UGC NET: 11,750 JRF slots available every year, fellowships for PhD scholars, education ministry tells LS

According to data shared by the ministry of education in the Lok Sabha during the Parliament's monsoon session, only 6% of candidates who appear for the UGC NET exam are awarded eligibility for assistant professor posts, while 11,750 junior research fellowship (JRF) slots are available every year.

The reply was shared by the education ministry in response to a question asked by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on the first day of Parliament’s monsoon session.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) twice a year to determine the eligibility for the award of junior research fellowship (JRF), appointment as assistant professor, and admission to PhD programmes in universities and colleges across the country.

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UGC NET: Fellowships for PhD scholars

The education ministry also said that to support scholars pursuing PhD, special fellowships are provided for reserved caste students including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and single girl child, which are offered by ministries and organizations.

Moreover, PhD scholars can also join research projects funded by various agencies at universities and receive funding to support their research until they complete their PhD.

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Stipend for PhD students by UGC

Furthermore, some universities admit students to PhD courses without giving them any financial support. To support the scholars, UGC provides partial support through a stipend called non-NET Fellowships. These fellowships help MPhil and PhD students of universities, especially those located in the remote areas and the North-Eastern states of the country.

NTA conducted the UGC NET June 2026 session exam between June 22 and June 30, and a re-exam was held on July 5.

NTA is yet to issue the UGC NET 2026 June answer key. The results will be based on the final answer keys, which will be published after objections raised by students in the provisional keys are evaluated by subject experts.