The NTA has extended the UGC NET December 2026 application deadline to October 31. Candidates can submit forms and pay examination fees by 11.50 pm without a late fee.The NTA has extended the UGC NET December 2026 application deadline to October 31.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the registration deadline of UGC NET to October 31, according to a public notice dated October 27. The extension allows applicants to submit their online forms and complete the examination fee payment by 11.50 pm on October 31, without paying a late fee.Candidates who have not completed their application for the December 2026 examination have been given more time to apply.The decision is intended to help candidates who were unable to complete the application process before the earlier deadline.
The NTA has advised applicants not to wait until the final hours, as last-minute technical difficulties could affect submission.UGC NET DECEMBER 2026: REVISED DATESAs per the NTA notice, the revised schedule is as follows:Last date to submit the online application form: October 31, 2026, by 11.50 pm.Last date for examination fee payment: October 31, 2026, by 11.50 pm. Late fee: No late fee is applicable during the extended application window.Candidates should ensure that both their application forms and fee transactions are completed successfully before the deadline.WHO CAN APPLY FOR UGC NET?The UGC NET December 2026 examination determines eligibility for three academic opportunities in Indian universities and colleges:Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)Appointment as Assistant ProfessorAdmission to PhD programmesCandidates should check the official Information Bulletin for eligibility conditions, examination details and other application requirements.OVER 2.18 LAKH CANDIDATES HAVE REGISTEREDNTA had received a combined 2,18,961 applications for the December 2026 UGC NET and Joint CSIR-UGC NET examinations as of October 22, according to figures shared by the agency.UGC NET accounted for 1,86,301 applications, while the Joint CSIR-UGC NET examination received 32,660 applications.
The figures reflect interest among candidates seeking research fellowships, Assistant Professor positions and opportunities to pursue PhD programmes.ExaminationApplications receivedUGC NET December 20261,86,301Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 202632,660Total2,18,961The NTA had initially set October 28 as the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026. It has since extended the deadline to October 31, 2026, until 11.50 pm, without a late fee.
The extension applies to both application submission and examination fee payment.WHERE TO CHECK THE LATEST UPDATESApplicants can visit the official NTA website at nta.ac.in or the UGC NET portal at ugcnet.nta.nic.in to access the latest announcements and application-related information.The agency has clarified that all other terms and conditions mentioned in the Information Bulletin and earlier public notices remain unchanged. Candidates should carefully review their application details and complete the process well before October 31 to avoid technical issues.- Ends