UGC NET December 2026: Registration Open, Apply by 28 October

Age Limit

• JRF age cutoff: 1 December 2026
• JRF upper age: 30 years before relaxation
• Category / women relaxation: Up to 5 years for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third Gender and women.
• Other JRF relaxation: Certified relevant research experience and armed-forces service: up to 5 years; LL.M.: 3 years. Combined relaxation cannot exceed 5 years.
• Assistant Professor / Ph.D.: No upper age limit

Who Can Apply / Eligibility

• Master's degree: General/General-EWS: 55%; OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender: 50%, without rounding off.
• Four-year bachelor's degree: 75% or equivalent; applicable 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC-NCL, disability, EWS and other categories specified by UGC. This route does not qualify a candidate for Assistant Professor.
• Results awaited / final-year students: Provisional eligibility is subject to completing the qualifying degree within the bulletin's time limit: 2 years for JRF/Assistant Professor where applicable, or 1 year for Ph.D.-only eligibility after the NET result.
• Older Ph.D. holders: 5 percentage-point relaxation in master's marks where the master's examination was completed by 19 September 1991.
• Subject: Normally the postgraduate subject, or a related NET subject if not listed. Four-year bachelor's applicants may choose the subject in which they intend to pursue a Ph.D.

Exam / Next Stage

1. Complete the online application and payment
2. Attend the two-section computer-based test
3. Check the official result and applicable JRF, Assistant Professor or Ph.D. eligibility category

How to apply / next steps

1. Read the December 2026 bulletin and check the subject, degree and JRF age rules.
2. Use the official application link and complete registration and application details.
3. Upload the documents requested by the portal and check all details.
4. Pay the applicable fee before the relevant deadline and save the confirmation page.