pay online using Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. Download fee receipt.
7
Download Confirmation
Save the confirmation page and application PDF for future reference. NTA will not send physical documents.

UGC NET Study Plan (6-Week Crash Plan)

With exams starting 22 June 2026, here is a focused 6-week plan if you begin now (1 May):

1Week 1: Foundation – Paper 1 Units 1–5

Cover Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude, Reading Comprehension, Communication, and Mathematical Reasoning. Solve 50 PYQs from these units.

2Week 2: Foundation – Paper 1 Units 6–10

Cover Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, ICT, Environment, and Higher Education System. Complete the full Paper 1 syllabus with a mock test.

3Week 3: Paper 2 – Core Subject (Part A)

Start your chosen subject. Cover 50% of Paper 2 syllabus. Focus on high-weightage units based on previous papers.

4Week 4: Paper 2 – Core Subject (Part B)

Complete remaining 50% of Paper 2. Attempt 2 full-length subject mock tests. Revise weak areas.

5Week 5: Full-Length Mock Tests

Take one full mock test every day (Paper 1 + Paper 2). Analyse mistakes. Revise Paper 1 ICT and Higher Education — most-asked topics.

6 (Pre-Exam)

6 (Pre-Exam)Week 6 (Pre-Exam): Revision + PYQs

Only revision — no new topics. Solve last 5 years' PYQs. Keep Paper 1 sharp. Download admit card. Prepare documents.

Best Books for UGC NET 2026

Paper 1 – Teaching & Research Aptitude

Book Title	Author / Publisher
NTA UGC NET/SET Paper 1 – Teaching & Research Aptitude	KVS Madaan (Pearson)
UGC NET Paper I: Teaching & Research Aptitude	R. Gupta (Ramesh Publishing)
Trueman's UGC NET Teaching & Research Aptitude	Danika Publishing
NTA UGC NET Paper 1 (Topic-wise Solved Papers)	Arihant Experts
UGC NET Paper 1 Official Mock Tests	NTA (Free on ugcnet.nta.nic.in)

📌 Paper 2 Book Tip

For Paper 2, use your subject's standard postgraduate-level textbooks. Supplement with subject-specific UGC NET solved papers (Arihant / CBS / Trueman's series covers most subjects). Practice minimum 3 previous year papers for your subject before the exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between UGC NET and CSIR NET?

UGC NET is for Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Commerce, Management and some Science subjects (85 subjects). CSIR NET is specifically for Science subjects like Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Earth Sciences. Both are conducted by NTA and both qualify you for JRF and Assistant Professor posts.

Is there any negative marking in UGC NET 2026?

No. There is no negative marking in UGC NET. Unanswered or unattempted questions also carry zero marks — so always attempt all questions.

How many times can I attempt UGC NET?

There is no limit on the number of attempts. You can appear in UGC NET as many times as you wish, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria (age limit for JRF applies).

What is the validity of the UGC NET certificate?

The JRF certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of issue. The Assistant Professor eligibility certificate is valid for lifetime.

Can I appear in UGC NET if I am in the final year of my Master's degree?

Yes. Candidates appearing in the final year of their Master's degree are eligible to apply provisionally. However, the final qualifying certificate must be submitted to the institution at the time of appointment.

What is the JRF fellowship amount in 2026?

JRF fellows receive ₹37,000 per month for the first two years. After two years (as Senior Research Fellow / SRF), the fellowship increases to ₹42,000 per month for the remaining period.

How is UGC NET result calculated?

NTA declares a merit list for JRF and a separate list for Assistant Professor / PhD eligibility. For Assistant Professor: top 6% of candidates per subject who score above the minimum qualifying marks (40% for General, 35% for reserved categories) are declared qualified.

⚠ Disclaimer: All dates and information above are based on the official NTA notification released on 29 April 2026 and are accurate as of 30 April 2026. UGC NET notifications may include corrigendums (corrections) — always verify on ugcnet.nta.nic.in before taking any action.

UGC NET 2026 – Complete Guide (June Session)