UGC NET December 2026: 1.86 lakh forms still incomplete, 2 days left to apply
By TUF News Desk · Published 29 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Two days before the UGC NET December 2026 window closes, 1,86,144 applications are still unfinished. The National Testing Agency (NTA) said it has received more than 8.78 lakh registrations for the December session, but only 6.92 lakh candidates have completed the fee payment. The rest have a form stuck somewhere between registration and submission, and the deadline is October 31 at 11:50 pm.
The gap has barely narrowed in the last few days. On October 25, the agency counted 5,50,048 registrations and 3,73,419 completed applications. Since then, registrations have climbed sharply, yet the pile of incomplete forms has grown slightly, from 1,76,629 to 1,86,144. New applicants keep arriving faster than pending ones finish.
Where the forms are stuck
The agency broke the pending figure into three groups. The largest, 1,45,888 candidates, have neither uploaded a photograph and signature nor paid the fee. A smaller group of 7,512 has uploaded the images but has not submitted the form or paid. The remaining 32,744 have submitted the form but still have the fee payment pending.
That last group is the closest to the finish line and also the easiest to lose. A submitted form without a fee payment is not a completed application, and the confirmation page, which serves as proof of submission, is generated only after payment.
The NTA has urged candidates not to wait until the last day. Payment gateways and upload portals tend to slow down on deadline evenings, and a failed transaction at 11 pm leaves little room to retry.
What counts as a finished form
A complete application has four steps, in order: register, fill in the form, upload the photograph and signature, and pay the fee. The final step is downloading the confirmation page and keeping it safe. Our admission documents checklist covers the scans to keep ready before starting, since the photograph and signature are the two uploads holding up most incomplete forms.
For identity verification, the agency advises candidates to use Aadhaar, a PAN card or a driving licence through DigiLocker.
The October 31 deadline itself came from a public notice issued on October 27. The original window was set to close on October 28, followed by a late window with an extra fee. The agency scrapped that late fee, so anyone who files by October 31 at 11:50 pm pays only the regular examination fee. All other terms in the information bulletin stay unchanged.
What happens after October 31
Candidates who spot an error in a submitted form get a correction window from November 2 to 4. The examination city intimation slip is scheduled for November 23, and admit cards follow on December 7. The examination itself is held in December 2026.
UGC NET decides eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship, for appointment as Assistant Professor, and for admission to PhD programmes in Indian universities and colleges, depending on the category a candidate applies under. For candidates planning to use the result for PhD admission, our guide to choosing a university in India sets out what to weigh when comparing institutes.
Applications and fee payment close on the official UGC NET portal. Candidates should check it directly rather than relying on forwarded links, since the portal is the only place a form can actually be completed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
October 31, 2026, up to 11:50 pm, for both the application form and the fee payment, with no late fee.
How many UGC NET December 2026 applications are still incomplete?
1,86,144 candidates still have the fee payment pending, according to the National Testing Agency, including 1,45,888 who have yet to upload a photograph and signature.
What counts as a completed UGC NET application?
The photograph and signature must be uploaded, the fee must be paid, and the confirmation page must be downloaded. Registration alone does not count.
When is the UGC NET December 2026 correction window?
November 2 to 4, 2026. The examination city intimation slip follows on November 23 and admit cards on December 7.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
October 31, 2026, up to 11:50 pm, for both the application form and the fee payment, with no late fee.
How many UGC NET December 2026 applications are still incomplete?
1,86,144 candidates still have the fee payment pending, according to the National Testing Agency, including 1,45,888 who have yet to upload a photograph and signature.
What counts as a completed UGC NET application?
The photograph and signature must be uploaded, the fee must be paid, and the confirmation page must be downloaded. Registration alone does not count.
When is the UGC NET December 2026 correction window?
November 2 to 4, 2026. The examination city intimation slip follows on November 23 and admit cards on December 7.
Sources: The Times of India, Business Today, The Indian Express