UGC-NET December 2026: Application Deadline Extended to October 31
Pawan Joshee··6 min read
UGC-NET December 2026: Application Deadline Extended to October 31
Extremely important and relieving news has emerged for candidates preparing for the University Grants Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test (NET). The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the last date to apply online for the UGC-NET December 2026 exam. Candidates can now complete their registration and pay the application fee without any late fee until October 31, 2026, at 11:50 PM.
Previously, the deadline for regular applications was set for October 28, 2026, after which candidates would have had to pay an additional late fee of ₹500. However, keeping the interests of the students in mind, the NTA has extended this deadline. If you also want to appear in this national-level exam, fill out your form as soon as possible without any delay.
Important Notice: According to official data from the NTA, a total of 5,50,048 candidates had registered for the exam as of October 25, 2026. However, out of these, only 3,73,419 candidates had fully completed their applications with fee payment. More than 1.36 lakh candidates still had to upload documents or pay fees, which led to the decision to extend the deadline.
Important Schedule for UGC-NET December 2026
For the convenience of candidates, all important dates related to the UGC-NET December 2026 exam have been compiled in the table below:
| Event | Revised Date / Time |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | October 08, 2026 |
| Online Application End Date | October 31, 2026 (until 11:50 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment without Late Fee | October 31, 2026 (until 11:50 PM) |
| Application Correction Window | November 02 to November 04, 2026 (until 11:50 PM) |
| City Slip Notification | November 23, 2026 |
| Admit Card Download Date | December 07, 2026 |
Candidates are advised not to wait for the last date to avoid heavy website traffic and technical glitches at the last minute, and to complete their application well in time.
Application Fee for UGC-NET December 2026
The details of the application fee prescribed for various categories for the UGC-NET December 2026 exam are as follows:
- General / Unreserved Category: ₹1,150
- General-EWS / OBC-NCL: ₹600
- SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender: ₹325
Note: The application fee will only be accepted through online modes such as Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. In addition, any service charges and GST levied by banks must be paid separately by the candidate.
Eligibility Criteria for UGC-NET Exam
Before applying, candidates must carefully read the eligibility criteria:
1. Educational Qualification
- General and General-EWS category candidates must possess a Master's Degree (Post Graduation) or equivalent degree from a recognized university with at least 55% marks (without rounding off).
- A minimum of 50% marks is mandatory for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and Third Gender candidates.
- Candidates who are in the final year of their Master's degree or are awaiting their exam results can also apply provisionally for this exam.
2. Age Limit
- JRF (Junior Research Fellowship): The age limit for candidates applying for JRF is determined as per NTA guidelines, with relaxation provided to reserved categories as per rules.
- Assistant Professor and Ph.D. Admission: There is no upper age limit for candidates applying for Assistant Professor eligibility and Ph.D. admission only.
How to Apply for UGC-NET December 2026?
The application process is entirely online. Candidates can easily fill out their form by following the steps below:
- Visit the Official Website: First, visit the official NTA website at ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
- Register: Click on the "UGC-NET December 2026 Registration" link on the homepage and register by entering your valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill the Application Form: Log in using the system-generated application number and password received after registration. Then, enter your personal, educational, and contact details.
- Upload Documents: Upload your recent passport-size photograph (there may also be an option for a live photo) and scanned signature in the prescribed format.
- Fee Payment: Pay the application fee through the online gateway according to your category.
- Download Confirmation Page: After successful payment, download the Confirmation Page displayed on the screen and take a printout for future reference.
Understanding the UGC-NET Exam Pattern
The UGC-NET exam is conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The exam consists of two papers, and there is no break between the two papers:
| Paper | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Objective of the Test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 50 (Compulsory) | 100 Marks | Tests teaching and research aptitude, logical reasoning, and general awareness. |
| Paper 2 | 100 (Compulsory) | 200 Marks | Tests in-depth understanding of the specific postgraduate subject chosen by the candidate. |
| Total | 150 Questions | 300 Marks | Total Duration: 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
- Marking Scheme: Candidates are awarded 2 marks for each correct answer.
- Negative Marking: There is no negative marking for incorrect answers in this exam. Therefore, candidates should attempt all questions.
Special Preparation Tips and Conclusion
Clearing a national-level exam like UGC-NET requires a precise strategy and regular practice. Candidates should first analyze the detailed syllabus of both papers and identify their weak and strong areas. For Paper 1, focus specially on teaching aptitude, data interpretation (DI), and mathematical reasoning, while for Paper 2, clarify the basic and advanced concepts of your core subject.
In the final stages of preparation, taking mock tests and solving previous years' question papers (PYQs) can prove to be a game-changer in boosting your speed and accuracy. If you want to ensure your success in this exam, you can take help from Patamde mock tests and study material, where you will find excellent mock tests and study materials designed according to the latest exam pattern.
Time is very short, so take advantage of this extended deadline and make sure to fill out your application form before October 31, 2026!
