FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ques.: Who is conducting UGC NET Exam?

Answer: On behalf of UGC, the National Eligibility Test (NET) is conducting UGC NET Exam twice in a year.

Ques.: What is the objective of UGC NET Exam?

Answer: UGC Net Exam is conducted for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals ‘only for Assistant Professor’ or ‘for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor both’ in Indian Universities and Colleges.

Ques.: How can apply for UGC NET Exam?

Answer: Candidates can apply for UGC-NET in “Online” mode only. Submission of Online Application Form may be done by accessing NTA website (www.ntanet.nic.in). The Application in any other mode will not be accepted.

Ques.: Who is eligible for the UGC NET Exam?

Answer: Candidates who passed master degree with minimum 55% marks (50% for reserved categories) can apply for UGC NET. Candidates in the final year of their Master's Degree are also eligible.

Ques.: What are the eligibility criteria of candidates in the final year of their Master's Degree?

Answer: Such candidates will be admitted provisionally and shall be considered eligible for award of Junior Research Fellowship/eligibility for Assistant Professor only after they have passed their Master's Degree OR equivalent examination with prescribed percentage of marks. Such candidates must complete their Master’s degree or equivalent examination within two years from the date of NET result with required percentage of marks, failing which they shall be treated as disqualified.

Ques.: How many times the NET exam is conducted in a year?

Answer: It is conducted twice in a year.

Ques.: What is the mode of UGC NET Exam?

Answer: The Examination is conducting as Computer Based Test (CBT) only.

Ques.: How many papers are there in UGC NET Exam?

Answer: The Test will consist of two papers, Paper I & Paper II. Both the papers will consist of objective type, multiple choice questions. There will be no break between papers. 

Ques.: What is the pattern of UGC NET Exam?

Answer: Paper I consist of 50 questions and Paper II consist of 100 questions. All questions are compulsory. For each correct response the candidate will get 2 marks. Total marks for the exam is 300. There is no negative marking for incorrect response.

Ques.: What type of questions contain in Paper I of UGC NET Exam?

Answer: Questions in Paper intends to assess the teaching/ research aptitude of the candidate. It will primarily be designed to test reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness of the candidate.

Ques.: What type of questions contain in Paper II of UGC NET Exam?

Answer: Questions of Paper II are based on the subject chosen by the candidate. It tests candidate’s in-depth knowledge and expertise in the respective subject. 

Ques.: What is the total duration of UGC NET Exam?

Answer: 03 hours (180 minutes) without any break.

Ques.: What are the subjects for which UGC NET Exam is conducting?

Answer: For getting list of subjects for UGC NET exam, CLICK HERE

Ques.: In which subject, I can apply for UGC NET Exam?

Answer: Candidates are advised to appear in the subject of their post-graduation only. The candidates, whose post-graduation subject is not covered in the list of subjects, may appear in a related subject.

Ques.: What is the pass mark for the UGC NET Exam?

Answer: Minimum 40% marks are required to qualify the exam. After getting 40% marks, the separate cut-off will be published for different subjects.

Ques.: What is the syllabus for UGC NET Exam?

Answer: The syllabus for UGC NET exam has been modified and the new syllabus is applicable from June 2019 onwards. For getting the syllabus for Paper I & II.

Ques.: What are the criteria for awarding JRF & NET?

Answer: The award of ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Eligibility for Assistant Professor both’ or ‘Eligibility for Assistant Professor only’ depends on the performance of the candidate in both the papers of UGC-NET in aggregate. However, the candidates qualifying for ‘Assistant Professor only’ are not to be considered for award of JRF. 

Ques.: Whether I can apply for both Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor?

Answer: Yes, you can apply for both Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor.  Candidates appearing in UGC-NET should thoughtfully select in the Application Form whether they are applying for ‘Assistant Professor’ or ‘Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor’.

Ques.: What is the benefit for qualifying the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)? 

Answer: The candidates who qualify for the award of JRF are eligible to pursue research in the subject of their post-graduation or in a related subject and are also eligible for Assistant Professor. The universities, institutions, IITs and other national organizations may select the JRF awardees for full time research work in accordance with the procedure prescribed by them. Candidates qualifying for the award of JRF will be eligible to receive fellowship of UGC under various schemes, subject to their finding placement in universities/IITs/Institutions.

Ques.: What is the validity period of JRF?

Answer: The validity period of the offer will be three years w.e.f. the date of issue of JRF Award Letter. However, for those candidates who have already joined M. Phil. / Ph.D., the date of commencement of Fellowship shall be from the date of declaration of NET result or date of their joining, whichever is later.

Ques.: What is the age limit for the NET exam?

Answer: The age limit for appearing for JRF is 30 years. There is no upper age limit in applying for UGC-NET for Assistant Professor.

Ques.: Is age relaxation available?

Answer: A relaxation of up to 5 years is provided to the candidates belonging to OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Transgender categories and to women applicants. Relaxation will also be provided to the candidates with research experience and those who have served in the armed forces.

Ques.: Is Reservation policy being applicable to UGC-NET Exam?

Answer: Reservation policy of the Government of India is applicable to UGC-NET.

Ques.: Can graduates apply for NET?

Answer: Yes, graduates can apply for UGC NET, but at the time of result, you must have complete your post-graduation.

Ques.: Is MBA eligible for the NET exam?

Answer: Yes, if you have MBA degree and fulfils the percentage criteria, then you can apply for UGC NET.

Ques.: Is PGDM eligible for the NET?

Answer: Yes, if PGDM is affiliated to AIU, then you are eligible to appear for UGC NET.

Ques.: Can IGNOU students apply for NET?

Answer: Yes, IGNOU students can also apply for UGC NET.

Ques.: Is there any negative marking in UGC NET?

Answer: No, there is no negative marking for any wrong answer.