The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially announced the examination schedule for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) for the December 2025 session. Aspiring candidates aiming for Assistant Professor posts and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) will take the test in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode from December 31, 2025, to January 7, 2026.
UGC NET December 2025: Key Dates and Exam Details
In a significant update for lakhs of aspirants, the NTA has rolled out crucial information well in advance. The city intimation slip is already available on the official portal, allowing candidates to plan their travel and accommodation. The admit cards will be released a few days before the commencement of the examination. The entire test will be conducted in a single session of three hours without any break between the two papers.
Subject-Wise Examination Schedule
The detailed day-wise and shift-wise timetable has been published to help candidates pinpoint their exact exam slot. The testing will span over multiple days with two shifts on most dates.
December 31, 2025 (Shift I: 09:00 AM – 12:00 PM): The exam session will kick off with subjects including Law (058), Social Work (010), Telugu (027), Tourism Administration and Management (093), Spanish (040), Prakrit (091), Kashmiri (084), and Konkani (085).
January 2, 2026: This day will witness two shifts. The morning shift will host Computer Science and Applications (087), Library and Information Science (059), Urdu (028), Forensic Science (082), Bengali (019), Arabic (029), Bodo (094), and Human Rights and Duties (092). The afternoon shift will be for Sociology (005), Psychology (004), Philosophy (003), Oriya (023), Yoga (100), Punjabi (024), Social Medicine and Community Health (081), and Women Studies (074).
January 3, 2026: Commerce (008), Sanskrit (025), Santali (095), Criminology (068), Political Science/International Relations (090), Disaster Management (104), and Museology and Conservation (066) are scheduled for Shift I. Shift II will cover Geography (080), Education (600), Folk Literature (071), Maithili (018), Indian Culture (050), Persian (042), and Comparative Study of Religions (062).
January 5, 2026: English (030), Sanskrit Traditional Subjects (073), Anthropology (007), Adult and Continuing Education (046), French (039), Dogri (033), Russian (041), and Chinese (032) are slated for Shift I. Shift II will include History (900), Visual Arts (079), Assamese (036), Tribal and Regional Languages (070), Archaeology (067), Gujarati (037), and Rajasthani (043).
January 6, 2026: Shift I subjects are Political Science (002), Defence and Strategic Studies (011), Arab Culture and Islamic Studies (049), Hindu Studies (102), Nepali (034), Comparative Literature (072), Japanese (045), and Sindhi (101). Shift II will feature Hindi (020), Tamil (026), Mass Communication and Journalism (063), Kannada (021), Malayalam (022), Manipuri (035), Indian Knowledge Systems (103), and German (044).
January 7, 2026: The final day of the UGC NET December 2025 session will see Economics/Rural Economics/Development Planning (001), Management (017), Public Administration (014), Population Studies (015), Linguistics (031), Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies (060), Ayurveda (105), and Pali (083) in Shift I. Shift II will conclude with Environmental Sciences (980), Home Science (047), Management (Business, Marketing and Industrial Relations) (012), Physical Education (047), Labour Welfare and Human Resource Management (055), Electronic Science (088), Music (016), Marathi (038), and Performing Arts (065).
Exam Pattern and Mandatory Instructions
The UGC NET exam pattern remains consistent with two papers conducted in one go. Paper I will assess teaching and research aptitude through 50 questions. Paper II is the subject-specific paper comprising 100 questions. Both papers are mandatory and designed to evaluate the candidate's comprehensive knowledge and aptitude.
Critical Guidelines for Aspirants
The NTA has issued strict instructions for a smooth and fair examination process. The UGC NET admit card is an absolute must for entry into the designated test centre. Along with the admit card, candidates must carry a valid, original photo identity proof such as an Aadhar Card, Passport, or Driver's License.
The agency has also reiterated a strict prohibition on several items inside the exam hall. Electronic devices like mobile phones, smart watches, and calculators are completely banned. Additionally, candidates cannot bring bags, books, or any study material into the testing venue.
All candidates are strongly advised to rely solely on the official NTA website for the latest updates, corrections, or announcements regarding the UGC NET December 2025 examination. The NTA is the only authorized body to release any official communication related to this national-level test.
