UGC NET Dec 2025 Admit Card

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially accelerated the examination process for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) December 2025 cycle. For lakhs of Indian students aspiring for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor roles, the wait is finally over. The NTA has released the admit cards for the upcoming phases, and candidates can now download their hall tickets directly from the official website.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the UGC NET Dec 2025 latest news. We will provide detailed information on the recently released admit cards, the finalized exam schedule, exam pattern, and what to expect regarding the UGC NET Dec 2025 answer key and UGC NET Result 2026. Whether you are appearing for the exam in the first week of January or preparing for future cycles, this information is vital for your academic career.

UGC NET Dec 2025 Exam Schedule

The NTA has finalized the exam dates spanning from late December 2025 to early January 2026. It is important for candidates to verify their specific exam date on their hall ticket, as the exam is conducted in multiple shifts across 85 subjects. Below is the confirmed schedule for the current cycle:

Event	Dates
Exam Cycle	UGC NET December 2025
Phase 1 & 2 Exam Dates	31 December 2025 02 January 2026 03 January 2026 05 January 2026 06 January 2026 07 January 2026
Mode of Exam	Computer Based Test (CBT)
Admit Card Release	Released on 31 December 2025

How to Download UGC NET Dec 2025 Admit Card

The UGC NET Dec 2025 admit card is the most critical document you need to carry to the exam hall. Without a valid printed admit card, candidates will not be permitted to enter the examination center. Follow these simple steps to access and download your hall ticket:

Important Instructions for Exam Day

Candidates must strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the NTA. Here are some essential points to remember before heading to the exam center:

• Reporting Time: Reach the center at the time mentioned in your admit card. Gates usually close 30 minutes before the exam starts.
• Documents to Carry:
  • Printed copy of the Admit Card downloaded from the NTA website.
  • One passport-size photograph (same as uploaded on the Online Application Form) for pasting on the specific space in the Attendance Sheet.
  • Any one of the authorized photo IDs (must be original, valid, and non-expired) – PAN card, Driving License, Voter ID, Passport, Aadhaar Card (With photograph), or E-Aadhaar with photograph.
• Prohibited Items: Do not carry mobile phones, electronic gadgets, calculators, watches, or any study material inside the exam hall.

Exam Pattern and Syllabus Overview

Understanding the exam pattern is vital for success. The UGC NET Dec 2025 exam is conducted in CBT mode for 85 subjects. The exam consists of two papers conducted in a single three-hour duration without any break.

Paper	Marks	Number of Questions	Duration
Paper 1 (General)	100	50	3 Hours (180 Minutes) – No Break
Paper 2 (Subject Specific)	200	100
Total	300	150

Paper 1 tests Teaching and Research Aptitude. It is designed to assess the teaching and research capabilities of the candidates. Important topics include Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude, Comprehension, Communication, Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), People, Development and Environment, and Higher Education System.

Paper 2 is based on the subject selected by the candidate (e.g., History, Commerce, Computer Science, Political Science). The questions are objective-type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

Post-Exam Timeline: Answer Key and Result

After the conclusion of the exams on 07 January 2026, the NTA will move to the next phase of the cycle. Students are often eager to know when they can check their performance.

UGC NET Dec 2025 Provisional Answer Key

Typically, the NTA releases the provisional answer key 3 to 5 days after the last date of the examination. Since the exams conclude on 07 January 2026, candidates can expect the provisional answer key around 10th to 15th January 2026. Along with the answer key, the NTA will also display the recorded responses of the candidates.

Candidates will be given a window of 2 to 3 days to challenge the provisional answer key by paying a non-refundable processing fee per question. Subject experts will review the challenges, and a final answer key will be prepared.

UGC NET Result 2026

The UGC NET Result 2026 will be declared based on the final answer key. Based on previous trends, the result is expected to be announced in early February 2026. Candidates will be able to download their scorecards from the official website using their application number and date of birth.

Qualifying Marks and Cut Off

To be shortlisted for the merit list, candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks. However, meeting the qualifying marks does not guarantee a JRF or Assistant Professor eligibility, as the final cut-off is determined based on the number of slots available.

• General Category: 40% aggregate marks in both papers taken together.
• Reserved Categories (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, Transgender): 35% aggregate marks in both papers taken together.

For subjects conducted in multiple shifts, the NTA uses a normalization procedure based on the Percentile Score. This ensures that candidates are neither benefited nor disadvantaged due to the difficulty level of different question papers. The cut-off for such subjects will be released in percentile, while for single-shift subjects, it will be in raw marks.