UGC NET FAQ

UGC NET JRF Frequently Asked Questions

There are a lot of questions among UGC NET JRF aspirants regarding UGC NET JRF eligibility, exam pattern, application, etc. In order to help UGC Net JRF aspirants, we have compiled and answered all the common queries which are generally asked by the aspirants before and after applying to the UGC NET Exam. Read out the answers of your common questions like UGC NET JRF Eligibility Criteria, Exam Pattern, Application Fees, etc in this article.

1. Question: What is UGC NET JRF Exam?
   Answer: UGC NET stands for University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test exam. It is also known as NET JRF exam. UGC-NET is a test being conducted to determine the eligibility for Award of Junior Research Fellowship OR appointment as Assistant Professor OR admission to Ph.D in college and university. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has entrusted the responsibility of conducting UGC-NET to the NTA.
2. Question: What are the benefits of qualifying UGC NET?
   Answer: The Career benefits after qualifying the UGC NET Exam are as follows:
   • Become an Assistant Professor/ Lecturer in any of the UGC Approved Universities.
   • Become a Research Fellow, Project Assistant or Research Analyst in any of the prestigious organization, universities or laboratories.
   • Apply for highly reputed Public-Sector Organizations in India.
   • Become an Entrepreneur.
   • Publish your own research.
   • Become an author or a NET faculty.
   • Start teaching Undergraduate or Post Graduate students or educational professionals.
   • Be a guest faculty in universities and institutes.
   • Work as a lab assistant.
   • Become a consultant or a counselor etc.
3. Question: What is the responsibility of NTA for UGC NET JRF?
   Answer: NTA has responsibly to conduct ugc net jrf exam and publish results & certificates on the behalf of ugc for Award of Junior Research Fellowship OR appointment as Assistant Professor OR admission into Ph.D courses in various Indian universities & colleges.
4. Question: How many times is UGC NET conducted in a year?
   Answer: NTA UGC NET is conducted twice a year - June and December.
5. Question: What is the minimum ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA/qualification for appearing in UGC NET JRF Exam?
   Answer: Candidates who have done their master’s degree or equivalent courses or candidates who have appeared for their qualifying master’s degree (Final year) examination can appear in the UGC NET Examination.
6. Question: What is the AGE LIMIT for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) Posts?
   Answer: The below table will give brief detail of the Age Limit for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) Posts as per the latest official Notification:

   Posts	Age Limit
   Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	30 years
   Assistant Professor	No upper age limit

7. Question: Is there any Upper AGE LIMIT RELAXATION for SC, ST and OBC Categories?
   Answer: Yes, there is relaxation on Upper Age Limit for the below categories of the candidates:

   S. No.	Category	Age Limit Relaxation
   1	Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe	5 years
   2	Other Backward Classes (OBC)
   3	Women
   4	Persons with disabilities (PwD)
   5	Transgender
   6	Candidates having research experience	Period spent on research – Maximum 5 years
   7	Candidates possessing L.L.M. Degree	3 years
   8	Candidates who have served in the armed forces	5 years

8. Question: What are the minimum EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS required for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) Posts?
   Answer:

   Category	Percentage Criteria
   General (Including candidates waiting for their PG Final Year result or going to be appeared in the exam)	55% aggregate in Master’s Degree or Equivalent Degree
   ST/ SC/ OBC/ PWD/ Transgender (Including candidates waiting for their PG Final Year result or going to be appeared in the exam)	50% aggregate in Master’s Degree or Equivalent Degree
   Ph.D. degree holders whose Master’s level examination had been completed by 19th September, 1991 (irrespective of the date of declaration of result)	50% aggregate in Master’s Degree or Equivalent Degree

9. Question: For how many subjects is UGC NET exam conducted?
   Answer: UGC NET is conducted for total 85 subjects. (no. of subjects may vary from year to year)
10. Question: Can I apply for multiple subjects while filling the online application form of UGC NET Exam?
    Answer: A candidate can fill the application form in only one subject. You can choose out of subjects given in the Information Bulletin (ANNEXURE-III). However, filling in the Multiple Forms will cancellation of application form.
11. Question: What is the process of filling the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM for NTA UGC NET Exam?
    Answer: Candidates can apply on the official website of National Testing Agency (NTA) before the last date the application. The candidates have to pay examination fee online through the prescribed link at online application.

    Category	UGC NET JRF Application Fee
    General	Rs. 1150
    OBC/ EWS	Rs. 600
    SC/ ST/ PwD/ Transgender	Rs. 325

12. Question: Is UGC NET conducted online?
    Answer: Yes, ever since NTA has started conducting the exam, UGC NET is conducted in online mode as a computer-based test (CBT) only.
13. Question: What is the age limit to apply for UGC NET exam?
    Answer: To apply for JRF, candidates should not be more than 30 years in age. There is no age limit to apply for the post of Assistant Professor.
14. Question: How many papers does one need to clear in order to qualify the UGC NET exam?
    Answer: One needs to pass both the papers (paper-I and II) in order to qualify the UGC NET exam.
15. Question: Is there any negative marking in UGC NET exam?
    Answer: No, there is no negative marking in the exam. Candidates are awarded zero marks for an incorrect answer or a question left unanswered.
16. Question: What is the validity of UGC NET eligibility certificate?
    Answer: There is no prescribed validity for UGC NET eligibility certificate received for the post of Assistant Professor. This means that UGC NET certificate for Assistant Professor is valid for lifetime. However, the JRF award letter is valid for a period of three years starting from the day of issue of the letter.
17. Question: Can I choose the post for which I want to take the exam?
    Answer: Yes, you have the option of selecting the role (Assistant Professor/ JRF/ both) at the time of filling the application form.
18. Question: Will there be a SECTIONAL CUT-OFF in the NTA UGC NET Exam?
    Answer: No, there are no sectional cut-off in the exam.
19. Question: What is the number of attempts for appearing in NTA UGC NET JRF Exam?
    Answer: There is no limit on the number of attempts to appear for the UGC NET Exam. Candidates can appear for the exam as long as they fulfil the UGC NET Eligiibilty.
20. Question: What will happen if a candidate has opted English as a medium for examination but want wants to attempt exam in Hindi medium?
    Answer: Option of medium of Question Paper should be carefully chosen by the Candidate, while filling the Application Form online. Candidates are required to answer in the medium as per option exercised in the Application Form. Question paper will be in English & Hindi. Candidates opting for Hindi medium in the Application Form will be given bilingual paper, but candidates opting for English medium will be given English version only.
21. Question: Is Aadhaar card mandatory to apply for the exam?
    Answer: No, you can mention any identification number (PAN card, ration card, passport etc) at the time of filling the application form.
22. Question: What are the minimum eligibility criteria to apply for UGC NET exam?
    Answer: You should score at least 55 percent aggregate marks in your master's degree exams.
23. Question: Who are exempted from taking the UGC NET exam?
    Answer: Candidates who possess the below-mentioned qualification are exempted from taking the UGC NET exam.
    • PhD degree holders
    • Candidates who have cleared UGC/CSIR JRF exam before 1989
    • Candidates who have cleared SET
24. Question: How many candidates have registered for UGC NET June 2024 exam?
    Answer: Total 11,21,225 candidates have registered for UGC NET June 2024 exam.