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UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the UGC NET June 2026 exam notification on 29th April 2026 on its official website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. This examination is conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) on behalf of the University Grants Commission. It qualifies candidates for Junior Research Fellowship, Assistant Professor position, and also the PhD program in any Indian university/college. The application form for the June 2026 session opened on 29th April 2026, and the last date to apply is 20th May 2026. The candidate should be a postgraduate with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for the reserved category), and the age limitation for JRF is 30 years, whereas there is no age restriction for Assistant Professor. UGC NET is one of the most crucial examinations in India for becoming a university teacher or a research fellow. Before appearing, candidates should make sure to meet all the eligibility requirements, including educational qualification, age, marks, and nationality. Let us discuss these eligibility criteria one by one.
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UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must meet all the given eligibility criteria. If anyone fails to do or mention any incorrect or incomplete information, then this may lead to cancellation of the application at any stage of the selection process. Check the given table for UGC NET Eligibility criteria key highlights as follows:
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | UGC NET (National Eligibility Test) |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Purpose | JRF, Assistant Professor, PhD Admission |
| Application Date | April 29 - May 20, 2026 |
| Exam Date | June 22 - 30, 2026 |
| Educational Qualification | Master’s Degree from a UGC recognised university |
| Minimum Marks (General/EWS) | 55% |
| Minimum Marks (OBC/SC/ST/PwD) | 50% |
| Age Limit for JRF | Maximum 30 years |
| Age Limit for Assistant Professor | No age limit |
| Age Relaxation (SC/ST/OBC/PwD) | 5 years of relaxation for JRF |
| Number of attempts | No Limit |
| Exam Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Total Subjects | 85 Subjects |
| Official website | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Nationality
Nationality is one of the first and fundamental criteria for the UGC NET exam. To appear in the exam, candidates carefully check the details written below:
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A candidate must have Indian citizenship.
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Must have a valid proof of Indian citizenship, including an Aadhar card, Voter ID or Passport.
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Educational Qualification
Educational qualification is one of the most important parts of the UGC NET eligibility. Before applying, candidates should meet the educational qualifications mentioned below:
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Candidates must hold a Master's degree from a UGC- recognised university.
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The subject of the Master's degree must match the subject chosen for Paper 2 of UGC NET.
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Candidates who are currently pursuing their Master's degree can also apply.
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General/ EWS category must have at least 55% aggregate marks in their Master's degree or equivalent degree from universities recognised by UGC
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OBC Non-Creamy Layer/ SC/ST/PwD need a minimum of 50% marks in their master's degree
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Transgender will also be eligible under the same criteria as SC/ST/PWD categories.
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Age Limit
Age limit is one of the key factors in UGC NET eligibility, and it differs based on the post a candidate is applying for.
JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)
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The maximum age limit for applying to Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is 30 years.
Assistant Professor
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There is no upper age limit. This means candidates of any age can apply as long as they meet the educational qualification.
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Age Relaxation
According to government rules, reservation benefits are given to the following categories:
| Category | For JRF | For Assistant Professor |
| General / EWS | 30 yrs | No limit |
| OBC-NCL | 33 yrs (3 yrs relaxation) | No limit |
| SC / ST / PwD | 35 yrs (5 yrs relaxation) | No limit |
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Reservation Policy
The reservation policy of the Government of India applies to UGC-NET. According to this, in the Central Universities and Institutions deemed to be universities, the reservation of seats is as follows:
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15% of the seats for the Scheduled Castes (SC)
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7.5% of the seats for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and
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27% for Other Backwards Classes (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer (NCL)
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10% reservation is provided for EWS (Economically Weaker Section) and
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5% for PwBD candidates with 40% or more disability
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Number of Attempts
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for UGC NET. Candidates can attempt the exam as many times as they want, provided they meet the UGC NET age limit for JRF or the qualification requirements for Assistant Professor. This gives candidates a fair chance to qualify without any attempt-based pressure.
