The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the full exam schedule for the UGC NET December 2025 session. This important schedule was made public on December 17, 2024 . Students planning to take the University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) can now see the exact dates for their subjects. The exams will take place from December 31, 2025, to January 7, 2026 . This schedule helps candidates prepare for their exams and plan their studies.
On the first day of the exam, December 31, 2025 , tests for several subjects will be held in the morning shift ( 9 AM to 12 PM ). These subjects include Law, Social Work, Telugu, Tourism Administration and Management, Spanish, Prakrit, Kashmiri, and Konkani. The NTA will conduct the exams in two shifts each day for various subjects, which can be checked on the official website.
Key Dates for UGC NET December 2025 Exam
- Schedule Release Date: December 17, 2024
- Exam Start Date: December 31, 2025
- Exam End Date: January 7, 2026
- City Intimation Slip Release: About 10 days before the exam
- Admit Card Release: Before the exam dates, for all subjects
Understanding the UGC NET Exam Pattern
The UGC NET exam is held online. It has two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2, given in a single session. The total time allowed for both papers is 3 hours (180 minutes) .
| Particulars | Paper 1 Highlights | Paper 2 Highlights |
| Exam Mode | Online | Online |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) | |
| Type of Paper | Common for all candidates | Subject-specific (85 Subjects) |
| Total Questions | 50 | 100 |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), 4 options, 1 correct | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), 4 options, 1 correct |
| Total Marks | 100 | 200 |
| Marking Scheme | +2 for correct answer, 0 for incorrect answer | +2 for correct answer, 0 for incorrect answer |
| Language | English and Hindi | English and Hindi |
Detailed Breakdown of Paper 1 and Paper 2
Paper 1 is common for all candidates. It tests a candidate's teaching and research ability. It includes questions on general awareness, reasoning ability, comprehension, and data interpretation. This paper has 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) , and each correct answer gives 2 marks. There is no negative marking for wrong answers.
Paper 2 focuses on the candidate's chosen subject. The NTA offers 85 different subjects for Paper 2. This paper has 100 MCQs , and like Paper 1, each correct answer is worth 2 marks, with no negative marking.
City Intimation Slip and Admit Card
The NTA will release the UGC NET City Intimation Slip about 10 days before the exam date . This slip tells candidates which city their exam center will be in. It is not the admit card, but it helps students make their travel plans early.
The official UGC NET Admit Card will be released separately for all exam dates. Candidates must download their admit card from the official website using their login details. The admit card will contain important information such as the candidate's name, roll number, application number, exam date and time, and the full address of the exam center. Students must carry their admit card to the exam hall.
Candidates are advised to regularly check the official NTA website for the detailed subject-wise schedule and any further updates regarding the UGC NET December 2025 exam.
