UGC NET December 2026: 9.6 lakh registered, last day to apply is October 31

By TUF News Desk · Published 30 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

More than 9.6 lakh candidates have registered for the UGC NET December 2026 examination, and the application window closes tomorrow. The National Testing Agency (NTA) said on Friday that over 7.91 lakh applicants have completed the fee payment. Anyone still midway through the form has until October 31 at 11:50 pm to finish it, with no late fee.

The gap between the two figures is the part that should worry unfinished applicants. Around 1.7 lakh registrations still do not have a completed fee payment behind them. Registration alone does not count as an application. Until the fee goes through and the confirmation page is generated, the form is incomplete and the candidate cannot sit the exam.

A steep climb in five days

The rush has built fast. On October 25, the agency counted 5,50,048 registrations, of which 3,73,419 had paid the fee. Five days later, registrations have climbed past 9.6 lakh and completed payments past 7.91 lakh. The last week of any NTA window follows this pattern, with a large share of candidates filing in the final days, and this cycle is no exception.

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 carrying an extra fee of Rs 500. 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.

Candidates who have already filed but spotted an error get one more chance. The correction window runs from November 2 to 4, 2026. After that, the examination is scheduled for December 14 to 18 and December 21, 2026, in computer-based mode. The test decides eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship, appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes in Indian universities and colleges.

What to finish before midnight tomorrow

Four steps make a complete application, in order: register, fill in the form, upload the photograph and signature, and pay the fee. The confirmation page, downloaded after payment, is the proof of submission. Our admission documents checklist covers the scans to keep ready before starting, since the photograph and signature uploads are where many forms stall.

The practical risk on deadline day is the portal itself. Payment gateways and upload pages slow down on final evenings, and a failed transaction at 11 pm leaves little room to retry. Candidates with a form stuck at any step should finish it well before the evening rush rather than waiting for the last hour. A day earlier, 1.86 lakh forms were still incomplete, and the pile has only partly cleared since.

Applications are submitted through the official UGC NET portal, where the information bulletin and the October 27 extension notice are also published. Candidates should check that portal for further announcements rather than relying on social media posts about dates.

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 candidates have registered for UGC NET December 2026?

More than 9.6 lakh candidates have registered, and over 7.91 lakh have completed the fee payment, according to the National Testing Agency.

When is the UGC NET December 2026 correction window?

November 2 to 4, 2026. Candidates can edit their submitted forms during this window.

When is the UGC NET December 2026 exam?

December 14 to 18 and December 21, 2026, in computer-based mode.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Deccan Herald, The Indian Express, Business Today