The National Testing Agency conducts the UGC NET exam twice a year. The UGC NET exam is a gateway for aspiring lecturers and researchers in India. The UGC NET exam has high competition making it difficult to qualify. However, with good preparation and strategy, the NTA UGC NET exam is possible to crack. The UGC NET exam of December session is scheduled to be conducted from December 31, 2025 to January 7, 2026.
The UGC NET success rate is defined as the percentage of candidates who succeed among the total number of appeared candidates in the examination. The UGC NET success rate is usually between 7 - 11% which is a small percentage of candidates who appear in the examination. Apart from this, candidates need to score more than the UGC NET cut off 2026 in order to qualify the exam. The UGC NET cut off is to score 40 % for general category and 35 % for other categories. The below table shows the total number of candidates appeared in the exam versus the UGC NET pass percentage -
Year | Registered candidates | Appeared candidates | Qualified candidates | No. of candidates qualified (Both JRF & Assistant Professor) | Candidates qualified in Ph.D only |
| December 2025 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| June 2025 | 10,19,751 | 7,52,007 | 5,269 | 54,885 | 1,28,179 |
| December 2024 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
June 2024 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
December 2023 | 9,45,918 | 6,95,928 | 58,794 | 5032 | 11.83 % |
June 2023 | 639069 | 462144 | 32,304 | 4937 | 14.3% |
December 2022 | 8,34,537 | 5,46,679 | 43,917 | 4847 | 8.03% |
June 2022 & December 2021 | —- | 5,44,485 | 43,246 | 9127 | 12.5% |
June 2021 & December 2020 | 1266509 | 671288 | 52856 | 7679 | 7.87% |
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From the above statistics, it is seen that the UGC NET success rate is very less compared to the candidates who give in the exam. On an average, around 7 - 11% of the appeared candidates qualify the UGC NET 2026 exam. The success rate varies with each year. It depends on factors like the subject the candidate chooses, the candidate’s category, etc.
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Though the UGC NET 2026 success rate depends on various factors, candidates can try the below tips to crack the exam -
Clearing the UGC NET exam requires dedication, preparation, understanding of syllabus and consistent practice.
Focus on active learning rather than revising the same concepts everyday.
Practise mock UGC NET mock tests/ sample papers to learn time management in the examination.
Make sure that the entire UGC NET 2026 syllabus is covered. Do not study anything new during the last few weeks before the exam.
Referring to too many materials is not necessary. Choosing the right and standard resources is the best way to prepare for the NET exam 2026.
With focused preparation, the right resources, and a strategic approach, candidates can definitely improve their chances of success in the 2026 NET exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The UGC NET success rate to qualify as the Assistant professor is between 7 - 11 %.
The UGC NET 2024 exam is definitely challenging to pass. However, it is not impossible to clear.
The 7 - 11 candidates out of 100 candidates qualify the UGC NET exam 2024.
Candidates will receive a UGC NET certificate after qualifying the exam. NDA does not offer any job role or salary. Candidates may expect a UGC NET salary over Rs 30, 000.
Clearing the NET exam will definitely open doors to new opportunities. It is a good career option for those who want to pursue teaching roles. Weighing the pros and cons about this field is the best way to go.
On Question asked by student community
If you filled the UGC NET form under EWS but you don’t have a valid EWS certificate, then forget using the EWS category. They won’t accept it. You’ll automatically be treated as General category during document verification.
And no, this won’t make your form “invalid” or “illegal.” It just means
Hello,
If you have entered the wrong annual income but belong to the OBC NCL category and have a valid certificate, it should not cause a problem during verification, as long as your certificate supports your category and income criteria.
Make sure:
Your OBC NCL certificate is valid and matches
Hello,
Not clearing UGC NET is not a big problem unless you want to become an Assistant Professor or apply for a PhD with fellowship.
You can still apply for PhD without NET in many universities, but you may need to clear their entrance test. For teaching jobs in colleges
Visit the
official UGC NET Syllabus page
on the NTA portal. Look for the "Updated Syllabi of UGC-NET" section.
(https://www.ugcnetonline.in/syllabus-new.php)
Download the Paper 1 PDF , which covers topics like teaching and research aptitude, communication, reasoning, ICT, higher education system, and more.
Also download the
If your MBA (Finance) is from an accredited university and you have at least 55% of the possible points (or 50% for reserved categories), you can take the UGC NET in Commerce.
Your MBA in finance is relevant because UGC NET Commerce covers business, accounting, finance, economics, and management topics.
Apply for Online M.Com from Manipal University