UGC NET is conducted by the National Testing Agency on behalf of the University Grants Commission. The June 2026 session has concluded and the December 2026 notification is awaited, expected around late September or early October 2026.
Current Status
| Session | Status |
|---|---|
| June 2026 | Concluded. Examination held 22 to 30 June 2026. |
| December 2026 | Notification awaited. Expected late September or early October 2026. |
We update our dates page the day the notification releases.
Track it here: UGC NET December 2026 Notification and Dates
UGC NET at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency, for UGC |
| Mode | Computer Based Test |
| Sessions per year | Two, June and December |
| Papers | Paper 1 and Paper 2, no break between them |
| Paper 1 | 50 questions, 100 marks, common to all subjects |
| Paper 2 | 100 questions, 200 marks, subject specific |
| Total | 150 questions, 300 marks |
| Duration | 3 hours, 180 minutes |
| Question Type | Multiple choice only |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Medium | English and Hindi |
| Eligibility | Master’s degree with 55 percent, 50 percent for reserved categories |
| Age Limit | 30 years for JRF, no limit for Assistant Professor |
Common to Every UGC NET Subject
These three pages apply whatever subject you have chosen.
Notification, Dates and Eligibility
The registration schedule, application fee by category, eligibility rules, the age limit and relaxations for JRF, and what happens if you are still completing your Master’s degree.
Read: UGC NET December 2026 Notification and Dates
Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
How the 150 questions split across two papers, the marking rules, why there is no negative marking, and the three different outcomes you can qualify for.
Read: UGC NET Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
Paper 1 Syllabus
All ten units of the General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude, with the official unit wise question distribution. Paper 1 is identical for all UGC NET subjects and carries a third of the total marks.
Read: UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus
Choose Your Subject
Statistics, Subject Code 107
The Paper 2 syllabus has ten units covering probability, real analysis and matrix algebra, sampling methods and design of experiments, estimation, testing of hypotheses, regression and econometrics, time series, multivariate analysis, stochastic processes, and the Indian Statistical System with research methodology.
Population Studies, Subject Code 015
Coming soon.
The Three Outcomes
UGC NET is unusual in that qualifying is not a single result. There are three separate outcomes, and which one you get depends on your score.
| Qualified for | JRF | Assistant Professor | PhD Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1: Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Category 2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD | No | Yes | Yes |
| Category 3: Admission to PhD only | No | No | Yes |
Category 1 carries the highest cut off and includes a research fellowship. Category 2 gives teaching eligibility. Category 3 gives only PhD admission eligibility.
This matters when you set a target. A student aiming for JRF needs a considerably higher score than one aiming for Assistant Professor eligibility, and the age limit applies only to JRF.
The One Rule That Changes Everything
UGC NET has no negative marking.
Every question carries two marks. A correct answer earns two marks. An incorrect answer costs nothing. An unanswered question earns nothing.
The consequence is simple and absolute. Attempt all 150 questions. Leaving a question blank is strictly worse than guessing on it, because a guess has a positive expected value and a blank has zero.
If you are coming from GATE or IIT JAM preparation, this reverses the habit those examinations build. Unlearn it deliberately.
What Makes UGC NET Statistics Different
If you have prepared GATE Statistics or IIT JAM Mathematical Statistics, you have covered a real part of the UGC NET Statistics syllabus. You have also missed a great deal.
UGC NET Statistics uniquely includes sampling methods, design of experiments, econometrics, the entire time series unit, the Indian Statistical System and R programming. None of these appear in GATE ST or JAM MS.
See the full comparison in the Statistics syllabus
Practice. Improve. Repeat.
UGC NET rewards coverage and speed: 150 questions in 180 minutes with no break between papers. That is a pace you build through timed practice, not through reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who conducts UGC NET?
The National Testing Agency conducts UGC NET on behalf of the University Grants Commission.
When is the UGC NET December 2026 notification expected?
The notification is expected around late September or early October 2026. It has not been released as of 5 September 2026.
How many questions are in UGC NET?
150 questions in total: 50 in Paper 1 worth 100 marks and 100 in Paper 2 worth 200 marks, for 300 marks across three hours.
Is there negative marking in UGC NET?
No. There is no negative marking for any question. Unanswered questions score zero.
What is the eligibility for UGC NET?
A Master’s degree with at least 55 percent marks, or 50 percent for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates. Candidates in the final year of their Master’s may apply provisionally.
Is there an age limit for UGC NET?
For JRF, the age limit is 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the examination concludes, with relaxations available. There is no age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility.
What is the subject code for Statistics in UGC NET?
Statistics is subject code 107.
How many times a year is UGC NET held?
Twice, in June and December.
Our Other Examination Sections
- GATE Statistics for the GATE ST paper
- IIT JAM Mathematical Statistics for the JAM MS paper
- UPSC ISS for the Indian Statistical Service examination