University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test Info

Info Highlights Application Process Cut-Off Eligibility Criteria Admit Card Exam Pattern Syllabus Results Exam Centers

Updated on Feb 20, 2025

Asmita

The NTA will release the UGC NET 2025 notification and the application form on the official website at ugcnet.nta.ac.in. The UGC NET 2025 exam dates will also be released via notification. The UGC NET exam is conducted twice yearly, in June and December. Candidates with a master's degree and required marks can apply for the UGC NET exam. The examination determines the Assistant Professor or Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor position eligibility. The UGC NET exam is conducted twice yearly, in June and December. Those candidates who hold a master's degree with the required marks are eligible to apply for the UGC NET exam. The examination determines the Assistant Professor or Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor position eligibility. Scroll down for more information regarding the UGC NET 2025 notification, application form, eligibility criteria, pattern, syllabus, admit card details, and more.

UGC NET Exam Highlights

The candidates can check the overview of the UGC NET exam in the table below:

Exam Particulars	Exam Details
Exam Name	UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test)
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Level	National
Exam Frequency	Twice a year
Mode of Exam	Online
Exam Fees	INR 1,150 for the General category INR 600 for OBC INR 325 for SC/ ST/ PwD
Exam Duration	180 minutes
Exam Time	Shift 1 - 09:00 am to 12:00 noonShift 2 - 03:00 pm to 06:00 pm
No. of Papers and Total Marks	Paper-1: 100 marks Paper 2: 200 marks
Total Questions	50 MCQs in Paper 1 and 100 MCQs in Paper 2
Marking Scheme	+2 for each correct answer No negative marking for incorrect answer
Language/Medium of Exam	English and Hindi
Exam Purpose	Determine the eligibility of candidates for posts of only Assistant Professor or both Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges
No. of Test Cities	181
Official Website & Helpline No.	https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in 0120-6895200

UGC NET 2025 Exam Dates

Candidates willing to appear in UGC NET 2025 Exam in June, must follow this page to get the latest update on the events related to exams.

UGC NET 2025 Events	Tentative Dates for June Session
UGC NET Application Form Release	To be announced
Last Date for UGC NET 2025 Application	To be announced
Application Correction Window for UGC NET 2025	To be announced
UGC NET 2025 Admit Card Releases	To be announced
UGC NET 2025 Exam Date	To be announced
UGC NET 2025 Provisional Answer Key Release	To be announced
UGC NET Final Answer Key Publication	To be announced
UGC NET 2025 Result Declaration	To be announced

UGC NET 2025 Eligibility

The candidates must check their UGC NET eligibility to appear for the exam, as those who do not fulfil the eligibility criteria will not be able to take the exam. The eligibility criteria are i) Nationality, ii) Educational Eligibility, and iii) Age Limit. Check the eligibility for the UGC NET below:

Eligibility Criteria	Details
Nationality	Only Indian citizens can apply. Indian citizens residing in other countries can apply with proper documentation.
Educational Eligibility	Must have completed a Master’s degree from a UGC-recognised college/university.
Minimum Marks (General Category)	55% marks in Master's degree
Minimum Marks (Reserved Categories)	50% marks for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates
Relaxation in Educational Qualification	5% relaxation for reserved category candidates
SET (State Eligibility Test) Exemption	Candidates who have cleared SET before June 1, 2002, are exempt from the UGC NET exam
Age Limit (As of June 1, 2025)	- NET JRF: Below or equal to 30 years of age- Assistant Professor: No upper age limit
Age Relaxation for Reserved Categories	5 years age relaxation for reserved category candidates

UGC NET 2025 Application Form

Candidates interested in applying for the UGC NET December session can complete the application process by following the steps below:

Visit the official website at ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
Scroll to the bottom of the homepage and click on the Application Form link.
Select the New Registration option.
Provide the required details to complete the registration process.
Fill out the application form with accurate information.
Upload scanned images of your passport-sized photograph (10-200 KB) and signature (4-30 KB) in JPEG format.
Pay the application fee based on your category:
- General: ₹1150
- OBC/EWS: ₹600
- SC/ST/PwD/Transgender: ₹325
Save and submit the application form.
Download and keep a copy of the confirmation page for your records.

UGC NET 2025 Exam Pattern

The UGC NET exam consists of two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. The duration of the UGC NET exam is three hours. Both papers contain objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs). A total of 150 questions were asked of the candidates, combining paper 1 and paper 2. The UGC NET exam does not have a negative marking scheme. Check below the UGC NET exam pattern 2025:

UGC NET Paper	Number of Questions	Marks
Paper 1	50	100
Paper 2	100	200
Total	150	300

UGC NET 2025 Syllabus

The UGC NET exam prescribes the syllabus of the UGC NET exam. It is divided into Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is a general paper that is the same or equivalent for all candidates preparing for the UGC NET exam. It consists of the questions from the quantitative, research, teaching aptitude, and more. Whereas Paper 2 is subject-specific, it comprises questions from the subject chosen by the candidates while filling out the UGC NET application form.

UGC NET 2025 Syllabus (Paper 1)

Paper 1 comprises 50 questions from 10 units, with a total mark of 100, or Paper 1 holds a weightage of 100 marks.

Topic	Subtopics/Details
Teaching Aptitude	- Concept, Objectives, Levels of teaching, Characteristics, and requirements- Learner's characteristics: Adolescent and adult learners, Individual differences
	- Factors affecting teaching: Teacher, Learner, Support material, Instructional facilities, Learning environment, Institution- Methods of teaching in higher learning institutions: Teacher-centered vs. Learner-centered, offline vs. online methods
	- Teaching Support System: Traditional, Modern, and ICT-based- Evaluation Systems: Elements, Types, Evaluation in Choice Based Credit System, Computer-based Testing, Innovations
Research Aptitude	- Research: Meaning, Types, Characteristics, Positivism, Post-positivist approach- Methods of Research: Experimental, Descriptive, Historical, Qualitative, Quantitative
Research Aptitude	- Steps of Research- Thesis and Article writing: Format, referencing- Application of ICT in research- Research ethics
Comprehension	- Questions based on a given passage
Communication	- Communication: Meaning, types, characteristics- Effective communication: Verbal, Non-verbal, Intercultural, group communications, Classroom Communication
Communication	- Barriers to Effective Communication- Mass-Media and Society
Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude	- Types of Reasoning- Number series, Letter series, Codes, Relationships- Mathematical Aptitude: Fraction, Time and Distance, Ratio, Proportion, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Interest, Discounting, Averages
Logical Reasoning	- Structure of Arguments- Deductive and Inductive Reasoning- Venn Diagram
Indian Logic	-
Data Interpretation	- Sources, Acquisition, Classification of Data- Quantitative and Qualitative Data- Graphical Representation- Data and Governance
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)	- ICT: General Abbreviations- Basics of Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio and Video-conferencing- Digital Initiatives in Higher Education- ICT and Governance
People, Development, and Environment	- Development and Environment: Millennium Development, Sustainable Development goals- Human and Environment Interaction: Anthropogenic activities, impacts on the environment
	- Environmental Issues: Air pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Noise pollution, Waste, Climate change, Socio-Economic and Political dimensions
	- Impacts of pollutants on human health- Natural and Energy Resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear, Forests
	- Natural Hazards and Disasters: Mitigation strategies- Environmental Protection Act, National Action Plan on Climate Change, International agreements/efforts
Higher Education System	- Institutions of Higher Learning and Education in Ancient India- Evolution of Higher Learning and Research in Post-Independence India
	- Oriental, Conventional, and Non-Conventional Learning Programs- Professional, Technical, and Skill-Based Education- Value Education and Environmental Education
	- Policies, Governance, and Administration

UGC NET 2025 Admit Card

The authority will release the UGC NET 2025 admit card on the official website at ugcnet.nta.ac.in. The NTA will release the June session's UGC NET 2025 Admit Card on the official website. It will be accessible only through the candidates' login. The UGC NET admit card includes details such as exam venue, shift timing, etc. Candidates will be able to download the UGC NET admit card by the steps mentioned below:

Go to the official website.
Select the link labeled Download Admit Card for UGC-NET June 2024.
Enter your Application Number, Date of Birth, and Security Pin to log in.
Get the UGC NET Admit Card here.
Keep the printout for your records.

UGC NET 2025 Answer Key

The Government of India's regulations govern the reservation policy that applies to the UGC NET. As a result, seats in central universities and institutions recognized as universities are reserved. Seat reservations are listed below:

To access the UGC NET answer key, follow these steps:

Visit the official website.
Click on the link labelled UGC NET Answer Key.
Enter your application number and date of birth.
Input the security pin displayed on the screen.
Click the Submit button.
The UGC NET answer key will be displayed on the screen.
Download and save the answer key for future reference.

UGC NET Result

The NTA will release the results of the UGC NET 2024 December session on the official website. The UGC NET result 2024 for the June session was released on October 17, 2024. The UGC NET 2024 result can be accessed through the candidate's login on the official website. The result comprises the individual score secured by the candidate. The candidates can download the UGC NET scorecard/result by following the steps given below:

Visit the official website.
Click on the link for UGC NET Result.
Enter your application number and date of birth.
Input the security pin displayed on the screen.
Click the Submit button.
Your UGC NET result will be displayed on the screen.
Download the result and save a copy for future reference.

UGC NET Cut-Off Marks

1. UGC NET 2025 Expected Cut-Off

The expected cut-off for UGC NET 2025 will be based on previous trends and may differ across cycles. Below is a general idea of the cut-off categories based on previous years.

For Paper I (General Aptitude)

General (UR): 40% of total marks
OBC-NCL/EWS: 35% of total marks
SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: 35% of total marks

For Paper II (Subject-Specific)

General (UR): 50-55% of total marks
OBC-NCL/EWS: 45-50% of total marks
SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: 40-45% of total marks

2. UGC NET Cut-Off Calculation

The cut-off is calculated based on:

Number of candidates: More candidates in a subject may lead to a higher cut-off.
Difficulty level of the exam: A more difficult exam may result in a lower cut-off.
Number of available seats: The cut-off also depends on the number of Assistant Professor and JRF positions available.

3. Category-wise Cut-Off for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor

The cut-off for JRF and Assistant Professor is typically higher for JRF candidates than those applying solely for Assistant Professorship. Below is an approximation:

For JRF:

General (UR): 45-50%
OBC-NCL/EWS: 40-45%
SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: 35-40%

For Assistant Professor:

General (UR): 40-45%
OBC-NCL/EWS: 35-40%
SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: 35-40%

FAQs

Is UGC NET postponed to 2025?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the postponement of the UGC NET December 2024 examination scheduled for 15 January 2025. This decision follows numerous requests to defer the exam due to significant festivals occurring on that date, including Pongal and Makar Sankranti.

Will there be a net exam in December 2024?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the revised schedule for the University Grants Commission–National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) December 2024 exam, scheduled for January 15, 2025. The exam was postponed due to Pongal, Makar Sankranti, and other festivals.

What is the future of UGC NET?

After qualifying for UGC NET, you can become an Assistant Professor, Junior Research Fellow (JRF), researcher, or content developer or explore administrative roles in educational institutions, among other opportunities

How many times a year is UGC NET?

UGC-NET is conducted twice every year (June & December). In order to regularize the UGC-NET examination cycle, the National Testing Agency (NTA), with the concurrence of UGC, is conducting UGC NET December 2023 in 83 subjects, at selected cities across the country.

How long is the UGC NET valid for?

Candidates qualifying for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) exam can pursue research in the chosen subject. The UGC NET certificate for Assistant Professors is valid for a lifetime. However, the UGC NET JRF award letter is valid for four years from the date when it is issued.

Is UGC NET very hard?

The UGC NET exam is one of India's most challenging entrance exams, so you need to do more than memorize the material. To do well on this test, you must fully understand the pattern and syllabus, including general and subject-specific parts.

Who is the topper of UGC NET 2024?

Deepak Saini, who scored an impressive 99.34 percentile in the UGC NET June 2024 exam, stands out among the top achievers in a competitive field of over 6.84 lakh candidates.

Is UGC NET valid abroad?

The GATE score is also valid for the MS program in different abroad universities, whereas the NET score is valid only in India for the Ph. D. program or as a JRF. The NITIE offers different management courses for GATE-qualified candidates.

Is 3 months enough for UGC NET?

The key to clearing the UGC NET Exam is a thorough knowledge of Papers 1 and 2 and enough revision and practice. If you follow the suggested plan and are persistent with your study habits, three months is an excellent amount of time to prepare for the exam.

Is UGC NET very tough?

The difficulty level of cracking the UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) can vary depending on factors such as your academic background, preparation strategy, and familiarity with the exam pattern. It is a challenging exam and requires continuous hard work.