UGC NET December 2025 exam concludes; 7.35 lakh candidates appear across six days

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the UGC-NET December 2025 session from December 31, 2025, to January 7, 2026. A total of 7,35,592 candidates appeared across six examination days. The NTA states that attendance remained between 71% and 75% throughout the session.

Daily participation in the UGC-NET December 2025 session varied across examination days. On December 31, 2025, a total of 38,452 candidates appeared. The number increased to 1,35,104 on January 2 , followed by 1,45,307 candidates on January 3.

On January 5, 1,46,681 candidates appeared for the exam. The following day, January 6, saw 1,38,638 candidates taking the test. The final day, January 7, recorded the attendance of 1,31,432 candidates. The exam was conducted in two shifts each day for a total of 85 subjects. The first shift was conducted from 9 am to 12 pm, while the second shift was held from 3 pm to 6 pm.

The NTA shared that the UGC NET December 2025 session was easier compared to the June session, quoting one student who said the exam felt manageable in terms of questions and time. State and district authorities coordinated the exams, and disciplined participation by candidates contributed to smooth conduct across centres.

UGC NET December 2025 answer key

The NTA is expected to release the UGC NET December 2025 provisional answer key in the coming weeks. Following the release of the provisional answer key, candidates will have an opportunity to raise objections or challenge any discrepancies through the NTA’s official challenge window. The agency will review all submissions before publishing the final answer key.

The result for the December 2025 session is likely to be declared after the final answer key is published and objections are resolved. Candidates can check their UGC NET December 2025 scores and qualifying status online at ugcnet.nta.nic.in, once the results are made available.

UGC NET December 2025 cut-off marks for eligibility for Assistant Professor positions and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) will be released along with the results. These cut-offs are determined based on the number of candidates, overall performance, and subject-wise criteria set by the NTA.

UGC NET schedule and upcoming session

UGC-NET exams are conducted twice a year, in December and June, to assess eligibility for Assistant Professor positions and to award Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The exams cover multiple subjects, allowing candidates across different disciplines to participate in a structured and coordinated manner.

The next UGC-NET session is expected to be conducted in June 2026. Candidates who were unable to appear in the December session can register for the upcoming session once the official notification is released.