NTA extends UGC NET December 2026 fee payment deadline for already registered candidates

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the last date to submit the application form fee for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) December 2026. Candidates can pay the UGC NET December 2026 application fee till today on the official website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. 

NTA will conduct the UGC NET 2026 exam from December 14 to 18 and on December 21 across the country. 

The application fee for UGC NET December 2026 differs according to the candidate’s category. 

General category candidates are required to pay Rs 1,150, while candidates belonging to the EWS and OBC-NCL categories need to pay Rs 600. For candidates from the SC, ST, PwD and third gender categories, the application fee is Rs 325.

UGC NET exam determines the eligibility of Indian nationals for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as assistant professor, and admission to PhD programmes in Indian universities and colleges. 

Also read Under NTA, UGC NET a ‘general knowledge test’ – rewards rote learning, not analytical skills

NTA UGC NET December 2026: 10.86 lakh registrations

NTA’s latest data reveals that 10,86,321 candidates have registered for the UGC NET December 2026 exam; of whom, 9,48,109 have paid the application fee, while 9,47, 222 have downloaded their confirmation pages. 

Moreover, among the applicants, 1,14,160 have not uploaded their photographs and signatures and have also not paid the fee. 

Another 4,334 candidates have uploaded the required images but have not yet submitted their application forms or completed the fee payment process. In addition, 19,706 applicants have submitted their forms but have yet to pay the UGC NET application fee.