The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test, commonly known as UGC NET Exam, is a prestigious examination in India. It is conducted to determine the eligibility of candidates for assistant professorship and for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). The UGC NET exam plays a vital role in the higher education system of India and is a gateway to a career in academia and research.

Annually, the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the UGC NET exam biannually, aiming to assess eligibility for Assistant Professorships, Junior Research Fellowships, or both, in Indian Universities and Colleges.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has recently issued a notification for the UGC NET December 2023 exam. This upcoming exam will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode with multiple shifts in multiple cities in India. In this article, you will find comprehensive information about the UGC NET December 2023 exam.

1.Important Dates

Activity	Date
Online Registration Starts	Sept,30,2023
Last Date for Online Application	Oct,28,2023
Last Date to Application Fee	Oct,29th,2023
Last Date for Correction of Application Form	Oct,30th&31st,2023
Admit Card Out	Dec,1st Week,2023
Exam Dates	Dec,06th to 22nd,2023

2.Exam Details

UGC NET exam is difficult in its nature as covers wide rang of subject including selected subject and general paper.Before you apply for exam ,you need to understand the exam mode,exam pattern,syllabus,meduime of question paper and marking scheme.

i Mode of Exam for UGC NET

you should know, what is the mode of exam for UGC NET, like online exam or offline exam. The Examination shall be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode only.

ii. UGC NET Exam Pattern

Additionally, you should understand the UGC NET exam pattern, which includes the number of questions and papers. Here’s a table summarizing the exam pattern.

Paper	Number of Questions	Marks
Paper 1	50MCQs	100
Paper 2	100MCQs	200

iii. Syllabus for UGC NET Exam

You should familiarize yourself with the UGC NET exam syllabus, particularly for Paper-1 (General Paper) and Paper-2 (Selected Paper/Subject Paper). Detailed syllabus information can be found on the official website.

iv. Medium of Question Paper of UGC NET Exam

The UGC NET Question Paper will be in English and Hindi, except for language papers. Candidates must choose their preferred medium while filling the online Application Form, and this choice is irreversible. Candidates must answer in their chosen medium. In case of translation ambiguity, the English version prevails, as decided by NTA.

v. Marking Scheme of UGC NET Exam

Each question is carries 2 marks, with no negative marking for incorrect responses. No marks are given for unanswered or review-marked questions. Candidates must select the correct option for each question.

If a question is incorrect, those who attempted it and chose a correct answer will receive 2 marks. This is due to human or technical errors, and candidates should select the closest correct option.

3.Eligibility Criteria for UGC  NET Exam

The crucial aspect is understanding the eligibility criteria for the UGC NET exam before applying, including educational qualifications, age criteria and exemptions.

i. Educational Qualification

Candidates in the General/Unreserved/General-EWS category must have obtained a minimum of 55% marks (without rounding off) in their Master’s Degree or equivalent from UGC-recognized universities/institutions.

For OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), SC, ST, PwD, and Third gender category candidates, a minimum of 50% marks (without rounding off) in their Master’s degree or equivalent is required to be eligible for the test.

Candidates currently pursuing their Master’s degree or equivalent, or those awaiting final year results, can apply. However, they’ll be provisionally admitted and eligible for JRF/Assistant Professor if they pass their Master’s with 55% (50% for specific categories) within two years from the NET result date; otherwise, they’ll be disqualified.

ii. Age Criteria

For JRF, the maximum age is 30years as of December 1, 2023. There is no upper age limit for applying for UGC-NET for the Assistant Professor role.

iii. Age Relaxation

For JRF, age relaxation is applicable to reserved categories, providing up to 5 years for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, and third gender candidates, as well as women applicants. Candidates with an L.L.M. degree receive a 3-year age relaxation. Those who have served in the armed forces can get up to 5 years of relaxation, but the total age relaxation should not exceed 5 years.

There is no maximum age limit for applying for UGC-NET for the Assistant Professor position.

4.Exam Fee for UGC NET Exam

The UGC NET 2023 Application Fee differs based on the candidate’s category. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Payment methods include online options like Credit Card, Debit Card, or net banking, as well as bank challan payment at a branch or online. Here are the fee details.

Category	Fee
General/ Unreserved	Rs. 1150/-
General-EWS/OBC-NCL	Rs. 600/-
SC/ST/PwD & Third Gender	Rs. 325/-

5. Schedule for UGC NET December 2023 Exam

The UGC NET December 2023 exam is scheduled(as per official notification as on dated notification relased) take place from December 6th to December 22nd, 2023. The UGC NET Admit Card 2023 will be released  before the exam date on the official website.

NTA may changes in schedule, requesting you to visit official website time to time for latest updates.

6. Seat Reservation Scheme in UGC NET Exam

In compliance with India’s reservation policy, UGC NET candidates are entitled to reservation benefits. The following table outlines the reservation policies based on different categories for the UGC NET exam.

Category	Reservation of seats
SC	15%
ST	7.5%
OBC(NCL)	27%
General- EWS	10%
PwD with 40% or more disability	4%

7.Procedure for Filling Application Process for UGC NET Exam

Step I: Complete the online registration process using your personal email address and mobile number.

Step-2: Complete the online application form and make note of the system-generated application number. Upload scanned images of: (i) a recent photograph (file size 10Kb – 200Kb), in color or black & white, with 80% of your face visible (without a mask) including ears against a white background; (ii) your signature (file size: 4kb – 30kb).

Step-3: Make the payment using SBI/ CANARA/ ICICI/ HDFC Bank/Debit Card/Credit Card/UPI, and retain evidence of the fee payment.

You can complete all three steps together or at different times. A candidate’s application is considered successful, and their candidacy is confirmed only upon the successful payment of the prescribed application fee.

8. Required Documents for UGC NET 2023 Exam

Candidates must upload all the necessary original documents with the correct sizes as specified in the notification PDF. The required documents for the UGC NET December 2023 Application Form are listed below.

1. All educational certificates and mark sheets.
2. PAN Card/License/Passport number/Aadhaar card number/Voter ID card number/any Government ID proof.
3. Category certificate (if applicable).
4. Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificate (if applicable).
5. Person with a Disability (PwD) certificate (if applicable).
6. Candidate’s Name/Mother’s Name/Father’s Name as given in the Senior Secondary School Examination or equivalent Board/University Certificate in capital letters.
7. Date of Birth in dd/mm/yyyy format as recorded in the Secondary School Examination or equivalent Board/University certificate.
8. Scanned images of a photo and signature in JPG format (photo file size: 10 kb to 200 kb, signature file size: 4 kb to 30 kb).
9. A valid email ID and mobile number.
10. Permanent and correspondence address with a pin code.
11. Subject code for which the candidate plans to take the exam (mentioned in the information brochure).
12. Code of the post-graduation course (mentioned in the information brochure).

9.Selection Process for UGC NET Exam

Candidates who clear the UGC NET 2023 entrance test will be ranked in subject and category merit lists published online. The top 6% of candidates who appeared for both papers will qualify for the test. Admission to Indian Universities or Institutions for Assistant Professor or JRF positions will be based on category-specific cut-off scores. The top 15% of candidates in each category and subject will be eligible for the Assistant Professor position.

10. Cut Off Criteria for UGC NET Exam

The UGC NET 2023 Cut Off will be posted online by the authorities after the entrance test. Merit lists based on categories and subjects will be created for students who meet the cut-off criteria. Below, we provide previous year’s  cut-off marks for different categories:

Category	Paper – I	Paper – II
General candidates	40%	40%
OBC – NCL/PWD/ST/SC candidates	35%	35%

In conclusion, There are many other benefits of UGC NET Exam, The UGC NET 2023 notification gives a golden opportunity for scholars and educators in India. While preparing for the exam in a short time can be challenging, having access to free study materials for UGC NET exam preparation can be a game-changer.

This announcement emphasizes the significance of continuous learning and staying updated in one’s field. Success in the UGC NET exam not only unlocks prestigious teaching and research roles but also contributes to the advancement of higher education in the country.

Aspirants should diligently prepare, considering the exam’s syllabus, pattern, and eligibility criteria, to make the most of this promising opportunity.

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