UGC NET December 2026, conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency). Current stage: application open. UGC NET qualifies candidates for Assistant Professorship and Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. Work involves higher education teaching, academic research, and research paper publication.

VI and PwBD vacancies

Suitable for Visually Impaired candidates. No vacancy count. The bulletin applies Government reservation policy, including 5% for PwBD (40%+); PwBD candidates get a scribe if desired (blindness, both-arms locomotor, cerebral palsy) and at least one extra hour on the 3-hour paper. For more details, ask Suomoto AI. Total posts: Eligibility test, not a vacancy count — qualifies for JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD admission across 87 subjects. For more details, ask Suomoto AI.

Scribe and compensatory time

From the December 2026 Information Bulletin (section 4.2): candidates with blindness, both-arms locomotor disability or cerebral palsy get a scribe if they want one; other benchmark disabilities need the Annexure-VI certificate of writing limitation. You may bring your own scribe — one step below your own qualification, with the Annexure-VII undertaking — or ask NTA to provide one. All scribe-eligible benchmark candidates get at least one extra hour on the 180-minute paper, with or without a scribe. Under 40% with difficulty writing: scribe and/or extra time only with the Annexure-VIII certificate from a multi-member medical authority. Carry your UDID card or the Annexure VI/VIII certificate to the centre — only candidates who submit it get the scribe and/or extra time. UDID mismatches can be fixed only in the 02–04 November correction window; after that no PwD/PwBD claim is entertained. Fee ₹325. JRF upper age 30 (as on 01.12.2026) with up to 5 years' relaxation; no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD.

Key dates and deadlines

Online application opens: 8 October 2026. Online application closes: 28 October 2026. Fee payment closes: 28 October 2026. Late submission with ₹500 late fee: 31 October 2026. Application correction window: 2 November 2026. Exam city intimation: 23 November 2026. Admit card download: 7 December 2026. UGC-NET December 2026 exam (CBT): 14 December 2026. Answer keys & recorded responses: to be announced later.

Step by step: what to do now

SCRIBE ELIGIBILITY & RULES (Extracted from Official NTA UGC-NET December 2026 Information Bulletin, Section 4.2): 1. Automatic scribe: Blindness, locomotor disability (both arms affected) and cerebral palsy — scribe/reader/lab assistant given if the candidate wants it. 2. Other benchmark disabilities (40%+): scribe only with a certificate of physical limitation to write from the CMO/Civil Surgeon/Medical Superintendent of a Government health care institution (Annexure-VI). 3. Own scribe or NTA scribe: The candidate may bring their own scribe or request NTA to provide one. 4. Own scribe's qualification: one step below the qualification of the candidate; submit the Annexure-VII undertaking. 5. Role of the scribe: reads the questions and/or keys in answers as the candidate directs — must NEITHER explain questions NOR suggest answers. 6. Extra time: at least 20 minutes per hour for scribe users; all scribe-eligible benchmark candidates get a minimum of one hour extra on the 3-hour paper whether or not they use a scribe. 7. Less than 40% disability with difficulty in writing: scribe and/or compensatory time only with the Annexure-VIII certificate from a multi-member medical authority (CMO/Civil Surgeon as chair, with specialists); scribe details on the Annexure-VII undertaking (corrected from Annexure-IX by the corrigendum dated 16.10.2026). 8. UDID verification: UDID details are verified on the DePwD UDID portal; mismatches can be fixed only in NTA's correction window, and after the correction window closes no claim of PwD/PwBD status will be entertained (revised bulletin, 16.10.2026). 9. Misuse: a candidate found to have used a scribe or extra time without the required extent of disability is excluded from evaluation. 10. Bring the certificate to the centre: blindness, both-arms locomotor disability and cerebral palsy — UDID card or disability certificate; 40%+ with writing limitation — Annexure VI; under 40% with writing limitation — Annexure VIII. Only candidates who submit these certificates get a scribe and/or 20 minutes per hour compensatory time (revised bulletin, 16.10.2026).

Official source and verification

Source: NTA UGC-NET December 2026 Information Bulletin (revised by corrigendum dated 16.10.2026). Status of these dates: official. Verified by the SuoMoto team on 2026-10-17.

Last year cut-off analysis

UGC NET is qualifying — there is no marks cut-off list. The figures below are the qualifying thresholds for the JRF and Assistant Professor awards (percentage of aggregate of Paper 1 plus Paper 2). PwBD has a relaxed qualifying percentage. In Assistant Professor (qualifying %) 2025, general closed at 40, O B C at 35, S C at 35, and the Visually Impaired cut-off at 35. The VI cut-off was about 5 marks below general, because VI candidates compete on a separate horizontal list. Top 6 percent of candidates qualify; the percentages shown are the minimum aggregate to be considered.

application openVI: SuitablePreparation guide

UGC NET December 2026 — Applications Open till 28 October (Exam 14–18 & 21 December)

Source: NTA UGC-NET December 2026 Information Bulletin (revised by corrigendum dated 16.10.2026). Last verified: 2026-10-17.

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1. Exam Overview
UGC NET qualifies candidates for Assistant Professorship and Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. Work involves higher education teaching, academic research, and research paper publication.
2. Posts and What They Involve
Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)
Accessibility: Suitable
UGC · JRF stipend ₹37,000+ per month (plus HRA) during research
Qualifying for JRF funds your MPhil/PhD research and is the gateway to a research career. Valid for three years.
Assistant Professor eligibility
Accessibility: Suitable
Universities and colleges · Academic Level 10 on appointment
Clearing NET makes you eligible to apply for Assistant Professor posts across Indian universities and colleges — an academic career well suited to VI candidates.
3. Vacancies — Total & Reserved Quotas
Total: Eligibility test, not a vacancy count — qualifies for JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD admission across 87 subjects. For more details, ask Suomoto AI.
Reserved / PwBD: No vacancy count. The bulletin applies Government reservation policy, including 5% for PwBD (40%+); PwBD candidates get a scribe if desired (blindness, both-arms locomotor, cerebral palsy) and at least one extra hour on the 3-hour paper. For more details, ask Suomoto AI.
4. Exam Structure and Pattern
Single sitting — Paper 1 and Paper 2
Computer Based Test with a zoom and high-contrast interface; scribe available on request
Duration: 3 hours combined (no break); 4 hours with 20-minutes-per-hour compensatory time
- Paper 1 — Teaching and Research Aptitude (common to all)50 Q · 100 marks
- Paper 2 — Subject chosen by the candidate100 Q · 200 marks
Total: 300 marks · No negative marking — attempt every question
Both papers are attempted in one 3-hour session. Each question carries 2 marks.
5. Important Dates
1. 8 October 2026Online application opens
2. 28 October 2026Online application closes
3. 28 October 2026Fee payment closes
4. 31 October 2026Late submission with ₹500 late fee
5. 2 November 2026Application correction window
6. 23 November 2026Exam city intimation
7. 7 December 2026Admit card download
8. 14 December 2026UGC-NET December 2026 exam (CBT)
9. to be announced laterAnswer keys & recorded responses

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How to use this page

1. Exam Overview

2. Posts and What They Involve

3. Vacancies — Total & Reserved Quotas

4. Exam Structure and Pattern

5. Important Dates

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