The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the provisional answer keys for the UGC NET December 2025 exam on January 15, 2026 . Students who took the exam can check their answers, question papers, and their own response sheets on the official NTA website: ugcnet.nta.ac.in . The UGC NET exam was held from December 31, 2025 , to January 7, 2026 , for candidates wishing to become Assistant Professors, Junior Research Fellows (JRF), or pursue PhDs in Indian universities.
What is UGC NET?
The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is an exam for students who want to teach in colleges and universities in India. It is also for those who want to get a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) to do research. NTA conducts this exam two times a year, usually in June and December. Passing this exam helps candidates get jobs as Assistant Professors or get funding for PhD research.
NTA has confirmed the release date for the provisional answer key, along with the question papers and candidate response sheets. This information helps students see how well they performed in the exam.
| Event | Date |
| Release of Provisional Answer Key, Response Sheet, and Question Paper | January 15, 2026 |
How to Check UGC NET December 2025 Answer Key
Candidates can follow these simple steps to download and check the answer key:
- Go to the official website of UGC NET: ugcnet.nta.ac.in .
- Look for the link that says "UGC NET December 2025 Provisional Answer Key". This link will be active on January 15, 2026 .
- Click on the link.
- You will need to enter your application number and date of birth.
- Once logged in, you can see your question paper, your response sheet (answers you marked), and the official provisional answer key.
- Download these files for future use.
About the Provisional Answer Key and Challenges
The answer key released on January 15, 2026, is a provisional key. This means it is a temporary key. It helps candidates to calculate their likely scores before the final results.
If a candidate finds any mistake in the provisional answer key, they can challenge it. NTA opens a special window for this. Here are important points about challenging the answer key:
- Candidates must visit the NTA UGC NET website to raise an objection.
- For each answer challenge, candidates must pay a non-refundable fee of Rs 200 .
- Candidates must provide proof or supporting documents for their challenge. For example, a reference from a textbook.
- Subject matter experts will review all challenges.
- After reviewing, NTA will release a final answer key. No further challenges will be accepted after the final answer key.
- The results for UGC NET December 2025 will be based on the final answer key.
Why is the Answer Key Important?
The provisional answer key is a helpful tool for students. It allows them to:
- Estimate Scores: Candidates can compare their marked answers with the official correct answers. This gives them a good idea of their probable score in the exam.
- Identify Mistakes: It helps candidates understand where they made mistakes.
- Transparency: It makes the exam process fair and clear. Candidates can see the official answers and challenge them if needed.
Candidates who appeared for the UGC NET December 2025 exam should regularly check the official NTA website for the latest updates. The release of the provisional answer key on January 15, 2026 , is a key step towards the final results.
