The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the UGC NET June 2026 provisional answer key, bringing an important update for candidates awaiting their examination results.

Candidates can now access the provisional answer key, question paper and recorded responses through the official UGC NET examination portal. The answer key was released on August 16, 2026.

Since the answer key is provisional, candidates who find discrepancies can submit challenges during the objection window before NTA prepares the final answer key.

UGC NET Answer Key Challenge Window

The objection facility is available from August 16 to August 18, 2026, with the challenge window closing at 11:59 PM on August 18.

Candidates should review their question paper and recorded responses carefully before submitting an objection.

Important Dates

How to Check UGC NET June 2026 Answer Key

Candidates can access their answer key and response details online by following these steps:

1. Visit the official UGC NET examination portal.
2. Open the UGC NET June 2026 provisional answer key link.
3. Enter the required application number and login credentials.
4. Access the question paper and recorded responses.
5. Compare your responses with the provisional answers.
6. Download or save the documents for future reference.
7. Submit a challenge if you find an answer that you believe requires review. 

Candidates should retain copies of their answer key, response sheet and any challenges submitted.

₹200 Fee for Each Answer Key Challenge

Candidates who want to challenge an answer in the provisional key are required to pay ₹200 per question challenged.

Students should therefore review the question and supporting evidence carefully before submitting an objection.

Simply disagreeing with an answer does not automatically result in a revision. The objections received by NTA will be examined by subject experts before the final answer key is prepared.

What Happens After the Challenge Window?

Once the objection period closes, the challenges submitted by candidates will be reviewed by subject experts.

The process will broadly follow:

Provisional Answer Key → Candidate Challenges → Expert Review → Final Answer Key → UGC NET Result

The final answer key will be used for evaluation and the subsequent declaration of results.

Candidates should therefore treat any score calculated using the provisional key as an estimate rather than their final UGC NET score.

CSIR-NET and ICAR Answer Keys Also Released

Along with UGC NET, NTA has also released provisional answer keys for other major examinations, including:

• CSIR-NET 2026
• ICAR AIEEA (PG) 2026
• ICAR AICE (PhD) 2026 

Candidates appearing for these examinations should access their answer keys through the respective official examination portals.

Official Websites for Answer Keys

NTA has advised candidates to rely on official examination websites and communications for further updates.

Why Candidates Should Check Their Response Sheet Carefully

The response sheet allows candidates to see the answers recorded during their examination.

Before submitting a challenge, candidates should compare three things:

• The question asked in the examination
• Their recorded response
• The answer provided in NTA's provisional key

This helps candidates identify genuine discrepancies rather than relying only on unofficial answer keys or memory-based solutions.

What Candidates Should Do Now

Candidates should download their provisional answer key and recorded responses as soon as possible instead of waiting until the final hours of the objection window.

If an answer appears incorrect, students should verify it using reliable academic material and submit the challenge before 11:59 PM on August 18.

Those awaiting UGC NET qualification for JRF, Assistant Professor eligibility or PhD admissions should continue monitoring NTA announcements because the final answer key and result dates are yet to be announced.

Key Highlights

• UGC NET June 2026 provisional answer key has been released.
• Candidates can access their question papers and recorded responses online.
• The answer-key challenge facility is open from August 16 to August 18.
• The objection window closes at 11:59 PM on August 18.
• Candidates must pay ₹200 for each answer challenged.
• Challenges will be reviewed by subject experts.
• The final answer key will be used for preparing the examination results.
• NTA has also released answer keys for CSIR-NET, ICAR AIEEA (PG) and AICE (PhD) 2026.