The UGC NET December 2025 examination concluded on January 7, 2026 . A total of 7,35,592 candidates appeared for the test. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the exam over six days, beginning on December 31, 2025 .
The UGC NET assesses eligibility for Assistant Professor positions and Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. Daily attendance rates for the December 2025 session ranged between 71% and 75%, according to the NTA.
Examination Details
The NTA administered the exam for 85 subjects. Each examination day featured two shifts: the first from 9 AM to 12 PM, and the second from 3 PM to 6 PM. The NTA reported smooth conduct across all centers, attributing this to coordination by state and district authorities and disciplined candidate participation.
Some candidates found the December 2025 session more manageable compared to the June session. One student commented that the exam felt easier in terms of questions and time, according to the NTA.
Daily Candidate Participation
Candidate participation varied each day of the UGC NET December 2025 session:
| Date | Candidates Appeared |
|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 38,452 |
| January 2, 2026 | 1,35,104 |
| January 3, 2026 | 1,45,307 |
| January 5, 2026 | 1,46,681 |
| January 6, 2026 | 1,38,638 |
| January 7, 2026 | 1,31,432 |
Answer Key and Results
The NTA plans to release the provisional answer key for the UGC NET December 2025 session in the coming weeks. Candidates will gain an opportunity to challenge any discrepancies through an official objection window provided by the NTA.
Following the challenge period, the NTA will review all submissions. The final answer key will be published after this review process. The results for the December 2025 session are expected after the final answer key’s release and resolution of objections.
Candidates can access their scores and qualifying status online atugcnet.nta.nic.inonce results become available.
Cut-off Marks
The NTA will release the cut-off marks for both Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) eligibility. These cut-offs will be published concurrently with the results for the December 2025 session.
Cut-off marks are determined by several factors. These include the total number of candidates, their overall performance, and subject-specific criteria established by the NTA.
Upcoming UGC NET Session
The UGC NET examination takes place twice each year, typically in June and December. The next scheduled session for the UGC NET is in June 2026 . Candidates who did not appear for the December session, or wish to re-attempt, can register for the upcoming session.
The NTA will issue an official notification for the June 2026 session. This notification will include registration details, important dates, and further instructions for interested candidates.