The National Testing Agency (NTA) successfully concluded the UGC NET December 2025 session examination, which was held from December 31, 2025, to January 7, 2026. With the testing phase now complete, over 7,35,592 candidates who participated are eagerly awaiting the next crucial step: the release of the provisional answer keys.
Exam Concluded Successfully with High Participation
The examination witnessed a robust and stable turnout across all days. According to official data shared by the NTA, the attendance rate for candidates remained consistently between 71 per cent to 75 per cent. The smooth conduct of the exam, held for 83 diverse subjects including Hindi, English, Sociology, Mass Communication, and Visual Arts, was attributed to candidate-centric measures and cooperation from state authorities.
The question papers were available in English and Hindi mediums, except for specific language papers. Each question carried two marks, and notably, there was no negative marking for incorrect attempts, a relief for many aspirants.
When to Expect the UGC NET Provisional Answer Key?
All eyes are now on the official website, ugcnet.nta.ac.in, for the release of the provisional answer key and recorded responses. Analyzing the trends from previous cycles provides a clear indicator of the expected timeline.
Historically, the NTA has released the provisional answer keys within approximately two weeks after the final exam date. For instance, in the June 2025 cycle, where exams ended on June 29, the keys were issued on July 5. Similarly, for the December 2024 session, exams concluded on January 27 and the keys were made available on February 1.
Following this pattern, candidates can reasonably expect the UGC NET December 2025 provisional answer keys to be published on the NTA portal by the third or fourth week of January 2026.
How to Download and Challenge the Answer Key
Once released, the NTA will open a window for candidates to challenge any answer they believe is incorrect. This process is critical for ensuring fairness and accuracy in the final scoring. Here is a step-by-step guide on the procedure:
- Visit the official NTA UGC NET website at ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
- Log into the candidate portal using your application number, date of birth, and the security Captcha code.
- On the dashboard, locate and download the provisional answer key document as well as your own answer script.
- Carefully match your responses with the official key using the provided Question ID.
- If you wish to raise an objection, select the question and the answer you believe is correct. You must upload a supporting document (in PDF format) as evidence for your claim.
- For each question challenged, a fee of Rs. 200 is applicable. Complete the payment and download the receipt for your records.
The challenge window is typically open for only two to three days, so candidates must act promptly. After reviewing all challenges, the NTA will release the final answer key, which will form the basis for calculating results.
The timely release of the answer key is a significant milestone for the lakhs of aspirants aiming for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor eligibility. Candidates are advised to keep a close watch on the NTA's official website and social media channels for the exact announcement date.
