Know this. Paper I is common to every subject and worth a third of the marks; many subject-strong candidates miss the cut-off because they under-prepare it.
- Run by
- National Testing Agency (NTA), on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC)
- Admits you to
- Eligibility for Assistant Professor posts in Indian universities and colleges, the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF, a funded Ph.D.), and Ph.D. admission, in about 80-plus humanities, social science, commerce, language and related subjects. Results fall into three categories: JRF + Assistant Professor + Ph.D.; Assistant Professor + Ph.D.; Ph.D. only.
- Who can sit
- A master's degree with at least 55% (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third gender), or final-year master's students provisionally. Four-year bachelor's graduates with 75% aggregate may sit for JRF and Ph.D. only, not Assistant Professor. JRF upper age 30 (with relaxations); no upper age for Assistant Professor or Ph.D.
- Pattern
- Computer-based test, 3 hours without a break, all objective. Paper I: 50 questions, 100 marks, on teaching and research aptitude, reasoning, comprehension and general awareness. Paper II: 100 questions, 200 marks, on your chosen subject. No negative marking.
- When
- Twice a year, June and December cycles (the June 2026 cycle was held in late June).
- Limits
- No attempt limit. JRF: not more than 30 years in the month the exam ends (relaxations for reserved categories and women); no upper age for Assistant Professor or Ph.D.
Courses it leads to
- UGC NET (Assistant Professor eligibility, JRF and PhD admission)UGC NET is the national test that decides who is eligible to be appointed Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges, who gets a Junior…Exam, twice a year
- PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)A PhD is a research degree: you spend several years answering one original question under a supervisor, and write it up as a thesis that outside…3–6 years
Sources, checked 2026-09-28: ugcnet.nta.nic.in · cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in