NTA has finally dropped the advance calendar for the December 2026 cycle of UGC NET, and if you’ve been refreshing ugcnet.nta.nic.in every other day waiting for news — this is it. The notification came out on 16 September 2026, and while the full schedule isn’t out yet, we now know enough to start planning seriously.
Here’s the thing most aspirants get wrong: they wait for registration to open before starting prep. By then you’re racing the clock. So let’s break down exactly what’s confirmed, what’s still pending, and what you should be doing right now.
What’s Actually Confirmed So Far
Not much, honestly — but the one thing that matters most is locked in: the exam dates.
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Cycle | December 2026 |
| Notification Released | 16 September 2026 |
| Exam Dates | 14–19 December 2026 |
| Buffer Dates | 20–21 December 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Official Portal | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
Everything else — registration opening, the fee deadline, admit card release, results — is still sitting under “to be announced.” NTA tends to do this: release the exam window first as an advance heads-up, then follow with the actual application details a few weeks later.
The Timeline (And What’s Still Missing)
| Event | Status |
| Advance Notification | 16 September 2026 ✅ |
| Registration Opens | Awaited |
| Deadline Without Late Fee | Awaited |
| Deadline With Late Fee | Awaited |
| Correction Window | Awaited |
| Admit Card | Awaited |
| Exam Dates | 14–19 December 2026 ✅ |
| Buffer Dates | 20–21 December 2026 ✅ |
| Result | Awaited |
If you look at how NTA has run this in past cycles, there’s usually a gap of about 8-10 weeks between notification and exam. Going by that pattern, we’d expect the form to open sometime in October, with the window closing in November. That’s not official — just what history tells us. Keep an eye on the portal directly since NTA sometimes updates without much fanfare.
Filling the Application — Step by Step
Once the form is live, this is roughly what you’ll be doing:
Before the portal even opens, get your documents scanned and ready: 10th and 12th marksheets, your qualifying degree certificate, category certificate, and a valid photo ID. Doing this in advance saves you from that last-day panic everyone seems to go through.
What the Fee Might Look Like
NTA hasn’t announced fees for this cycle, but going by recent sessions, this is roughly the range you should budget for:
Who’s Eligible
You need a Master’s degree (or equivalent) with at least 55% marks — 50% if you fall under SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/Third Gender. If you’re in your final year of PG, you can still apply provisionally. And there’s no upper age cap for JRF or Assistant Professor eligibility, though some relaxations apply for reserved categories on the JRF side.
Exam Pattern, Briefly
It’s a CBT exam covering close to 85 subjects, run across multiple shifts because of how many candidates sit for it. Two papers, both in one sitting:
No negative marking, which is one less thing to stress about.
Admit Card Basics
When it’s released, you’ll download it from the portal using your application number and date of birth. A few things worth remembering on exam day — get to the centre 30-45 minutes early, carry a printed admit card plus a valid photo ID, and leave your smartwatch and calculator at home since none of that’s allowed inside.
Don’t Wait for the Form to Open Before You Start Studying
This gap between notification and registration is actually the best window you’ll get. Once the form opens, your attention shifts entirely to documents, fee payment, and correction windows — not exactly ideal conditions for revising Research Aptitude or Higher Education System topics. Use these next few weeks to get ahead instead of behind.
If you’re in Chandigarh and would rather have someone guide you through Paper 1 and the subject paper properly instead of piecing it together from YouTube videos, our UGC NET coaching program in Chandigarh covers both, with mock tests built around the current NTA pattern.
Quick Answers
When does registration open for December 2026?
Not announced yet — expect it around October based on past cycles.
What dates is the exam confirmed for?
14–19 December 2026, with 20–21 December as buffer.
Where do I apply?
Only through ugcnet.nta.nic.in — don’t trust any other link.
What’s the minimum eligibility?
A Master’s degree with 55% marks (50% for reserved categories).
