The UGC NET examination is considered as the first step for many students in achieving their dream of becoming a teacher. Qualifying for this exam enables candidates to pursue opportunities as faculty members in colleges and universities. Through the NET examination, students in India gain the necessary eligibility to teach at the college or university level.
Recognized as one of the toughest examinations in India, the NET exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The latest session of the NET exam was recently concluded, and the results have been published on time. In this article, we will try to figure out the definition of UGC NET exam, the pattern, its purpose, benefits, and more.
What is UGC NET?
Candidates aspiring to advance in higher education and join a college or university as faculty members must be aware of the UGC NET exam. The UGC NET is an eligibility test designed to assess the potential of candidates to become assistant professors or to receive the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). This examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Before July 2018, the UGC NET was administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Since December 2018, the NTA has taken over the responsibility of conducting the exam. The UGC NET is conducted twice a year in a computer-based test (CBT) format.
University Grants Commission (UGC) – The Exam Co-ordinator
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory body that operates under the Ministry of Education (MoE) in India. It plays a crucial role in the coordination and maintenance of universities and colleges across the country. Headquartered in New Delhi, UGC also has six regional centers throughout India. The commission provides recognition and funding to various colleges and universities and assists in the allocation of fellowships. Additionally, UGC conducts the National Eligibility Test (NET) through the National Testing Agency (NTA). Before NTA, UGC NET exam has been conducted by CBSE. This test was performed for the first time in 1989.
Key Questions Regarding the UGC NET Exam That You Should Know
➨ What Is NET Exam: The full form of NET is National Eligibility Test. This is a national level exam, and is conducted to provide eligibility to the aspiring candidates who want to pursue a career in academia.
➨ What is UGC NET: UGC stands for University Grants Commission and NET means National Eligibility Test. NET exam is regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC)
➨ Who Conducts the NET Exam: National Eligibility Test or NET is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year.
➨ What is UGC NET JRF: UGC NET JRF is a national level fellowship provided by UGC through NET exam, which is conducted by NTA that qualifies candidates for Assistant Professor roles and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), offering a stipend for Ph.D. research.
What is the Exam Procedure for UGC NET?
UGC conducts the National Eligibility Test (NET) with the help of the National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year (June & December). In UGC NET exam, the question pattern of each discipline follows the same rule. Questions are of objective types, Multiple Choice Question. The UGC NET exam procedure comprises 150 questions, including Paper 1. Each question is worth 2 marks, making the exam total 300 marks. The duration of the exam is three hours, and there is no negative marking for any paper. The format of the UGC NET Exam will be discussed in this section:
Who is Eligible for UGC NET?
The UGC-NET is an eligibility test that qualifies Indian nationals for the positions of “Junior Research Fellow” and “Assistant Professor” in Indian universities and colleges and helps candidates explore various other career opportunities.
The UGC NET exam requires a few fundamentals to meet for providing eligibility of getting Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or pursuing a career as an Assistant Professor. These eligibility criteria are only open to those who meet the requirements set out by the UGC NET. If you meet these requirements, you are eligible to take the UGC NET exam:
- Be an Indian National
- Meet the Upper Age Limit and relaxation
- Required Qualification
To ensure the required NET JRF Eligibility, such as educational qualification, age restrictions, relaxation, and exemption criteria for the UGC NET eligibility, candidates should review their eligibility before filling out the application form to avoid any inconvenience later. Here are some important points about the proof of eligibility that candidates should keep in mind:
- Candidates are not required to submit any documentation to the National Testing Agency (NTA) to prove eligibility. Since the NTA does not verify submitted information, their candidature is provisional until all requirements are met.
- If any ineligibility is found by the NTA or the University Grants Commission (UGC), candidates may face legal action, and their candidature could be canceled.
- Candidates who qualify for the UGC NET exam can work as professors or academicians, and those who excel may become eligible for a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), which provides a monthly stipend while they teach, conduct research, and pursue their doctorate.
UGC NET Educational Qualification
- Candidates must apply in their post-graduate subject or a related field if unavailable.
- General Category: Minimum 55% in Master’s (Humanities, Social Science, Computer Science, etc.).
- OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PWD: Minimum 50% in Master’s.
- Final-year Master’s students or those with postponed exams can apply but must meet eligibility criteria upon completion.
- Candidates must secure the required marks within two years of the NET result; otherwise, they will be disqualified.
- Ph.D. holders who completed their Master’s by September 19, 1991, get a 5% relaxation in marks.
UGC NET Eligibility Criteria: Nationality
Nationality plays a significant role in determining eligibility for the UGC NET exam. Only Indian nationals are permitted to participate in this examination. Candidates from other countries are not eligible to apply. However, Indian citizens residing abroad can still take the test. To verify their Indian nationality, these candidates must possess the necessary documentation.
UGC NET Age Limit
Below are the details regarding the age limits for various categories, including general, for both JRF and Assistant Professor positions. The UGC has stated that these age restrictions apply only to the current test cycle. The age limit to achieve JRF is set at 30 years for male candidates, while relaxations extend to reserved categories and female candidates, allowing an age limit of up to 45 years. Candidates belonging to specific categories may benefit from age-related exemptions as follows:
- OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer): An age reduction of up to three years is permitted.
- SC/ST/PwD/Transgender applicants: An age reduction of up to five years is available.
- Female Candidates: An age reduction of up to five years is applicable.
However, the UGC NET examination does not have a maximum age restriction for candidates seeking the position of assistant professor. People can apply for the position of assistant professor at any time.
How Does the UGC NET Selection Process Work?
UGC NET Selection process is quite easy, candidates who want to appear for this test may read this step-by-step procedure to get more clarity:
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Apply Online – Register on the NTA UGC NET website, upload documents, and pay the fee.
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Exam Procedure (CBT Mode)
- Paper 1 (100 marks) – Teaching & Research Aptitude (Common for all).
- Paper 2 (200 marks) – Subject-specific.
- No negative marking.
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Qualification Criteria
- General: 40% aggregate (both papers).
- OBC-NCL, SC/ST, PwD: 35% aggregate.
- Top 6% qualify for Assistant Professor; JRF requires a higher cut-off.
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Final Selection
- Assistant Professors can apply to universities.
- JRF qualifiers get a research stipend and eligibility for teaching roles.
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Document Verification – Institutions verify certificates before appointment.
What is the Application Process for UGC NET Exam?
The application fee for UGC NET can be submitted through online mode only. Let’s find out more information about UGC NET application fees:
- To pay the UGC NET application fee, the candidate must use Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, and UPI/Paytm to complete their application process.
- The payment should be made only through the payment gateway of the official website of UGC NET managed by NTA (National Testing Agency). An additional process charge will be deducted if the payment is done through a debit/credit card.
- Candidates can submit the UGC NET application fee with SBI /HDFC /Syndicate/ICICI Payment Gateway (available on the official website of the UGC NET payment page) with their Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking/UPI/Paytm).
- The confirmation page will be generated only after a successful payment by a candidate. However, if the confirmation page fails to generate even after payment, then the candidate needs to approach the concerned bank to ensure his/her successful payment.
- If the payment status shows the ‘FAILED’ sign, then it means that your transaction is cancelled and the money will be refunded to your account in 6-7 business days. In this scenario, the candidates have to pay the same once again to secure their application.
- Please download the payment receipt for future reference.
- The application fees for UGC NET will only be submitted online. No other modes will be entertained.
- To avoid cancellation of your application, you must avoid any delays before payment.
- The fee structure may vary depending on the category you belong to.
What Are the Benefits of Clearing UGC NET?
We receive many questions from students who are often in doubt and ask what they can do after the UGC NET exam. Clearing the UGC NET exam opens up a wide range of career opportunities beyond just teaching and research. Whether you aim for academia, research, or corporate roles, qualifying for UGC NET provides professional recognition and financial stability. Here are some key benefits:
- Eligibility for Assistant Professor – Qualify to teach at universities and colleges across India.
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) – Receive a stipend for pursuing a Ph.D. at prestigious institutions.
- Opportunities in PSUs – Many public sector undertakings hire UGC NET-qualified candidates for roles in research, training, HR, finance, and management.
- Alternative Career Paths – Work as an author, editor, consultant, guest faculty, corporate trainer, or lab instructor.
- Academic Job Portal – UGC provides an online platform to connect qualified candidates with universities and employers.
- Higher Salary Potential – Assistant professors earn ₹25,000–₹40,000 per month, with increases based on experience.
- Work in Research Organizations – JRF-qualified candidates can work with institutions like DRDO, ICAR, ICMR, and SERB.
- Teaching & Training Opportunities – Join coaching institutes or mentor future UGC NET aspirants.
What Can be The Salary after UGC NET?
Qualifying UGC NET exam itself does not provide any salary unless candidates secure a position as an Assistant Professor in a college or qualify for JRF and pursue research work in a university or research institution. The UGC NET JRF salary includes a stipend of ₹31,000 per month for the first two years and ₹35,000 thereafter, along with allowances.
For a UGC NET Assistant Professor salary, candidates can expect ₹25,000 – ₹40,000 per month in government colleges, with increments based on experience. In private colleges, the NET qualified salary varies, typically starting from ₹30,000 and increasing with expertise. The NET qualified Assistant Professor salary depends on the institution and location. Among the key UGC NET benefits are career stability, research opportunities, PSU job prospects, and access to prestigious teaching positions.
UGC NET Exam Preparation Tips
To clear the UGC NET exam in first attempt, candidates may follow these key strategies:
- Understand the Syllabus & Structure: Know the exam pattern thoroughly.
- Use Quality Study Materials: Refer to recommended books for Papers 1 & 2.
- Make Short Notes: Summarize key topics for quick revision.
- Revise Regularly: Reinforce concepts to improve retention.
- Manage Time Efficiently: Follow a structured timetable for effective preparation.
- Practice with Mock Tests & PYQs: Analyze patterns, improve accuracy, and boost confidence.
- Stay Positive: Confidence is key—stay motivated and focused.
How to Get the UGC NET Detailed Syllabus?
Before starting the preparation, candidates must be well aware of the syllabus, because the syllabus can provide you with the structure of the exam pattern, questions asked, and many more. Here we will give the subject-wise syllabus for UGC NET.
Candidates can click on the relevant subject link to get the detailed syllabus.
What Are The Best Books for UGC NET?
Candidates who are preparing for UGC NET exam must follow relevant books and study materials to enhance their preparation. To prepare for any exam, candidates should read texts, because reading texts will eventually lead to forming a strong base over the subject. Here in this paragraph, we will try to provide you subject-wise best books for UGC NET exam. Below the subject-wise book list is provided for aspiring candidates.
- UGC NET Sanskrit Best Books
- UGC NET Bengali Best Books
- UGC NET History Best Books
- UGC NET Education Best Books
- UGC NET Philosophy Best Books
- UGC NET Paper 1 Best Books
We hope this article will give you a properly structured idea about the NET exam, and its benefits. With this article, we can assure that all your doubts will be clear regarding UGC NET exam. Feel free to visit the related articles mentioned below. Best of Luck with your preparation!
