If you are preparing for the UGC NET December 2026 cycle, you will want to pause before filling the application form. The National Testing Agency has overhauled the examination’s information bulletin this week, and several of the changes touch things aspirants actually worry about: how answers are marked, what you can carry into the hall, and when the exam will even happen.
The revised bulletin, issued on October 16 as a corrigendum to the original October 8 document, is not a routine reprint. It reshuffles exam dates, rewrites the evaluation rule for marked-for-review questions, and tightens the dress code and entry protocol. Here is everything that changed, and why it matters.
The new dates, in one place
The December session will now be held on December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21, 2026. A subject-wise detailed schedule will be released separately, so keep an eye on the NTA website for when your subject is slotted.
The application window is already open at ugcnet.nta.nic.in, and the last date to apply is October 28, 2026. Two more dates the bulletin has finally fixed: the examination city intimation slip will be available from November 23, and the admit card from December 7. Both had earlier been marked “to be intimated later”, which had left applicants guessing.
Fees remain unchanged: Rs 1,150 for General/Unreserved candidates, Rs 600 for Gen-EWS and OBC-NCL, and Rs 325 for SC, ST, PwD and Third Gender candidates. The payment gateway and the service-charge table, however, have been replaced, so check the new charges before you pay.
The one rule change aspirants will actually feel
The most discussed amendment is about evaluation. Under the revised wording: questions that are answered or attempted shall be evaluated, irrespective of whether they are marked for review. Unanswered or unattempted questions shall not be evaluated, irrespective of whether they are marked for review.
That sounds like fine print, but it resolves a real exam-hall dilemma. Earlier, the bulletin suggested no marks would be given for questions marked for review, which made candidates hesitate to use the feature at all. Now the message is simple: if you attempted it, it counts, even if you flagged it for a second look later. Only blank questions earn nothing.
Given that UGC NET carries no negative marking, the practical advice has not changed: attempt everything. But at least now the mark-for-review button will not quietly erase your answer.
What you can and cannot carry into the hall now
The revised barred-items list is more specific than before:
- You no longer need to bring a pen. NTA will provide a ball-point pen at the test centre, so leave yours at home.
- All watches are now banned. The earlier line about “electronic watches with calculator facilities” has been widened to plain “watches” of every kind.
- Footwear rules are clearer: normal shoes, slippers and sandals with low heels are allowed; long boots are prohibited.
- Water and snacks, with limits: transparent water bottles are allowed for everyone. Candidates with diabetes may carry sugar tablets or whole fruits such as banana, apple or orange.
Centres will also close their gates 30 minutes before the exam starts, so the old habit of strolling in at the last minute is officially over.
City choices, corrections and the scribe form
On logistics, the bulletin gives applicants more flexibility and then draws a firm line. You may now revise your examination city preferences during the correction window, and if fewer than four cities are available in your state or Union Territory of permanent or present address, you can choose from the options displayed. But once that correction window closes, no changes to application details will be accepted.
For candidates using their own scribe, the undertaking form has been moved to a different annexure, so download the fresh version rather than reusing an old one. NTA has also added Annexure-A, a comparative statement of every amendment, and Annexure-B, the full updated bulletin, and has specifically asked applicants to read both before applying.
Why the revision happened
The timing is worth noting. The corrigendum lands in a week when the testing agency itself has been under wider scrutiny, with a parliamentary panel recommending reforms to the NTA. A cleaner, less ambiguous bulletin reads like part of that clean-up: fewer grey areas on evaluation, entry and logistics means fewer disputes later. For aspirants, the takeaway is less about the politics and more about the paperwork. The rules are clearer now, but they are also stricter, and the October 28 deadline will not move.
FAQs
- When will the UGC NET December 2026 exam be held?
The exam will be conducted on December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21, 2026. The subject-wise schedule will be announced separately by NTA. - What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
Applications close on October 28, 2026. Apply on the official website ugcnet.nta.nic.in. - When will the admit card and city slip be released?
The city intimation slip will be available from November 23, and the admit card from December 7, 2026. - Is there negative marking in UGC NET?
No. UGC NET has no negative marking, so attempting every question is the sensible strategy, especially now that attempted questions are evaluated even if marked for review. - Should I bring a pen to the exam centre?
No. Under the revised bulletin, NTA will provide a ball-point pen at the centre. Carry your admit card, a valid photo ID and the permitted items instead.
One last thing before you hit submit on that form: read the revised bulletin itself, not just the summary. Ten minutes with Annexure-A now is cheaper than a rejected correction later.
