The reservation policy for UGC NET 2026 follows the Government of India norms to ensure equal opportunities for candidates from different categories. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the exam provides qualification for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor, and PhD admissions.
As per the official guidelines, reservation in central universities and deemed institutions is provided for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD categories. This policy also extends benefits in qualifying marks and age relaxation (especially for JRF). Understanding the detailed reservation criteria is essential for candidates to claim their benefits accurately during application and counselling.
UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2026 Overview
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Nationality
Candidates must be Indian nationals. They need valid proof of Indian citizenship such as Aadhaar card, Voter ID, Passport, or any other government-issued photo ID.
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent from a UGC-recognized university/institution. The subject chosen for Paper 2 should generally match the postgraduate subject.
- General/EWS category: Minimum 55% marks (without rounding off).
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: Minimum 50% marks.
- Final-year Master’s students or those with results awaited can apply provisionally.
- Candidates with a 4-year UG degree (75% marks or equivalent; 70% for reserved) may be eligible in select cases.
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Age Limit for JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) and Assistant Professor
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Maximum 30 years as on the cut-off date specified in the notification.
- Assistant Professor: No upper age limit. Candidates of any age can apply.
UGC NET Age Relaxation 2026
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Number of Attempts
There is no limit on the number of attempts. Candidates can appear as many times as they wish, subject to the age limit for JRF.
UGC NET Eligibility 2026: Reservation Policy
The reservation policy of the Government of India applies to UGC NET. According to this, in the Central Universities and Institutions deemed to be universities, the reservation of seats is as follows:
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15% of the seats for the Scheduled Castes (SC)
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7.5% of the seats for the Scheduled Tribes (ST)
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27% for Other Backward Classes (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer (NCL)
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10% reservation for EWS (Economically Weaker Section)
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5% for PwBD candidates with 40% or more disability
How to Apply for UGC NET 2026 (Step-by-Step)
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Visit the official website ugcnet.nta.nic.in
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Register with valid email and mobile number
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Fill the online application form
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Upload scanned documents (photo, signature, etc.)
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Pay the application fee
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Submit and download the confirmation page