UGC National Eligibility Test
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UGC NET or NTA-UGC-NET, is also known as the National Eligibility Test (NET).
The examination for determining the eligibility for the post of assistant professor and Junior Research Fellowship award or both in Indian universities and colleges.
The examination is conducted by NTA on behalf of the University Grant Commission. Till July 2018, the UGC NET exam conducted by the Central Board Of Education (CBSE) ,now UGC NET exam, conducted by NTA from December 2018 onwards.
Frequency of The Exam
Currently, the exam is being conducted twice a year in the months of June and December in online mode.
Qualifying Criteria
UGC NET qualifying cut off marks category wise -
| Category | Qualifying marks % |
| General | 40 |
| SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/Transgender | 35 |
- 40% in Paper I and II while the qualifying marks for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/Transgender categories is 35% in Papers I and II.
Applicants who qualify for NET lectureship are not eligible for JRF.
Top 6% of candidates will be selected for JRF from the Net qualify candidates.
Until 2018 UGC released the certificates but from December 2018 onward, NTA released the UGC NET e-certificate and JRF award letter on its official website for the qualified candidates. Successful candidates would be able to download their e-certificates and award letters online at ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
Eligibility Criteria
For general category applicants should have at least 55% marks in their Master’s Degree or equivalent from a recognized university .
For OBC/SC/ST/PWD/Transgendar candidates 50% marks should be secured by the candidates in their master’s Degree.
Career opportunities
Here are some major benefits after clearing UGC NET and Jrf .
Lecture ship
Job opportunities in PSU
- AS a Subject Matter Expert
Reservation Quota in UGC-NET and JRF
UGC follows the Government of India’s Reservation Policy
| Category | Reservation % |
| OBC | 27 |
| EWS | 10 |
| SC | 15 |
| ST | 7.5 |
| PWD | 5 |
Age Criteria and Relaxation
JRF: Candidate should not be more than 31 years . There are a few relaxations as well.
Candidates (including women applicants) belonging to OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Transgender categories are provided a relaxation of up to 5 years.
Candidates who have research experience get a relaxation limited to the period they have spent on the research, but this relaxation is subject to a maximum of 5 years, only if you provide a certificate from the appropriate authority.
Candidates with L.L.M. degree are provided with 3 years of relaxation in age.
Candidates who have served in the armed forces are provided with a relaxation of up to 5 years which is subject to the length of service in the armed forces up to the first day of the month in which the UGC NET examination is to be held.
Under any circumstances, the total relaxation of the above ground(s) shall not exceed five years.
Assistant Professor: There is no upper age limit for candidates to apply for UGC NET (Assistant Professor).
Application Fee
| Category | Fee (Rs) |
| Unreserved | 1000 /- |
| OBC | 500 /- |
| SC/ST/PWD/transgender | 250 /- |
Examination Centre
Normally UGC provides centers in all major cities of the country .At the time of form filling you have to select four cities of your choice and ugc will be made to allow examination center according to the choice opted by the applicant.Some times a different city of the near by area may be alloted.