UGC NET December 2026: Apply by 28 October, and the Exam Dates Have Moved
Published 21/10/2026
In short: The application form for UGC NET December 2026 closes at 11:50 pm on Wednesday, 28 October, and the fee must be paid by then too. NTA has also changed the exam dates: the test now runs from 14 to 18 December and on 21 December. This matters to anyone finishing or holding a Master's degree (or in the last year of a four-year bachelor's) who wants a research fellowship, a PhD seat or a college teaching job.
What happened
The National Testing Agency (NTA) opened the UGC NET December 2026 form on 8 October. That first notice listed the exam as 14 to 19 December. On 16 October, NTA published the full information bulletin with revised dates: 14 to 18 December, plus 21 December. The application deadline did not change.
The timetable now stands like this:
- Apply and pay by 28 October, 11:50 pm.
- Late window: 29 to 31 October, with an extra ₹500 on top of the normal fee.
- Correction window: 2 to 4 November. You can fix details, not file a new form.
- Exam city slip: 23 November. Admit card: 7 December.
Two things are new in how you apply. Registration now runs through Meri Pehchaan, the government's single sign-on login, and you must take a live photograph with a webcam or phone camera while filling the form, besides uploading a normal photo and signature.
For students
- Check you are eligible first. You need at least 55% in your Master's (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates). Students in the final year of a Master's can apply provisionally. Students with a four-year bachelor's degree need 75% (with a 5% relaxation for some categories); on that basis, NET can lead to JRF and a PhD seat, but not to an Assistant Professor post.
- Know the JRF age limit. For the fellowship, you must be no older than 30 on 1 December 2026, with up to five years' relaxation for women, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates, and for some others. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD admission.
- Fix your Aadhaar before you start. NTA advises keeping your Aadhaar name, date of birth, photo and other details current. A mismatch with your marksheets causes trouble later.
- Do the live photo in good light. Plain, light background, face clearly visible including ears, no mask. If your laptop has no webcam, the form shows a QR code you can scan with your phone.
- Pick the subject you studied at PG level. The bulletin advises this. Four-year bachelor's students may choose the subject they want to do a PhD in.
- Don't wait for the late window. It costs more, and the payment gateway gets crowded on the last days.
For parents
- The fee is modest. ₹1,150 for General candidates, ₹600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL, and ₹325 for SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates. Bank or gateway charges and GST are extra. Paying late adds ₹500.
- Why this one test matters. One exam decides three things: eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship (a monthly stipend for PhD study), eligibility to teach as an Assistant Professor, and PhD admission. Students who are unsure about a research path can still take it to keep options open.
- Help with the paperwork, not the form. The form must use the candidate's own (or a parent's) email and mobile number, since every NTA message goes there. Sitting together to check the Aadhaar details and the photo is the most useful thing you can do this week.
- Watch the calendar change. If you planned travel or family events for mid-December, note that the exam window now ends on 21 December. The exact date and shift come only on the admit card.
Key dates
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| 28 Oct, 11:50 pm | Last date to apply and pay |
| 29–31 Oct | Late window (₹500 extra) |
| 2–4 Nov | Correct details in the form |
| 23 Nov | Exam city slip |
| 7 Dec | Admit card |
| 14–18 Dec and 21 Dec | Exam (date and shift on the admit card) |
The exam is a three-hour computer-based test with two papers and no negative marking.
Sources
- NTA, UGC-NET December 2026 Information Bulletin (16 October 2026): revised exam dates, fees, eligibility, age limit, live photo and Meri Pehchaan login. Checked 21 Oct 2026.
- NTA, Public notice on opening of registration (8 October 2026): application window, late fee and original exam dates. Checked 21 Oct 2026.
- NTA, UGC-NET official website. Checked 21 Oct 2026.
Dates can change. Confirm on the official website before you pay or apply.