The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET 2026) is one of India’s most prestigious national-level exams conducted to determine the eligibility of candidates for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The exam is organized by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the UGC, twice a year — usually in June and December.

It serves as a gateway for aspirants aiming to build an academic or research career in India. Candidates who qualify for JRF are also eligible for fellowship opportunities in recognized research institutions.

🧭 UGC NET 2026 Selection Process

The UGC NET 2026 selection process involves two computer-based papers (Paper I & Paper II) conducted in a single session (without any break between them). There is no interview round — selection is entirely based on the marks scored in both papers.

Stages of Selection:

Online Application & Fee Payment
Admit Card Release
UGC NET Online Exam (Paper I & II)
Result Declaration & Merit List
Award of Eligibility Certificate (Assistant Professor/JRF)

📘 UGC NET 2026 Exam Pattern

The exam is conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode, consisting of two papers — both compulsory.
Each question carries 2 marks, and there is no negative marking.

Paper	Subject	No. of Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper I	Teaching & Research Aptitude (General Paper)	50	100	3 Hours (Combined for both papers)
Paper II	Subject-specific (based on candidate’s chosen subject)	100	200	3 Hours (Combined for both papers)
Total		150	300	3 Hours

Mode: Online (CBT)
Language: English & Hindi (bilingual)

📚 UGC NET 2026 Detailed Syllabus

Paper I – General Paper on Teaching & Research Aptitude

Focuses on general awareness, reasoning ability, and teaching aptitude.
Important topics include:

Teaching Aptitude
Research Aptitude
Comprehension
Communication
Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
Logical Reasoning
Data Interpretation
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
People, Development & Environment
Higher Education System

Paper II – Subject-Specific Paper

Candidates must choose one subject out of 83 options offered by UGC (e.g., English, Commerce, Political Science, Computer Science, Management, etc.).
Syllabus overview:

Based on the core and elective topics of the postgraduate syllabus of the chosen subject.
Detailed syllabus available on the official NTA UGC NET website in downloadable PDF format.

🏁 Final Selection Process

Candidates must score minimum qualifying marks in both papers combined to be eligible.
Merit lists are prepared separately for JRF and Assistant Professor.
The top 6% of candidates who appear in both papers and secure the qualifying marks are considered for eligibility.

Category	Minimum Qualifying Marks (Paper I + II)
General (Unreserved)	40% aggregate
OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD / Transgender	35% aggregate

👉 Final merit for JRF is determined based on aggregate performance and the number of available fellowships as per UGC norms.

💡 Practical Preparation Tips for UGC NET 2026

Understand the pattern: Focus on Paper I and Paper II weightage equally.
Use standard books: Refer to Trueman’s, Arihant, and previous years’ question banks.
Create topic-wise notes: Especially for teaching/research aptitude and data interpretation.
Attempt mock tests: Simulate real exam conditions for better time management.
Revise regularly: Keep revisiting previous topics weekly.
Follow current updates: Stay informed about UGC notifications and syllabus changes.
Analyze past papers: Identify commonly repeated questions and topics.

🔗 Useful Resources for UGC NET 2026

📝 Official Website: https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in
📘 UGC NET Previous Year Question Papers: https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in/
📢 Official Notification PDF: Will be released on NTA website in early 2026

🎓 UGC-NET 2026 Exam: Latest Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Selection Process & Preparation Tips