There are many major examinations in the field of education in India, but UGC NET is considered the most important among them. Lakhs of students appear for this exam every year. With its help, candidates prove that they are eligible to become Assistant Professor in universities and colleges or are eligible for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).
The National Examination Agency (NTA) conducts this exam twice every year – once in June and second time in December. So far the June 2025 exam has been completed and now all eyes are on the December 2025 session.
NTA is soon going to release the official notification of UGC NET December 2025 on its website ugcnet.nta.ac.in. As soon as the notification is released, the application process will also start from the same day.
What is UGC NET and Why is it Important?
UGC NET means University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test. This exam is important for students across the country because through this:
- The path to becoming an Assistant Professor opens.
- Eligible candidates are selected for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).
This means, if you want to do research or want to make a career in teaching in a university, then this exam is mandatory for you.
Example
- If a student has done M.A. in English Literature and wants to become a professor in a university, then he will have to pass UGC NET first.
- If a student wants to get JRF scholarship by becoming a research scholar, then also he will have to pass this exam.
Importance of December 2025 Session
UGC NET is conducted twice every year. Many students appeared in the June 2025 exam and now they are waiting for the December 2025 session.
The special thing about the December session this time is that:
- The application process is likely to start in September 2025.
- As soon as the notification is released, the last date of application, last date of fee submission, date of issue of admit card and date of examination will be mentioned in it.
That is, for those candidates who missed or could not perform well in June, December is a golden opportunity for them.
UGC NET December 2025: Exam Brief Description
| Exam Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UGC NET (University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test) |
| Organizing Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Exam Conducted | Twice a Year (June and December) |
| Exam Mode | Online (Computer Based Test) |
| Exam Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Shift | 9 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm |
| Papers | Paper 1 (100 marks), Paper 2 (200 marks) |
| Total Questions | 50 questions in Paper 1, 100 questions in Paper 2 |
| Marking Scheme | +2 marks for correct answer, no negative marking |
| Language | Both Hindi and English |
| Fee | General Category – ₹1150, OBC – ₹600, SC/ST/PwD – ₹325 |
| Objective | To decide eligibility for Assistant Professor and JRF |
| Test Center | Application Process in more than 250 cities |
Application Process
Application for UGC NET December 2025 will be done online. It is a completely paperless process. Candidates have to fill the form only by visiting the official website.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- First of all go to ugcnet.nta.ac.in
- UGC NET December 2025 Notification link will be found on the homepage.
- Click on it and go to “New Registration”.
- Fill your information like name, date of birth, mobile number and email ID.
- Now login and fill the complete form – educational qualification, subject, choice of exam center etc.
- Upload the required documents (photo, signature, certificate etc.).
- Pay the fee online – by debit card, credit card, netbanking or UPI.
- Take a printout after submitting.
Example
Suppose a student is doing Masters in Political Science from Delhi University and wants to appear for NET in December 2025. He just needs to visit the UGC NET website and register, choose Political Science as the subject and pay the application fee.
Eligibility Criteria
There are some conditions to appear in UGC NET.
Educational Qualification
- Master’s degree or equivalent examination with minimum 55% marks (for general category).
- Reserved categories (OBC, SC, ST, PwD) require 50% marks.
Age Limit
- The maximum age limit for JRF is around 30 years.
- There is no age limit for Assistant Professor.
Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Paper 1
- It consists of 50 questions.
- These questions are related to teaching ability, reasoning power, general knowledge, ICT (Information and Communication Technology), mathematical ability and research aptitude.
Example:
- “What is the full form of ICT?”
- “In which year Panchayati Raj started in India?”
Paper 2
- It consists of 100 questions.
- All these questions are related to the candidate’s chosen subject, such as – Hindi, English, History, Physics, Economics etc.
Example:
If someone has chosen Hindi subject, then the questions will be:
- “Who was the main poet of Chhayavaad?”
- “Ramcharitmanas belongs to which era?”
Important Dates
The dates of December 2025 session are not officially released yet, but approximate:
- Application start date – September 2025
- Last date for fee submission – Will be updated
- Admit card release date – Few days before the exam
- Exam date – December 2025
- Answer Key – Few days later
- Result – Around January 2026
Preparation Tips
- Solve previous years question papers
This helps in understanding the exam pattern and inculcates the habit of time management. - Use your time wisely
Set aside at least 4–5 hours daily for NET preparation. - Do not take Paper 1 lightly
Many a times students focus only on Paper 2 and ignore Paper 1. Whereas Paper 1 affects your total marks significantly. - Take mock tests
Online mock tests give an experience of exam like situation and boost confidence.
Conclusion
UGC NET December 2025 is a great opportunity for all those students who want to make a career in teaching and research. NTA will release its notification soon. So it is time to speed up your preparation and keep an eye on the application process.
Remember:
- With the right information and strategy, this exam can be easy.
- Fill the form as soon as the notification comes and do not wait for the last date.
- Success is achieved only through regular study and practice.