UGC NET FAQ 2026: Eligibility, Age Limit, Attempts, JRF Stipend and Validity

These are the questions we get most often from students on WhatsApp and Telegram. Bookmark this page — we update it every session.

What is UGC NET?

The National Eligibility Test, conducted by NTA for the UGC twice a year (June and December), decides eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD in Indian universities.

Who is eligible?

A Master's degree with 55% marks (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third gender). Final-year students can apply provisionally. Four-year bachelor's graduates with 75% (70% for reserved categories) can apply for JRF and PhD only.

Is there an age limit?

Only for JRF: 30 years (December 2026 session: as on 1 December 2026), with up to 5 years' relaxation for women, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third gender. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD admission.

How many attempts are allowed?

There is no limit. You can appear in every session as long as you meet the eligibility (and the age limit, if you want JRF).

What is the exam pattern?

Paper 1 (50 questions, 100 marks) and Paper 2 (100 questions, 200 marks) in one 3-hour computer-based test. Every question carries 2 marks and there is no negative marking.

Is there negative marking?

No. Attempt every question.

What are the three qualifying categories?

Category 1: JRF + Assistant Professor + PhD admission. Category 2: Assistant Professor + PhD admission. Category 3: PhD admission only.

How long is the result valid?

The JRF award letter is normally valid for three years from issue. Eligibility for Assistant Professor does not expire. For PhD admission in Categories 2 and 3, the NET score is valid for one year, and universities give it 70% weightage with 30% for the interview.

How much is the JRF fellowship?

₹37,000 per month for the first two years (JRF) and ₹42,000 per month for the next three years (SRF), plus HRA as per rules and an annual contingency grant.

Is NET compulsory to become an Assistant Professor?

Under UGC rules you need NET, SET/SLET or a PhD awarded under the UGC regulations. Most universities and state commissions also ask for 55% in the Master's degree.

How is the result calculated when a subject is held in several shifts?

NTA normalises the marks across shifts. Cut-offs are set subject-wise and category-wise for each qualifying category.

How many students qualify?

In the June 2026 session, 7,73,806 candidates registered, 6,07,151 appeared and 1,47,579 qualified across 84 subjects — 4,241 for JRF, 45,904 for Assistant Professor and PhD, and 97,434 for PhD only.

Can I change my subject or city after applying?

Only during the correction window. For December 2026 it is 2 – 4 November 2026.

How should I prepare?

Finish the syllabus unit by unit, then solve previous year papers under time. Paper 1 is scoring with regular practice; in Paper 2 the same concepts are asked again and again, so previous year questions are the best guide.

Start practising today — free till 31 December

Solved previous year papers and unit-wise mock tests: Paper 1, Computer Science, English and Psychology.

We check these details against the NTA bulletin and news reports at the time of writing. Always confirm dates in the official notice at ugcnet.nta.ac.in before you act.