UGC NET 2021: Full Form, Exam Date, Notification, Latest News, Exam Details, Official Website

Latest Update:

• April 20, 2021: The UGC NET May 2021 (Dec 2020) exam is postponed due to the alarming rise in the number of COVID-19 cases. The NTA will be announcing the new exam dates based on the situation in hand.
• April 6, 2021: The e-certificates for UGC NET June 2020 is released. Candidates who participated in the same can download the certificate by logging in. Visit UGC NET Result for the direct link.
• March 15, 2021: The last date to make correction in the application form for UGC NET May 2021 (December 2020) is March 16, 2021. For more information about the registration, visit our UGC NET Application Form page.

Contents

• What is UGC NET?
• UGC NET 2021 Exam Date
• UGC NET 2021 Eligibility
• UGC NET 2021 Syllabus
• UGC NET 2021 Exam Pattern
• UGC NET 2021 Registration
• UGC NET 2021 Application Form
• UGC NET 2021 Application Process
• UGC NET 2021 Admit Card
• UGC NET 2021 Exam Centres
• UGC NET 2021 Result
• UGC NET 2021 Preparation
• UGC NET 2021 Cut off Marks
• UGC NET 2021 Counselling
• UGC NET Selection Process
• UGC NET Paper Analysis

What is the UGC NET 2021 Exam?

The full form of UGC NET is University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test. It is a national-level entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) biannually, on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to provide admission to an eligible candidate for the posts of Lecturer (LS) and/or Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in various colleges or universities across the nation.

UGC NET 2021 at a glance

Exam Name	UGC NET
Full-Form	University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test
Exam Level	National-level
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Courses Offered	Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) & Lectureship (LS)
Exam Mode	Online, i.e. Computer-based Test (CBT)
Languages	English or Hindi
UGC NET Exam Duration	Paper 1 - 90 minutes and Paper 2 - 90 minutes
UGC NET Official Website	ugcnet.nta.nic.in
UGC NET Helpline Number	8076535482 / 7703859909
Similar Exam(s)	CSIR NET

Candidates who have got Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) are eligible to pursue research in the subject of their post-graduation or a related subject. The number of seats available varies every year based on the requirements of the universities. UGC validates and inspects the universities in India before finalizing vacant positions.

The performance of the candidates in both the papers of UGC NET 2021 will be accounted for awarding a JRF and eligibility for Lectureship (LS). Candidates qualifying exclusively for Lectureship (LS) will not be considered for JRF.

Fellowship is offered only to the candidates who qualify the JRF mark. This will be provided by UGC or other institutions under various schemes. A monthly stipend of INR 25,000/- is provided during the period of research. The validity period of this offer is 2 years from the date of the issue of the JRF Letter.

UGC NET 2021 Exam Date

Exam Dates for the UGC NET2021 will be decided and declared by the NTA. Its application form was made available on the official website of UGC NET from Feb 2, 2021. The candidates will be able to register themselves for the May 2021 exam till Mar 9, 2021. Candidates who satisfy the eligibility criteria can apply for UGC NET 2021.

UGC NET 2021 Exam Dates for all the events are announced on the official website of UGC NET. The exam will be conducted online (Computer-based Test) from May 2, 2021 to May 17, 2021.

All the important UGC NET 2021 Dates are tabulated below.

UGC NET 2021 Dates

Important Events to UGC NET 2021	Dates
UGC NET 2021 Application Form Start Date	Feb 2, 2021
UGC NET 2021 Application Form Last Date	Mar 9, 2021
Last date to fill UGC NET 2021 Application Correction form	March 16, 2021
UGC NET 2021 Admit Card Availability	Apr 20, 2021
UGC NET 2021 Exam Date	Postponed
UGC NET 2021 Exam Result Date	To be announced

UGC NET 2021 Eligibility Criteria

The basic UGC NET 2021 eligibility criteria for the candidates who want to apply for the UGC NET May 2021 exam is that they should have completed their Master's degree or an equivalent, with a minimum aggregate of 55%.

Earlier, the upper age limit for applying for UGC NET JRF was 28 years. Now, it has been increased by three years, i.e. up to 31 years, for the candidates who belong to General Category.

For the reserved category (SC, ST, OBC), the upper age limit to apply is 36 years, which means a relaxation of 5 years. For more details on UGC NET 2021 eligibility criteria, candidates can refer below:

UGC NET 2021 Educational Qualification

The educational qualification for UGC NET 2021 is as follows:

1. Candidates must obtain at least 55% marks in their post-graduation or equivalent from a recognized university.
2. Students who are in their final year are eligible to appear in the exam.
3. Candidates that hold PhD. Degree whose post-graduation was completed before September 19, 1991, is provided relaxation of 5% in minimum marks.

Category	UGC NET Educational Qualification
General Category	Secured at least 55% marks in Master’s Degree or equivalent in subjects like Electronic Science, Social Science, Computer Science and Application
SC/ST/OBC	Equivalent in education domains mentioned for general category
Ph.D. Degree holders	5% marks relaxation is provided for candidates who have completed the PG program before September 19, 1991.

UGC NET 2021 Age Limit

The age limit criteria for UGC NET 2021 is given below:

• Junior Research Fellowship: For candidates belonging to the General category, the upper age limit is 31 years as of June 1, 2021.
• Assistant Professorship: No age limit

Posts	Unreserved Category	SC/ST/OBC/PwD	Candidates with L.L.M. Degree
Junior Research Fellowship	31 years	36 years	34 years
Assistant Professor	No age limit

UGC NET 2021 Syllabus

UGC NET Syllabus 2021 is decided by the National Testing Agency (NTA). UGC NET 2021 will have 2 papers - Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates must go through the syllabus carefully and prepare well for the examination by covering all the topics mentioned in the syllabus. The subject and marks allotment for paper-1 and paper-2 is given below.

The paper-1 intends to test the aptitude of the candidates in terms of teaching and research. The questions here will be generic in nature and not core subject-oriented. It will test the comprehension, reasoning ability, general awareness, and the divergent thinking skills of the candidates. Paper-1 will access the cognitive skills of the candidates. Paper-2 will be subject-oriented and it will test the core subject knowledge of the candidates.

UGC NET 2021 Paper 1 Syllabus

1. Research Aptitude
2. Teaching Aptitude
3. Reading Comprehension
4. Communication
5. Reasoning
6. Data Interpretation
7. Quantitative Aptitude
8. Information and Communication Technology
9. People and Environment
10. Governance
11. Polity

A detailed UGC NET 2021 Syllabus of each subject will be available in the form of a PDF.

UGC NET 2021 Exam Pattern

UGC NET 2021 exam pattern consists of two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates can go through the below details regarding the UGC NET 2021 exam pattern:

Paper 1: Paper 1 consists of 50 questions. Candidates should answer all 50 questions. A maximum of 100 marks will be awarded for paper 1 if all the answers are right. The duration of Paper 1 is 60 minutes.

Paper 2: Paper 2 has 100 questions and all of them are mandatory to be attempted. The marks will be awarded to the applicant out of a total of 100 marks. The maximum time allotted for Paper 2 is 120 minutes. Each question carries 2 marks.

Particulars	UGC NET 2021 Paper 1	UGC NET 2021 Paper 2
Exam mode	Online	Online
Exam Duration	3 hours	3 hours
Type of Paper	50	100
Total Question	MCQs	MCQs
Total Marks	100 Marks	200 Marks
Marching Scheme	+2 for the correct answer 0 for an incorrect answer	+2 for the correct answer 0 for an incorrect answer
Language of Paper	English and Hindi	English and Hindi

Learn about the detailed marks allotment for each section/topic on the UGC NET 2021 Exam Pattern here.

UGC NET 2021 Application Form

The Registration and Application Forms for UGC NET will be available on the official website of UGC NET from the third week of March, 2021. Candidates will have to enter their details including an ID Number (not necessarily an Aadhar card; it can be any Government Approved ID card).

Once the registration is done for the UGC NET 2021, there will be an Application Number generated on the screen. Candidates will have to make a note of this number for future reference.

UGC NET 2021 Application Fee

Only the candidates who satisfy the eligibility criteria can fill in the UGC NET May 2021 Form. The fee once paid will not be refunded under any case. The candidates who do not satisfy the eligibility criteria will lose their candidature.

The UGC NET Application Fee for different categories is given below:

UGC NET 2021 Application Fee

Category	Application fee
General	INR 1000
Other Backward Classes (OBC)	INR 500
SC/ST/PWD	INR 250

The Fees can be paid either online through Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking, or offline through e-Challan.

UGC NET 2021 Document Upload

When applying for the UGC NET 2021 Exam, candidates will be asked to upload scanned images of photograph and signature. The photograph must be passport size recently taken against a white background, and it should be a coloured photograph. The signature can be done in blue or black ink on a white paper. Following are the specification of documents that should be followed when uploading them in the UGC NET application form 2021.

Details	Photograph	Signature
Size	10 KB - 100 KB	4 KB - 30 KB
Format	JPEG	JPEG
Dimensions	3.5 cm x 4.5cm	3.5cm x 1.5cm

Documents required while filling the UGC NET Application Form 2021

Following documents are required to apply for UGC NET:

• Marks sheet of class 10 and 12
• A scanned file of Photograph and Signature
• A valid Credit/Debit/Net banking for Fee payment

UGC NET 2021 Application Process

The application process consists of registration, application form filling, uploading documents and paying the fees. All the steps are to be carried out online. Applicants must provide accurate information during the UGC NET application process. Applicants may be disqualified if any inconsistency is found.

How to apply online for UGC NET 2021?

A step-by-step procedure to apply for UGC NET 2021 is provided below:

• Step 1:Go to the official website of UGC NET at ugcnet.nta.nic.in
• Step 2: Click on the "Fill Application Form UGC-NET 2021" link
• Step 3: Fill in the Registration Form. You will receive credentials for logging in on your registered mobile number.
• Step 4: Log in with the received credentials and then fill in the Application Form
• Step 5: Upon filling in the UGC NET Application Form, you will be needed to upload the required documents,
  i.e. a Scanned copy of your passport-sized Photograph and of your Signature
• Step 6: Proceed to pay the fee for your application form.
• Step 7: When the payment is successfully done, you will need to take a printout of your application form for future references.

UGC NET 2021 Admit Card

Admit cards will be available for downloading from the official website of UGC NET. Candidates must visit the official website often to get updates about all the important dates related to the examination.

Admit card is an important document which a candidate has to carry to the examination hall. Along with his/her admit card, a candidate must also carry a government-approved ID card and a photograph. Candidates without valid admit card and ID proof will not be allowed to take up the exam.

Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to download the UGC NET 2021, Admit Card:

• Step 1: Visit the official website of UGC NET.
• Step 2: Enter your Application Number and Password.
• Step 3: Click on the "Submit" tab and your Admit Card will be displayed on the screen.
• Step 4: Take the printout of your admit card, and retain it carefully.

Details Mentioned on the UGC NET 2021 Admit Card

UGC NET 2021 Admit Card contains necessary information about the candidate and the examination. Below are the details mentioned in the admit card:

• Candidate’s Name
• Father’s Name
• Exam Subject
• Exam Center
• Exam Date and Time
• Candidate’s Email ID
• Application Number
• Exam Instructions

Documents to carry with UGC NET Admit Card

Candidates will be asked to carry certain documents like a valid photo identity proof with its xerox copy, two recent passport size photographs along with the UGC NET 2021 admit card. The photographs should be the same as the ones uploaded during the application process. Candidates can bring any of the following documents as a photo identity proof.

• Aadhar Card
• PAN Card
• Passport
• Ration Card
• Permanent Driver's License
• Voter Card

UGC NET 2021 Exam Centres

UGC NET 2021 will be held at 264 Exam Centres across India. Candidates will get the option of choosing 4 UGC NET 2021 exam centres of their choice while filling in the UGC NET application.

The NTA, the conducting authority of UGC NET, makes sure that candidates are allotted their preferred exam centres. Once an exam centre is allotted, it cannot be changed. Seats will be allotted based on availability.

Candidates will have to carry the following documents to the exam hall along with them:

• Admit Card
• Photo ID proof
• A passport size photo

UGC NET 2021 Result

The UGC NET Result 2021 will be announced in the last week of July, 2021. A scorecard or a result card will not be mailed or sent to the candidate by post.

Candidates are advised to take a printout of their result card for future reference. This will act as a valid proof of their eligibility for getting the fellowship or the lectureship.

How to download UGC NET 2021 Result?

Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to download their UGC NET May 2021 result:

• Step 1: Visit the official website of UGC NET
• Step 2: Click on the link of UGC NET 2021 Result.
• Step 3: Enter your Registration Number along with your password, and then log in. The result card will be displayed on the screen.
• Step 4: Candidates will have to take a printout of the result card for future use.

Details Mentioned on the UGC NET 2021 Scorecard

Candidates can check with the below information which will be available in the UGC NET 2021 Scorecard:

• Candidate’s Name
• Hall Ticket Number
• Rank Scored
• Name of the subject or course
• Marks obtained in each paper
• Total Marks
• Percentage Secured

UGC NET 2021 Preparation

Applicants should keep the following things in mind while preparing for the UGC NET 2021.

• Time management is the key to success.

Aspirants will have to write two papers, so they should plan their course of action, dividing time for each question. Also, don't spend too much time over one question. That may reduce your chances to cover the rest of the questions.

• Analyze previous years' question papers.

Solve previous years' papers and mock papers for UGC NET. This will give you an idea of how the questions in the exam will be framed. Changes in the question papers over the years can be well predicted if practised diligently.

• Use of flashcards.

To enhance memory retention, you can use flashcards. Preparing these for the important concepts that are hard to memorize can be very useful. You can paste them on a wall to take your preparation to the next level.

UGC NET 2021 Reference Books

One of the best ways for candidates to prepare well for their examinations is to thoroughly read reference books and make a practice of it.

To help with the UGC NET Exam Preparation, candidates can go through the below-mentioned books which can be of help to ace the exams:

Books for Paper 1:

• CBSE UGC NET/SET/JRF – Paper 1: Teaching and Research Aptitude by KVS Madaan
• Trueman's UGC NET/SET General Paper I by M. Gagan and Sajit Kumar
• UGC NET/SET Paper 1 by McGraw Hill Education
• UGC NET/JRF/SLET General Paper-1 Teaching & Research Aptitude by Arihant Experts
• CBSE UGC-NET: Teaching and Research Aptitude-JRF and Assistant Professor Exam Guide (for Paper-I) (CBSE UGC (NET) JRF & Asstt. Professor Exam) by Dr. M.S. Ansari & RPH Editorial Board
• UGC-NET (Paper-I) 50 Practice Papers (Solved) by Ramesh Publishing House
• UGC NET/SET (JRF & LS) 14 Years’ Solved Papers Teaching and Research Aptitude Paper-I

Books for Paper 2:

• Political Science: Trueman’s UGC NET Political Science by KA Babu and Sajit Kumar
• Philosophy: Trueman's UGC NET Philosophy by A.M. Tripathi
• Sociology: Trueman's UGC NET Sociology by S.Hussain
• Commerce: Trueman’s UGC NET Commerce by Parveen Kataria, Anshu Kataria and M. Shivani
• Education: Trueman’s UGC NET Education by GaganManocha
• English: UGC NET/SET (JRF & LS) English Literature Paper II & III by Arihant Experts (Author),‎ Third (Editor)

UGC NET 2021 Cut-off

UGC NET 2021 cut-off marks is decided by the conducting authority, the NTA. A cut-off is the minimum qualifying marks a candidate has to score to be eligible for the post of Lectureship (LS) and/or Fellowship (JRF). A separate cut-off list will be prepared for category-wise eligibility and subject-wise eligibility. Candidates must note that the cut off marks depend on various factors like the number of vacancies available, the difficulty level of the examination, the total number of candidates appearing for the exam, etc. Candidates can view previous year cutoffs to get a brief idea about the required score that has to be secured in order to get into the respective post. Cut off scores vary from one year to another. Previous year cut off's can be used as a reference.

Category	Minimum score required (Paper-1 + Paper-2)
General/EWS	40% (120 marks)
OBC/SC/ST/PwD	35% (105 marks)

UGC NET 2021 Counselling

After the declaration of the UGC 2021 results, the conducting authority announces the counselling dates on the official website.

UGC NET 2021 Counselling is only for the candidates who clear the examination. Candidates must have all their original documents ready for the procedure. Candidates must follow the schedule and instructions given out by the conducting body. The counselling process will include document verification post which the seat allotment will happen. Before the counselling process, candidates need to research about which course and college they want to choose. Considering the score of the candidate and the previous year cut-off will help in deciding the course and college that can be expected.

UGC NET 2021 Selection Process

Candidates who score qualifying marks that are eligible for Lectureship (LS) or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) under the UGC NET 2021, will be called for counselling. During their counselling, candidates will be allotted to the postings they have applied for only if they are deemed eligible.

UGC NET Dec 2019 Paper Analysis

The exam was conducted in shifts and on different dates between 2-6 December 2019.

The exam analysis has been discussed below in detail:

UGC NET Shift 1 Paper Analysis

The questions for Shift 1 were asked from the sections mentioned below:

UGC NET 2019 Analysis-Shift 1

Category	Number of Questions	Difficulty
Governance, Polity, Administration & Current Affairs	3-4	Difficult
Teaching Aptitude	11-13	Easy
Communication	3-5	Moderate
Research Aptitude	7-9	Difficult
Reading Comprehension	5 in 1 set	Easy
Mathematics	4-5	Easy to Moderate
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)	2-3	Difficult
Logical Reasoning	7-8	Easy
Data Interpretation	5 in one set	Moderate
People & Environment	3-4	Difficult
Total	50 questions (2 marks each)

UGC NET Shift 2 Paper Analysis

The questions pattern for Shift 2 is given below:

UGC NET Shift 2 Pattern

Category	Difficulty
Higher Education System	Easy
Information & Communications Technology	Moderate
Research Aptitude	Difficult
People & Environment	Moderate
Logical Reasoning	Difficult
Reading Comprehension	Easy
Communication	Easy to Moderate
Mathematics & Reasoning	Moderate
Data Interpretation	Easy

UGC NET Shift 3 Paper Analysis

The candidates who had appeared for the UGC NET Dec 2019 exam, deemed the question paper to be easy to moderate. They found the Data Interpretation section very easy as compared to the expected difficulty. A question that was asked in the shift was about Classroom Communication, 4th Generation Language, and Effective Learning.

The questions asked in the paper were from Number System, Compound Interest, Ration, Blood Relations. There were some memory based questions too. The communication problem asked in the paper was easy to solve as per the students. Logical Reasoning was a tough section and the questions were asked from Fallacies, Square opposition, and Inductive Reasoning. The Current Affairs questions asked were also easy.

This exam is conducted for over 84 subjects and selected candidates are placed across the country in over 874 Universities. Payment of application fee can be made online as well as offline, through debit card or credit card, or e-Challan.