UGC NET 2026 Exam Pattern and Detailed Syllabus — Paper 1 and Paper 2
National Testing Agency (NTA)
The UGC NET 2026 exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency to determine eligibility for Assistant Professor positions and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) awards in Indian universities. The computer-based test has two compulsory papers held in a single three-hour session with no negative marking.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 hours (single session) |
| Total Questions | 150 MCQs |
Eligibility
Educational Qualification: Master's degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/Transgender). Candidates in the final year of their PG may also apply, subject to passing within two years of NET qualification.
Age Limit: - Assistant Professor: No upper age limit - Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Upper age 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the exam is conducted. 5-year relaxation for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/Transgender and women candidates.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General | Rs. 1150 |
| EWS / OBC-NCL | Rs. 600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Transgender | Rs. 325 |
How to Apply
- Visit the official NTA UGC NET portal at ugcnet.nta.ac.in
- Register using a valid email and mobile number
- Fill the application form with personal, educational, and subject-choice details
- Upload photograph, signature, and required documents
- Pay the application fee online
- Submit and save the confirmation page for your records
Selection Process
Single-stage computer-based test. Candidates qualifying at the prescribed cut-off become eligible for Assistant Professor. Top scorers additionally qualify for JRF, subject to the age limit.
Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Exam Pattern:
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 50 | 100 | Teaching and Research Aptitude |
| Paper 2 | 100 | 200 | Candidate-chosen subject |
- Total: 150 MCQs, 300 marks, 3 hours, no negative marking
Paper 1 topics: Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude, Reading Comprehension, Communication, Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), People, Development and Environment, Higher Education System.
Paper 2: Candidate selects ONE subject from 85 subjects offered by UGC NET. Syllabus published by UGC separately for each subject.
Information sourced from official government notifications. Verify details from the official website before applying.