The countdown has begun for lakhs of postgraduates aiming for Assistant Professor posts and Junior Research Fellowships. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will close online registration for UGC NET December 2026 on October 28, and the exam will be held on December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21. NTA has also released a revised information bulletin that changes a few rules candidates need to know before filling the form.
If you are planning to appear this cycle, here is a clear breakdown of the dates, what has changed in the bulletin and how to apply without last-minute trouble.
UGC NET December 2026: Important Dates
Registration opened on October 8 on the official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in. NTA updated the schedule on October 16 and the revised bulletin now lists the exam over six days in December.
| Registration began | October 8, 2026 |
| Last date to apply | October 28, 2026 (till 11:50 pm) |
| Fee payment window | Up to October 31, 2026 (check bulletin for late charges) |
| Correction window | November 2 to 4, 2026 |
| Exam city intimation slip | November 23, 2026 |
| Admit card | December 7, 2026 |
| Exam dates | December 14–18 and December 21, 2026 |
| Official website | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
What Has Changed in the Revised Bulletin
NTA has issued a corrigendum with a comparative statement of amendments (Annexure-A) and an updated bulletin (Annexure-B). The key changes reported so far are:
- Marked for review: Answers that are attempted and marked for review will be evaluated. Questions left unanswered will not be evaluated, even if they are marked for review.
- Pens at the centre: Earlier, ballpoint pens were listed as a prohibited item. The revised bulletin says pens will be provided at the examination centre.
- Gate closing time: Centre gates will close 30 minutes before the exam starts. Late arrivals will not be allowed in.
- Footwear: Normal shoes, slippers and low-heeled sandals are allowed, but long boots are not.
- Exam city choices: Candidates generally pick four cities in order of preference, based on permanent or present address. If fewer than four cities are available in their state or UT, they can choose from the options shown on the portal. Preferences can be changed during the correction window.
- Scribe form: The undertaking for candidates bringing their own scribe has moved from Annexure IX to Annexure VII.
The payment gateway and service charges table has also been replaced in the corrigendum, so it is worth checking the latest version before paying.
Exam Pattern at a Glance
UGC NET is a computer-based test with two papers. Paper 1 has 50 questions worth 100 marks and is common to all candidates, testing teaching and research aptitude, reasoning, reading comprehension and general awareness. Paper 2 has 100 questions worth 200 marks on the subject chosen by the candidate. There is no negative marking, so attempting every question is generally a sound strategy.
Who Can Apply
Candidates need a master's degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks from a recognised university, with relaxation for reserved categories as per the bulletin. Final-year postgraduate students can also apply. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility, while JRF has an age cap set out in the bulletin, with relaxations for certain categories.
How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026
- Go to ugcnet.nta.nic.in and open the December 2026 registration link.
- Sign in through the Meri Pehchaan single sign-on and complete the basic registration.
- Fill in personal, academic and subject details, and select four exam cities in order of preference.
- Upload your photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
- Pay the application fee online and download the confirmation page for your records.
What It Means for Candidates
UGC NET is the gateway to Assistant Professor jobs in colleges and universities across India, and to JRF, which supports full-time research with a monthly fellowship. With the exam falling just after the festival season, many aspirants will have less than two months of focused preparation left, so finishing the application early and moving straight to revision is the practical route.
The rule on "marked for review" questions is the one most likely to trip people up. If you are unsure about an answer, make sure you select an option before marking it for review, otherwise it will simply not be counted.
What Happens Next
After registrations close on October 28, the correction window from November 2 to 4 will be the only chance to fix mistakes in the form. The city intimation slip on November 23 will tell candidates where they will be writing the exam, and admit cards with exact centre and shift details will be out on December 7. Candidates should keep an eye on the official website for any further notices from NTA.
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