UGC NET

UGC-NET (University Grants Commission — National Eligibility Test) is the national eligibility benchmark for two purposes: (1) determining eligibility for appointment as Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges, and (2) determining eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) which provides financial support for PhD research. Conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) on behalf of UGC, NET is available in 83 subjects spanning humanities, social sciences, commerce, management, computer science, and education.

The exam is divided into two papers: Paper 1 (Teaching and Research Aptitude, 50 marks, 50 questions — common to all subjects) and Paper 2 (subject-specific, 100 marks, 100 questions). Both papers are now merged into a single 3-hour session. Candidates scoring above the cut-off qualify for Assistant Professor eligibility; those who additionally rank in the top 6% (approximate) qualify for JRF.

JRF under UGC-NET provides ₹31,000 per month for the first 2 years and ₹35,000 per month for subsequent years, plus a contingency grant. This is a significant research funding opportunity for candidates who want to pursue academic careers. UGC-NET scores are valid for 3 years for JRF and indefinitely for Assistant Professor eligibility. Our editorial team reviews UGC-NET notifications, syllabus changes, and subject-wise cut-offs from the official NTA NET portal at ugcnet.nta.ac.in, last updated July 2026.