UGC NET December 2026: 10 Big Rule Changes in NTA's Revised Bulletin, Exam on Dec 14-18 and 21
The National Testing Agency has quietly re-written the rulebook for the UGC NET December 2026 session. A revised information bulletin dated October 16 changes exam dates, scoring, city choice and exam-day rules. Here is everything aspirants for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor eligibility need to know.
The UGC NET December 2026 exam will now be held on December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21. That is a change from the earlier plan of December 14 to 19 with December 20 and 21 kept as buffer dates. The subject-wise schedule, with the date and shift for each paper, will be announced separately.
The new timeline: application, city slip, admit card
Registrations are already open on the official UGC NET website, and the deadline pressure is real. Here is the full schedule:
- Apply online: October 8 to October 28, 2026
- Late-fee window: October 29 to October 31, with a Rs 500 late fee added to the normal fee
- Correction window: November 2 to November 4 (only in fields NTA allows)
- City intimation slip: November 23, 2026
- Admit card download: December 7, 2026
- Exam: December 14-18 and December 21, 2026
If the October 28 deadline slips, the late window keeps you in the race, so finishing on time is the cheaper option. We covered the application process in our guide to UGC NET December 2026 registration.
Exam-day rules that actually changed
NTA also reworked the barred-items list and a few exam-hall protocols:
- A ball pen will be given at the centre. You do not need to carry one from home. Pens were earlier listed as a prohibited item.
- Watches are now broadly barred. The old bulletin singled out “electronic watches with calculator facilities”; the new wording simply says watches.
- Diabetic candidates get relief. Sugar tablets and whole unpacked fruits such as banana, apple and orange are now allowed for diabetics. Water in transparent bottles is allowed for all candidates.
- City choice got easier. If your state has fewer than four available exam cities, you can choose from the cities that are available, and you can revise your city preference during the correction window.
- Gate-closing and dress-code rules were clarified in the revised bulletin, so check the exact wording on the official portal before you plan your travel to the centre.
“Attempted questions marked for review will now be evaluated. It is a genuine relief for candidates who use the review flag as a thinking tool.”
How your answers are scored: the big clarification
This is the change serious aspirants should pay attention to. Earlier, NTA’s wording said no marks for unanswered questions or questions marked for review. The revised bulletin splits the two cases clearly:
- Questions you attempted will be evaluated, even if you marked them for review.
- Questions you did not answer will not be evaluated, whether or not you marked them for review.
There is also a change in how results are reported. Your scorecard will show marks along with the percentile score. But the qualification cut-offs are based on aggregate marks in Paper I and Paper II, using normalised marks for subjects held in multiple shifts. Percentile is not used for deciding cut-offs.
The answer-key challenge fee is now stated as Rs 200 per question challenged, and question papers stay bilingual in English and Hindi, except for language papers.
Registration route: Meri Pehchaan and the live photo
Registration now goes through Meri Pehchaan, the national single sign-on service. Use your own email ID and mobile number for the sign-on. You will also have to capture a live photograph during the form. Keep your face about 80 percent visible, including your ears, against a white background. The same approach was seen in the CSIR NET December 2026 cycle this month, so aspirants should expect more notices, not fewer.
If you have already applied, use the November 2-4 correction window to fix your city preferences, images and personal details. If you have not applied, go through the comparative statement (Annexure-A) and the updated bulletin (Annexure-B) on the official website first. For the full official timeline and fee rules, the education news section will track every NTA update as it comes.
Frequently asked questions
When is the UGC NET December 2026 exam? The revised NTA schedule puts the exam on December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21, 2026. A subject-wise date and shift schedule will be released separately.
What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026? October 28, 2026 is the last date to apply without a late fee. Applications with a Rs 500 late fee are accepted from October 29 to 31.
When will the UGC NET December 2026 admit card come? The city intimation slip releases on November 23, 2026, and the admit card downloads from December 7, 2026 on ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
Are attempted questions marked for review evaluated in UGC NET? Yes. Under the revised bulletin, attempted questions marked for review will be evaluated. Unanswered or unattempted questions will not be evaluated.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the UGC NET December 2026 exam?
The revised NTA schedule puts the exam on December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21, 2026. A subject-wise date and shift schedule will be released separately.
What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
October 28, 2026 is the last date to apply without a late fee. Applications with a Rs 500 late fee are accepted from October 29 to 31.
When will the UGC NET December 2026 admit card come?
The city intimation slip releases on November 23, 2026, and the admit card downloads from December 7, 2026 on ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
Are attempted questions marked for review evaluated in UGC NET?
Yes. Under the revised bulletin, attempted questions marked for review will be evaluated. Unanswered or unattempted questions will not be evaluated.
