The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially announced the examination schedule for the UGC NET December 2025 session, confirming that the exam will be conducted from December 31, 2025, to January 7, 2026. This announcement brings clarity to thousands of aspirants preparing for the prestigious national-level examination that determines eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor positions in Indian universities and colleges.​

Key Examination Details

The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) December 2025 will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across examination centers nationwide for 85 subjects. The examination serves as a gateway for candidates seeking to pursue research careers or teaching positions in higher education institutions across India.​

Exam Schedule Overview:

• Start Date: December 31, 2025

• End Date: January 7, 2026

• Duration: 8 days

• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)

• Subjects Available: 85

• Total Questions: 150 (Paper 1: 50, Paper 2: 100)

• Total Marks: 300 (Paper 1: 100, Paper 2: 200)

• Exam Duration: 3 hours (no break between papers)​

Registration Process Currently Underway

The UGC NET December 2025 application process commenced on October 7, 2025, with the registration window remaining open until November 7, 2025. Candidates can complete their applications through the official website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in.​

Important Registration Dates:

• Application Start Date: October 7, 2025

• Last Date to Apply: November 7, 2025 (up to 11:50 PM)

• Fee Payment Deadline: November 7, 2025

• Application Correction Window: November 10-12, 2025​

Application Fee Structure

The registration fee varies based on candidate categories:

• General/OBC-NCL/EWS Candidates: ₹1,000

• SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender Candidates: ₹500​

Payment can be made through various modes including Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, and UPI.​

Examination Pattern and Structure

The UGC NET December 2025 follows a two-paper structure conducted in a single session:

Paper 1: General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude

• Questions: 50

• Marks: 100

• Nature: Common for all candidates

• Topics: Teaching aptitude, research methodology, comprehension, logical reasoning, data interpretation, ICT, environmental studies, and higher education system​

Paper 2: Subject-Specific Paper

• Questions: 100

• Marks: 200

• Nature: Based on chosen subject from 85 available options

• Focus: Domain-specific knowledge and expertise​

Subject Coverage

The examination covers 85 subjects spanning diverse academic disciplines including:

• Humanities: English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Philosophy, History, Political Science

• Social Sciences: Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Geography, Anthropology

• Sciences: Computer Science, Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences

• Commerce and Management: Commerce, Management, Business Administration

• Professional Courses: Library Science, Mass Communication, Social Work​

Admit Card and City Intimation

The city intimation slip will be released 10 days before the examination on the NTA website, informing candidates about their allocated examination cities. The UGC NET admit card is expected to be released around December 25, 2025, containing detailed information about:​

• Exam date and shift timing

• Examination center address

• Candidate details and photograph

• Important exam-day instructions​

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must fulfill specific educational qualifications to appear for UGC NET December 2025:

• Master’s degree or equivalent with minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD candidates)

• Final year students of Master’s degree can also apply

• No upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility

• Age limit for JRF: 31 years (with relaxations for reserved categories)​

Required Documents

Candidates must prepare the following documents for the application process:

• Recent passport-size photograph (JPG/JPEG format, 10kb-200kb)

• Signature (JPG/JPEG format, 10kb-50kb)

• Valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar card preferred)

• Category certificates (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS, if applicable)

• PwD certificate (if applicable)

• Educational qualification certificates

• Domicile certificate (if required)​

Strategic Preparation Timeline

With the examination scheduled for late December 2025 and early January 2026, candidates have approximately 2.5 months for focused preparation. The extended timeline allows for:

• Comprehensive syllabus coverage for both papers

• Regular mock test practice to improve speed and accuracy

• Subject-specific preparation based on chosen discipline

• Revision and consolidation of key concepts​

Results and Career Implications

The UGC NET December 2025 results are expected to be declared in February 2026. Successful candidates will be eligible for:​

• Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) with monthly stipend

• Assistant Professor positions in universities and colleges

• PhD admissions in Indian universities

• Research opportunities in various academic institutions​

Official Guidelines and Updates

NTA has advised candidates to regularly visit the official websites for updates:

• Primary Website: ugcnet.nta.nic.in

• NTA Main Portal: nta.ac.in

The agency emphasizes the importance of keeping Aadhaar cards updated and ensuring all documents are valid to avoid complications during the admission process.​

Historical Context and Significance

The UGC NET examination is conducted twice annually (June and December sessions) and serves as India’s premier test for academic and research positions. The December 2025 session represents a crucial opportunity for aspirants to qualify for prestigious academic careers, with the examination maintaining its status as a benchmark for scholarly excellence in Indian higher education.​

The announcement of specific dates provides much-needed clarity to the academic community, allowing candidates to plan their preparation strategies effectively while institutions can prepare for the recruitment process that follows the examination results.