UGC NET December 2026: NTA revises exam dates, applications close October 28

By TUF News Desk · Published 17 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

The application deadline is eleven days away, and the exam dates have just changed. The National Testing Agency on October 16 issued a revised information bulletin for the UGC NET December 2026 session, amending the exam schedule and several examination-day rules. Applications for the session remain open until October 28.

Under the revised schedule, the computer-based test will be held on six days: December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21, 2026. The advance city intimation slip will be released on November 23, and admit cards will be available for download from December 7. The UGC NET decides eligibility for junior research fellowships, assistant professor posts and PhD admissions across Indian universities, so the timetable matters to lakhs of postgraduate aspirants.

The revised timetable

Registration opened on October 8. Only online applications submitted through the official UGC NET portal are accepted, and each candidate may submit only one application form.

What the revised bulletin changes

The revision is not only about dates. According to the updated document, the NTA has amended the list of barred items, the fee refund procedure, gate closing time, exam medium options, exam city preferences, dress code, application correction provisions and scribe-related documentation. The evaluation of responses and payment gateway charges are also covered in the revised rules.

That is a long list of small changes, and several of them decide whether a candidate gets into the hall at all. Dress code and gate closing time are enforced at the centre, not on paper, so they are worth reading before exam day rather than after. Aspirants should read the revised bulletin on the official portal before filling the form and appearing for the test, since the document supersedes the earlier version in every respect where the two differ.

What to do before October 28

Start with the uploads. The form needs a recent passport-size photograph between 10 KB and 200 KB and a scanned signature between 10 KB and 50 KB, along with category and disability certificates where applicable. A valid mobile number and email address, Aadhaar details for verification, and postgraduate qualification records round out the checklist. Mismatched names across documents are a common reason forms get flagged, so compare the form against official certificates before submitting.

If you are still to register, do not leave it for the last day. Portals slow down near deadlines, and the late window costs an extra Rs 500 for the same form. Check every entry carefully, since the NTA does not allow changes after final submission outside the correction window.

Frequently asked questions

What are the revised UGC NET December 2026 exam dates?

December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21, 2026, as per the revised information bulletin the NTA issued on October 16.

What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?

October 28, 2026, up to 11:50 pm. A late application window with an additional fee of Rs 500 runs from October 29 to 31.

When will the UGC NET December 2026 admit card be released?

The exam city intimation slip comes out on November 23, 2026, and admit cards will be available for download from December 7.

What changed in the revised information bulletin?

The exam dates, plus amendments to the barred items list, fee refund procedure, gate closing time, exam medium options, exam city preferences, dress code, correction provisions and scribe rules.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Telegraph India, Careers360