The National Testing Agency (NTA) extended the last date to submit the online application form for the UGC NET December 2026 examination to October 31, 2026, at 11:50 PM. The extension allowed eligible candidates additional time to complete their registration and pay the examination fee without any late charge.

The decision was announced through a public notice dated October 27, 2026. NTA said the extension was intended to help candidates who had not completed their application process within the earlier deadline.

The extended deadline applied to both online application submission and examination fee payment. Since October 31 has now passed, candidates who successfully submitted their applications should focus on the upcoming correction window and other examination-related updates.

The agency has not announced any general extension beyond October 31 in the notice covered by this update. Candidates should check the official portal for any subsequent announcements rather than assume that fresh registration remains open. <Cite refs={["turn949920search0","turn949920search2","turn949920search7"]} />

UGC NET December 2026: Revised important dates

The application deadline extension changed the registration schedule, while the examination dates remained as announced in the information bulletin.

The dates for the correction window, city intimation slip and admit card are based on the published examination schedule. Candidates should continue checking the NTA website for any revised instructions. <Cite refs={["turn949920search1","turn949920search6","turn949920search9"]} />

UGC NET application correction window: November 2 to 4

Candidates who submitted their applications should use the correction facility to review the information entered in their forms. The correction window is scheduled to remain open from November 2 to November 4, 2026.

Applicants should log in through the official UGC NET portal and check the details available for editing. They should pay particular attention to personal information, academic details, category information and examination-related preferences.

Not every field is necessarily editable. The changes permitted by NTA will depend on the correction rules and instructions published for this examination cycle. Any additional fee applicable to a permitted correction should be checked through the official portal.

Candidates should not assume that the correction window allows them to replace an application or make unrestricted changes. Once the facility closes, further changes may not be accepted.

What is UGC NET and why is the examination conducted?

The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is a national-level examination conducted by NTA to determine eligibility for three academic pathways:

• Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): For eligible candidates seeking research opportunities and fellowship support, subject to applicable rules.
• Assistant Professor: For candidates seeking eligibility for Assistant Professor positions in Indian universities and colleges.
• PhD admission: For admission to PhD programmes under the applicable UGC and institutional admission rules.

The examination is particularly relevant to postgraduate students and graduates interested in academic careers, university teaching and research.

Qualifying UGC NET does not automatically guarantee a teaching appointment, research position or PhD admission. Candidates must also meet the requirements of the recruiting institution or university.

UGC NET December 2026 eligibility criteria

Candidates applying for UGC NET must satisfy the educational qualification requirements specified in the information bulletin.

For the general and unreserved category, candidates are generally required to have secured at least 55% marks in a Master's degree or an equivalent examination, without rounding off. The prescribed minimum is generally 50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third-gender candidates.

Candidates who are currently pursuing their Master's degree, have appeared in their final-year examination or are awaiting their qualifying examination results may also apply provisionally, subject to the conditions and timelines specified by NTA.

Candidates should carefully review the updated information bulletin for subject-specific requirements, category-related provisions and other eligibility conditions before relying on general summaries.

UGC NET December 2026 application fee

The examination fee varies according to the candidate's category.

The examination fee was payable online during the application period. Candidates should retain their payment confirmation and application confirmation page for future reference. <Cite refs={["turn949920search1","turn949920search6"]} />

How to check UGC NET application and examination updates

Although the registration deadline has passed, applicants should continue monitoring the official website for correction-window instructions, city information and admit card announcements.

The steps to access examination-related updates are:

1. Visit the official website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
2. Open the relevant UGC NET December 2026 notification or candidate login link.
3. Log in using the application credentials, wherever required.
4. Check the application status and available examination updates.
5. During the correction window, review and modify permitted details.
6. Save or download the updated confirmation page if the portal provides one.

Candidates should also consult the NTA website for official notices and examination-related instructions.

UGC NET December 2026 examination schedule

NTA is scheduled to conduct the December 2026 UGC NET examination from December 14 to 18 and on December 21, 2026. The examination will determine eligibility for JRF, Assistant Professor positions and PhD admission.

Candidates should use the remaining preparation time to revise their selected subjects, practise previous-year question papers and become familiar with the examination pattern. They should also check the city intimation slip when released, as it will provide advance information about the examination city.

The city intimation slip and admit card serve different purposes. The former provides advance information about the allotted examination city, while the admit card contains the details required for entry into the examination centre.

With the registration deadline now over, the immediate priority for applicants is to verify their submitted information during the November correction window and follow official updates from NTA.

Key Highlights

• NTA extended the UGC NET December 2026 registration deadline to October 31, 2026.
• Applications and examination fee payments were accepted until 11:50 PM without a late fee.
• The registration extension was announced through an NTA notice dated October 27.
• The application correction window is scheduled for November 2–4, 2026.
• The examination city intimation slip is scheduled for November 23.
• Admit cards are scheduled for December 7.
• The examination will take place from December 14–18 and on December 21, 2026.
• UGC NET determines eligibility for JRF, Assistant Professor positions and PhD admission.