If you started a UGC NET December 2026 application and then got stuck on a photograph, a signature or the fee payment, you have just been given more time. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the last date to apply to October 31, 2026, and candidates will not have to pay a late fee for using the extra days.
The extension was announced in a public notice dated October 27, 2026. It matters because the original window was due to close on October 28. For thousands of aspirants who had registered but not finished every step, the next three days are now the difference between a complete application and no application at all.
What has changed
NTA has pushed both deadlines to the same new date and time. Candidates can submit the online application form and complete the examination fee transaction by 11:50 pm on October 31, 2026, without paying any late fee. The official portal is ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The other terms and conditions in the information bulletin and earlier notices remain unchanged.
- New last date to apply: October 31, 2026, up to 11:50 pm
- New last date for fee payment: October 31, 2026, up to 11:50 pm
- Late fee: None for applications completed by the revised deadline
- Public notice date: October 27, 2026
- Official portal: ugcnet.nta.nic.in
That last point is worth spelling out. Before this notice, the schedule allowed applications with a late fee of Rs 500 from October 29 to October 31. The extension removes that extra charge for candidates who complete their forms by October 31 at 11:50 pm. Do not assume the portal will stay open after that time.
Why the extension was needed
As on October 25, 2026, 5,50,048 candidates had registered. Of those, 3,73,419 had completed their applications and paid the fee, leaving more than 1.68 lakh with something still pending.
About 1,36,993 candidates were yet to upload their photograph and signature, and their fee was also pending. Another 31,580 had uploaded the documents but not paid. A form without the fee payment is incomplete, even if every other field looks finished.
For many aspirants, the delay is rarely about interest. It is a photograph in the wrong size, a signature scan that keeps getting rejected, or a payment that fails at the last step. The extra days give those candidates a practical chance to fix one small problem at a time.
What the exam is for
UGC NET decides eligibility for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes in Indian universities and colleges. Under the revised NTA calendar, the December 2026 exam is scheduled for December 14 to 18 and December 21, 2026. Candidates should keep checking the official websites for the city intimation slip and admit card updates.
How to complete your application
If your form is still incomplete, work through the pending steps in order and do not leave the fee payment for the end of October 31. Start early in the day, when the portal is less likely to be slow.
- Log in at ugcnet.nta.nic.in with the details you used at registration.
- Check every section, including personal details, subject choice and centre preferences.
- Upload the photograph and signature in the specified format and size, and preview them before saving.
- Pay the fee and wait for confirmation. A form is not complete until the fee transaction succeeds.
- Download and save the confirmation page for your records.
- Re-check the details on the confirmation page before you log out.
If a payment fails, check whether the amount was debited before trying again. If a document upload keeps failing, resize the file to the specified limits rather than uploading the same file repeatedly.
What to do after October 31
Once the window closes, watch for the correction window, the examination city slip and the admit card. NTA announces each of these on ugcnet.nta.nic.in and nta.ac.in. Rely on those portals, not on forwarded messages that claim a new date.
For now, the message is simple. The deadline is October 31 at 11:50 pm, there is no late fee, and more than 1.68 lakh candidates still have a step to finish. If you are one of them, finish it this week and save the confirmation page.
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?
The last date is October 31, 2026, up to 11:50 pm, for both the application form and the fee payment, as per the NTA notice dated October 27, 2026.
Is there a late fee for applying by October 31?
No. NTA has said candidates can apply until October 31, 11:50 pm, without paying any late fee.
Where do I apply for UGC NET December 2026?
Apply through the official portal, ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Check nta.ac.in for further announcements.
How many candidates had registered as on October 25?
NTA said 5,50,048 candidates had registered, and 3,73,419 had completed their applications and paid the fee.
When is the UGC NET December 2026 exam?
Under the revised NTA calendar, the exam is scheduled for December 14 to 18 and December 21, 2026. Check the official portal for admit card and city slip updates.
For the latest updates on UGC NET and other examinations, keep checking Informeia.
