The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that today, November 7, 2025, is the final date for applying for the UGC NET December 2025 examination. Candidates who have not yet applied for this important exam and wish to do so must complete their application process by visiting the official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in, immediately. With the deadline fast approaching, the NTA has also issued a detailed advisory to assist candidates in the final stages of their application.

Important Advisory for Last-Minute Applicants

In its advisory, the NTA has emphasized a few key points for candidates applying on the last day. Firstly, all candidates must ensure they fill out the online application form and make the payment for the required examination fee. The payment should be successfully processed to complete the application process. Candidates are also advised to download the confirmation page after submission and keep it for their reference.

It is important to note that the application will only be considered complete once the payment of the exam fee is successfully made. Candidates are strongly advised to carefully check all their details before making the payment. There will be no opportunity to make corrections after the submission. Therefore, applicants should review their information thoroughly before proceeding with the final submission.

UGC NET Exam Overview

The UGC NET exam is a vital assessment for candidates aspiring to become Junior Research Fellows (JRF), Assistant Professors, or those wishing to pursue a Ph.D. in various universities and higher education institutions across India. This prestigious exam is conducted twice a year by the NTA and serves as a qualifying exam for various academic positions.

The UGC NET exam consists of two papers. Paper 1 is focused on general eligibility, teaching aptitude, and research methodology, while Paper 2 assesses candidates on their chosen subject. Paper 1 is common to all candidates, and Paper 2 is subject-specific. The exam is essential for anyone looking to secure a career in academia or research.

Minimum Qualifying Marks

For candidates to be eligible in both papers of UGC NET, they must meet the minimum qualifying marks, which vary depending on their category. For the general category, the minimum qualifying marks are 40% in both papers combined, while for reserved categories, the minimum qualifying marks are 35%.

The specific qualifying marks for various subjects in the UGC NET exam will depend on the cutoff marks set by the NTA for each category. Here are the cutoff marks for some of the subjects in the June 2025 session:

• Political Science

  • Unreserved: JRF – 244, Assistant Professor – 218, Ph.D. – 186

  • OBC: JRF – 236, Assistant Professor – 202, Ph.D. – 168

  • EWS: JRF – 238, Assistant Professor – 200, Ph.D. – 160

  • SC: JRF – 222, Assistant Professor – 186, Ph.D. – 160

  • ST: JRF – 218, Assistant Professor – 180, Ph.D. – 156

• History

  • Unreserved: JRF – 180, Assistant Professor – 162, Ph.D. – 142

  • OBC: JRF – 172, Assistant Professor – 150, Ph.D. – 132

  • EWS: JRF – 174, Assistant Professor – 150, Ph.D. – 130

  • SC: JRF – 164, Assistant Professor – 140, Ph.D. – 126

  • ST: JRF – 160, Assistant Professor – 138, Ph.D. – 124

• Commerce

  • Unreserved: JRF – 224, Assistant Professor – 194, Ph.D. – 166

  • OBC: JRF – 212, Assistant Professor – 174, Ph.D. – 150

  • EWS: JRF – 218, Assistant Professor – 176, Ph.D. – 146

  • SC: JRF – 202, Assistant Professor – 162, Ph.D. – 140

  • ST: JRF – 188, Assistant Professor – 158, Ph.D. – 138

• Hindi

  • Unreserved: JRF – 218, Assistant Professor – 190, Ph.D. – 160

  • OBC: JRF – 208, Assistant Professor – 172, Ph.D. – 146

  • EWS: JRF – 210, Assistant Professor – 174, Ph.D. – 142

  • SC: JRF – 194, Assistant Professor – 160, Ph.D. – 138

  • ST: JRF – 182, Assistant Professor – 152, Ph.D. – 134

• Economics

  • Unreserved: JRF – 198, Assistant Professor – 170, Ph.D. – 146

  • OBC: JRF – 184, Assistant Professor – 150, Ph.D. – 132

  • EWS: JRF – 186, Assistant Professor – 150, Ph.D. – 132

  • SC: JRF – 166, Assistant Professor – 140, Ph.D. – 124

  • ST: JRF – 162, Assistant Professor – 136, Ph.D. – 122

• English

  • Unreserved: JRF – 188, Assistant Professor – 166, Ph.D. – 146

  • OBC: JRF – 176, Assistant Professor – 150, Ph.D. – 134

  • EWS: JRF – 180, Assistant Professor – 152, Ph.D. – 134

  • SC: JRF – 166, Assistant Professor – 140, Ph.D. – 126

  • ST: JRF – 164, Assistant Professor – 140, Ph.D. – 126

• Public Administration

  • Unreserved: JRF – 224, Assistant Professor – 198, Ph.D. – 168

  • OBC: JRF – 216, Assistant Professor – 178, Ph.D. – 152

  • EWS: JRF – 220, Assistant Professor – 178, Ph.D. – 142

  • SC: JRF – 160, Assistant Professor – 164, Ph.D. – 142

  • ST: JRF – 204, Assistant Professor – 160, Ph.D. – 138

• Sociology (Unreserved Category)

  • JRF – 220

  • Assistant Professor – 192

  • Ph.D. – 162

• Management (Unreserved Category)

  • JRF – 218

  • Assistant Professor – 192

  • Ph.D. – 170

Last Chance to Apply

The UGC NET exam plays a crucial role in determining eligibility for junior research fellowships, assistant professor positions, and entrance into Ph.D. programs at universities across India. With the application deadline approaching, candidates are encouraged to act quickly and ensure their applications are complete. The NTA’s advisory emphasizes the importance of paying the correct exam fee and submitting the application with accurate details. This is the last chance for candidates to apply for the December 2025 session of the UGC NET exam, and failure to complete the application correctly could result in missed opportunities.