| Organisation Name | National Testing Agency (NTA) for University Grants Commission (UGC) |
| Post Name(s) | JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) | Assistant Professor | Ph.D. Admission |
| Total Vacancies | Not fixed; based on merit & reservation as per UGC norms |
| Application Last Date | 20 May 2026 (upto 11:50 P.M.) |
| Minimum Qualification | Master’s degree with 55% (General) / 50% (reserved) OR 4‑year Bachelor’s with 75% (as per PhD regulations) |
| Approx. In-Hand Salary | JRF: ₹37,000 + HRA for 2 years; SRP: ₹42,000 + HRA for 3rd‑5th year |
| Selection Process | Single Computer Based Test (CBT): Paper‑1 (Teaching Aptitude) + Paper‑2 (Subject) |
Based on official information bulletin by NTA/UGC. Verified: April 2026.
Quick Eligibility Check
- You have a Master’s degree (or final year awaiting result) with 55% (General/EWS) or 50% (OBC‑NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third gender).
- You have a four‑year Bachelor’s degree with 75% (65% for reserved) – eligible for JRF & PhD admission (NOT for Assistant Professor).
- PhD holders (Master’s completed before 19‑Sep‑1991) get 5% relaxation in Master’s marks.
- Your Master’s percentage is below 55% (General) / 50% (reserved) and you have no PhD relaxation.
- You are applying for Assistant Professor with a 4‑year Bachelor’s degree – not allowed.
- You have already qualified UGC‑NET before 1989 for JRF – you still need to reappear for JRF (only SET exemption available).
Expert note: Final year Master’s students can apply provisionally, but their JRF/Assistant Professor eligibility will be confirmed only after they secure the required percentage within two years from result date.
Important Dates
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 29 April 2026 |
| Online Registration Start | 29 April 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 20 May 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 20 May 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Correction Window | 22–24 May 2026 |
| Admit Card Download | By 15 June 2026 |
| Exam Dates | 22–30 June 2026 |
| Result Declaration | To be intimated on NTA website |
Vacancy & Category Analysis (Expected)
| Category | Approx. Total Seats (All Subjects) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | ~40,500 | Includes EWS 10% |
| OBC‑NCL | ~22,900 | 27% reservation |
| SC | ~12,700 | 15% reservation |
| ST | ~6,350 | 7.5% reservation |
| EWS | ~8,500 | 10% within unreserved |
| PwBD (5% horizontal) | ~4,600 | Across all categories |
What does this mean for you? Unlike direct recruitment, UGC‑NET qualifying cut‑off is subject‑wise and category‑wise. For popular subjects (Commerce, English, Economics, History, Computer Science), the competition is fierce – often the 40% aggregate for General may rise effectively to ~60 percentile in high‑demand subjects. Third gender category gets the lowest cut‑off among SC/ST/OBC/EWS – a major advantage. PwBD candidates with 40%+ disability get scribe facility and 20 min extra per hour. Also, there is no fixed “vacancy number” – instead the top 6% of appeared candidates (subject to minimum marks) qualify for Assistant Professor. JRF slots are about 1‑2% of total applicants.
Salary & In‑Hand Breakdown (JRF & Assistant Professor)
| Post | Pay Level / Fellowship | Basic Pay / Monthly Fellowship | Gross Approx. |
|---|---|---|---|
| JRF (1st‑2nd year) | UGC Fellowship | ₹37,000 | ₹37,000 + HRA ≈ ₹44,000‑47,000 |
| SRF (3rd‑5th year) | UGC Fellowship | ₹42,000 | ₹42,000 + HRA ≈ ₹50,000 |
| Assistant Professor (Entry) | Level‑10 (7th CPC) | ₹57,700 | With DA/TA/HRA ~ ₹72,000‑85,000 |
In‑hand calculation (JRF): Basic ₹37,000 – NPS (10% of basic) + HRA (class cities: 24%/16%/8%) ≈ ₹44,000 to ₹47,000. For Assistant Professor: Basic ₹57,700 – NPS (~₹5,770) + DA (current ~50%) + TA + HRA → in‑hand around ₹78,000‑88,000. Benefit beyond salary: JRF counts as research experience for PhD and government scientist positions. Comparable post: CSIR‑NET JRF offers similar ₹37,000 + HRA; UGC‑NET has wider subject coverage for Assistant Professor in universities.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee (₹) |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | 1150 |
| Gen‑EWS / OBC‑NCL | 600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender | 325 |
⚠️ Plus applicable service charges & GST (by bank/payment gateway). No refund once paid, even for duplicate transactions. Use net banking / credit/debit card / UPI only.
Age Limit & Relaxation
| Category | Max Age (JRF) | Relaxation |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 30 years | — |
| OBC‑NCL | 35 years | +5 years |
| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender | 35 years | +5 years |
| Women | 35 years | +5 years |
| LLM degree holders | 33 years | +3 years |
| Research experience (max 5 yr) | 35 years | Certificate from recognised institute |
Age calculated as on 01 June 2026. Example: A candidate born 02‑June‑1996 will be 29 years 11 months on 01‑June‑2026 → eligible for General JRF. Assistant Professor & PhD admission have no upper age limit.
Eligibility Criteria (Educational)
| Post Type | Qualification | Minimum % |
|---|---|---|
| JRF + Asst. Professor | Master’s degree in relevant subject | 55% (General) / 50% (reserved) |
| Only Asst. Professor + PhD | Same as above | Same |
| Only PhD admission | Master’s OR 4‑year Bachelor’s (75% / 65%) | 55% / 50% or Bachelor’s norms |
| Final year Master’s | Provisional – must complete within 2 years (1 year for PhD only) | — |
Most common mistake: Candidates apply in a subject that is not their Post Graduation discipline. You must appear in the subject of your Master’s. If your PG subject is not in the NET subject list, choose a related subject. For 4‑year Bachelor’s degree holders, you can appear in any subject (even if different from your Bachelor’s discipline).
Selection Process (CBT Exam)
Paper‑1 (Teaching/Research Aptitude)
50 compulsory MCQs – 100 marks. Tests reasoning, comprehension, divergent thinking, general awareness. No negative marking.
Paper‑2 (Subject Specific)
100 MCQs – 200 marks. Based on syllabus of chosen subject (download from UGC website).
Your first 7 days after applying: 1️⃣ Download syllabus & compare with your Master’s topics. 2️⃣ Attempt official mock test (CBT interface). 3️⃣ Identify weak areas in Paper‑1 (logical reasoning / data interpretation). 4️⃣ Create a 90‑day study plan with daily 3 hours. 5️⃣ Join a subject‑wise test series for Paper‑2.
Exam Syllabus
How to Apply (Step‑by‑Step)
- Visit https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/ and click “Online Registration”.
- Use MeriPechhaan (National Single Sign‑On) – authenticate via DigiLocker / Aadhaar / PAN / Driving Licence.
- Fill basic details: name (as per Class‑X certificate), father/mother name, DOB, email, mobile.
- Choose your subject (Appendix‑II code), four preferred exam cities, and category (OBC only if Central list NCL).
- Upload live photograph (80% face, white background, 10‑200kb) and signature (black ink, 10‑50kb).
- Upload PwD/PwBD certificate (both sides, PDF 50‑300kb) if applying under disability.
- Pay fee via SBI/Canara/ICICI/HDFC/UPI – keep transaction proof.
- Download the Confirmation Page (automatically generated after successful payment).
📄 Document Checklist
- ✔ Valid email & mobile (own, not coaching centre)
- ✔ Class‑X certificate (for name/DOB proof)
- ✔ Master’s degree marksheet or last semester marksheet (for final year)
- ✔ Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC‑NCL/EWS) – as per central list
- ✔ PwD/PwBD certificate with 40%+ disability (UDID preferred)
- ✔ Scanned photo (white background, live capture)
- ✔ Net banking/credit/debit card/UPI for fee
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- ✅ What is approximate in‑hand salary after deductions for JRF?
- JRF receives ₹37,000 per month + HRA (24%/16%/8% depending on city). After NPS (10% of basic) and without income tax (since fellowship is tax‑free), in‑hand is around ₹44,000‑47,000. SRF (3rd year onwards) gets ₹42,000 + HRA.
- 📅 What is the last date to apply for UGC‑NET June 2026?
- Online application closes on 20 May 2026 upto 11:50 PM. Fee payment also closes same time. Correction window: 22‑24 May 2026.
- 🔢 What are total vacancies and post names?
- No fixed number – eligibility is determined as per the 6% rule (Assistant Professor). JRF slots vary subject‑wise. Posts: JRF, Assistant Professor, PhD admission.
- 🎓 What is minimum educational qualification?
- Master’s degree with 55% (General/EWS) or 50% (OBC‑NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third gender). Final year Master’s students can also apply. PhD holders (Master’s before 19‑Sep‑1991) get 5% relaxation.
- 👤 What is age limit for General category (JRF)?
- Maximum 30 years as on 01 June 2026. For Assistant Professor and PhD admission: no upper age limit.
- 🎁 What is age relaxation for OBC/SC/ST?
- OBC‑NCL, SC, ST, PwD, Third gender, and Women get 5 years relaxation (max 35 years). LLM degree holders: 3 years relaxation.
- 💰 What is application fee for different categories?
- General: ₹1150; OBC‑NCL/EWS: ₹600; SC/ST/PwD/Third gender: ₹325. Plus bank/processor charges & GST extra. Non‑refundable.
- 📝 What is selection process?
- Single Computer Based Test (CBT) with two papers – 150 MCQs, 300 marks, 3 hours. Paper‑1 (teaching aptitude) + Paper‑2 (subject). No interview. Final merit based on normalized scores for multi‑shift subjects.
- 🤔 Can final year Master’s students apply?
- Yes, provisionally. They must complete their Master’s with required percentage within two years from NET result (one year for PhD‑only category), otherwise JRF/Assistant Professor eligibility will be cancelled.
- 📎 What documents are required for application?
- Live photograph (white background, 80% face), signature (running handwriting), PwD certificate (if applicable), category certificate, Master’s marksheet (or last semester), and valid photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Driving Licence/Passport).
- ❌ Is there negative marking in UGC‑NET 2026?
- No negative marking. Each correct answer gets +2 marks, unattempted or wrong answer gets 0.
- 📜 Are 4‑year Bachelor’s degree holders eligible for Assistant Professor?
- No – they are eligible only for JRF and PhD admission, not for Assistant Professor. For Assistant Professor you still need Master’s degree with 55%.
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