Overview of the UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) December 2025

The National Testing Agency (NTA), an autonomous, premier testing organization established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), is responsible for conducting the National Eligibility Test (NET) on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The UGC-NET December 2025 examination serves to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for three main purposes:

Eligibility for Assistant Professor only in Indian Universities and Colleges.
Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) & Eligibility for Assistant Professor Both.
Admission to Ph.D. programs across 85 various subjects.

The outcomes (JRF and Assistant Professor eligibility) are decided based on the candidate’s aggregate performance across both papers of the NET. It’s important to note that candidates who qualify exclusively for Assistant Professor will not be considered for the JRF award. Those who qualify for Assistant Professor eligibility must adhere to the recruitment rules and regulations of the specific university, college, or state government concerned.

Examination Structure and Format

The UGC-NET December 2025 will be held as a Computer-Based Test (CBT).

Component	Number of Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper I	50	100	\multirow{2}{*}{180 minutes (3 hours)}
Paper II	100	200
Total	150	300

The total time allocated for the entire test is 180 minutes.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Candidates must hold a Master’s Degree or an equivalent qualification from a UGC-recognized university or institution. The minimum required marks (without rounding off) are:

General/Unreserved Candidates: At least 55% marks.
OBC (Non-creamy layer)/SC/ST/PWD Candidates: At least 50% marks.

The eligible subjects include Humanities (languages), Social Science, Computer Science & Applications, and Electronic Science, among others.

Age Limit

For Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): The maximum age is 30 years as of December 1, 2025 (01/12/2025).
- A relaxation of up to 5 years is provided for candidates belonging to the OBC/SC/ST/PWD categories, as well as for all women applicants.
For Assistant Professor Eligibility and Ph.D. Admission: There is no upper age limit.

Application Process and Fee

How to Apply

Suitable and interested candidates must apply online only through the prescribed format on the official NTA NET website.

Application Period: October 7, 2025 (07/10/2025) to November 7, 2025 (07/11/2025).
Official Website: Detailed information and the online application form can be accessed at https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in.