UGC NET December 2026: Last date to apply extended to October 31

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the UGC NET December 2026 exam till October 31, 11:50 PM. Those candidates who have missed the UGC NET December 2026 application form can still apply by paying a late fee at the official website ugcnet.nta.nic.in.

UGC NET late fee

Candidates applying between October 29 and October 31 have to pay an additional late fee of ₹500, according to reports. Fee payment can be made online through credit card, debit card, net banking or UPI.

Correction window

After registration closes, NTA will open a correction window from November 2 to November 4, up to 11:50 pm. Candidates can fix errors in their submitted forms during this period.

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Exam dates

The exam will be held from December 14 to December 19, 2026, in computer-based test mode, across 87 subjects. Details such as exam city intimation and admit card release are yet to be announced.

UGC NET: Key dates

• Registration begins: October 8, 2026
• Last date without late fee: October 28, 2026
• Last date with late fee: October 31, 2026 (up to 11:50 pm)
• Correction window: November 2 to 4, 2026
• Exam dates: December 14 to 19, 2026

UGC NET is conducted to determine eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes in Indian universities and colleges.

What candidates should do

• Check the details in the official public notice before filling in the form.
• Apply early and avoid leaving it to the last day, as the website may slow down near the deadline.
• Keep documents, a recent photograph and signature ready in the required format.
• Make sure the name, date of birth and category match the supporting documents, because mismatched details can cause verification problems.
• Keep a copy of the confirmation page after submitting.

Candidates should rely only on the official NTA website for forms, fee payment and updates.