UGC NET 2026 – Complete Guide (Age, Eligibility & Exam Pattern)What is UGC NET?

UGC NET (National Eligibility Test) is a national-level exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year — in June and December. It determines eligibility for three things: Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor posts, and PhD admissions in Indian universities and colleges.

Who Conducts It?

NTA (National Testing Agency) on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The exam is held in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode across 85 subjects.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification:

Candidates must hold a postgraduate degree from a UGC-recognised institution with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/Transgender candidates).
Final-year PG students can also apply provisionally.
Candidates who have passed a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor's Degree with at least 75% marks are also eligible, but only for JRF and PhD admission — not Assistant Professor.

Nationality: Indian citizens only (PIOs from certain countries are also eligible).

Age Limit

The age restriction applies only to the JRF post. The maximum age for JRF is 30 years as of the first day of the exam month. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD admissions.

Exam Pattern

The exam includes 150 multiple-choice questions across two papers, attempted in a single sitting of three hours. There is no negative marking.

Paper 1 – Common for all candidates. Covers teaching aptitude, reasoning, communication, and general awareness. (50 questions, 100 marks)

Paper 2 – Subject-specific, based on your postgraduate subject. (100 questions, 200 marks)

Total: 300 marks | Duration: 3 hours | Mode: CBT (Online)

Result Categories

UGC NET results qualify candidates into three categories: Category 1 (JRF + Assistant Professor + PhD), Category 2 (Assistant Professor + PhD), and Category 3 (PhD admission only).

Score Validity

Assistant Professor: Lifetime validity
JRF: 3 years
PhD Admission: 1 year

Exemptions (Who Doesn't Need NET?)

PhD degree holders (as per UGC Regulations 2009), candidates who cleared UGC/CSIR JRF before 1989, and SET candidates who cleared before June 1, 2002 are exempt from NET for Assistant Professor roles.

Quick Summary Table


Conducted by	NTA
Frequency	Twice a year (June & December)
Mode	CBT (Online)
Total Questions	150 (Paper 1: 50 + Paper 2: 100)
Total Marks	300
Duration	3 Hours
Negative Marking	None
Age Limit (JRF)	30 years (relaxation for reserved categories)
Age Limit (Asst. Prof.)	No limit
Min. Qualification	Master's degree with 55% (50% for reserved)
Subjects	85

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UGC NET Eligibility Criteria (Educational Qualification)

To apply for UGC NET:

✅ Minimum Qualification:

Master’s degree (Postgraduate)
From a recognized university
Minimum 55% marks (General category)

✅ Relaxation:

50% marks for:
- OBC (Non-creamy layer)
- SC
- ST
- PwD
- Third gender candidates

Final Year Students: Yes, you can apply if:

You are in the final year of your Master’s
But you must complete it within 2 years of NET result

UGC NET Age Limit (2026) Age criteria depends on whether you apply for JRF or Assistant Professor.

🔹 For Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)

Maximum Age: 30 years
Age relaxation:
- OBC (NCL): 3 years
- SC/ST: 5 years
- PwD: 5 years
- Women candidates: 5 years
- Research experience: up to 5 years (with proof)

🔹 For Assistant Professor

No upper age limit

This means even if you are 35, 40, or 45 years old, you can still qualify for Assistant Professor eligibility.