UGC NET December 2026 Exam Dates, Dress Code, City Choices and Entry Rules Revised! NTA Updates Bulletin

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has revised the information bulletin for the University Grants Commission–National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) December 2026 session, introducing amendments and clarifications to several examination-related rules. As outlined in the updated document, the examination will be conducted on December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21, 2026. The revised bulletin addresses multiple aspects of the examination process, including permitted and prohibited items, evaluation of responses, examination city preferences, gate-closing schedules, dress code requirements, application form corrections, scribe-related documentation and payment gateway charges. NTA has also announced that the examination city intimation slip will be released on November 23, while admit cards are scheduled to become available on December 7.

NTA has opened the online application process for UGC NET December 2026, allowing eligible candidates to register through the official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The last date to submit the application form is October 28, 2026. Applicants are advised to complete the registration process within the stipulated deadline and review the revised guidelines before submitting their details. NTA has specifically advised applicants to examine the comparative statement of amendments, identified as Annexure-A, and the updated information bulletin, provided as Annexure-B, before filling out their forms and appearing for the examination.

One of the key amendments concerns the evaluation of answers marked for review. Under the revised guidelines, responses that candidates have attempted will be assessed even if they have marked the questions for review. However, questions left unanswered or not attempted will not be evaluated, regardless of whether they have been marked for review. The updated provisions also clarify the arrangements for ball-point pens at examination centres. While the earlier bulletin included pens in the list of prohibited items, the revised document specifies that candidates will be provided with pens at the centres.

The revised information bulletin also modifies the rules governing the selection of examination cities. Candidates are generally required to select four preferred cities in order of priority, subject to the prescribed conditions relating to their permanent or present address. However, if fewer than four examination cities are available in the state or Union Territory associated with a candidate's permanent or present address, the applicant may choose from the options displayed on the portal. Eligible candidates will also be allowed to modify their city preferences during the application correction window. These provisions give applicants greater flexibility when selecting their preferred examination locations, particularly where the available choices are limited.

Changes have also been introduced to the examination centre entry rules and permitted footwear. According to the revised bulletin, the gates of examination centres will close 30 minutes before the examination begins. Candidates must therefore plan their travel and reporting time accordingly, as arriving after the prescribed gate-closing deadline could prevent them from entering the examination hall. Regarding footwear, the updated guidelines permit normal shoes, slippers and sandals with low heels, while long boots are not allowed.

The amendments further cover documentation requirements for candidates using their own scribes and the applicable payment gateway charges. The prescribed undertaking proforma for candidates bringing their own scribes has been shifted from Annexure IX in the earlier bulletin to Annexure VII in the revised document. NTA has also replaced the existing table of payment gateway and service charges with an updated version included in the corrigendum. In addition, the revised bulletin addresses provisions relating to fee refunds, examination medium options and application form corrections.

UGC NET is conducted to determine candidates' eligibility for Assistant Professor positions and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) opportunities in Indian universities and colleges. NTA has urged applicants to read the comparative statement of changes in Annexure-A and the revised information bulletin in Annexure-B carefully before submitting their applications and appearing for the examination.

Read the official notice here.