Candidates who were preparing to complete their UGC NET December 2026 applications by October 28 now have additional time. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the registration deadline to October 31, 2026, allowing applicants to submit their forms without paying a late fee.
The decision was announced through an official public notice issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The extension is particularly significant because the earlier schedule had provided a separate late-registration window from October 29 to 31, with an additional fee of Rs 500. Under the revised arrangement, candidates can complete their applications until October 31 without that additional charge.
What has changed for UGC NET applicants?
The revised deadline applies to both submission of the online application form and successful payment of the examination fee.
| Activity | Revised deadline |
|---|---|
| Online application submission | October 31, 2026 |
| Examination fee payment | October 31, 2026 |
| Closing time | 11:50 PM |
| Additional late fee | Not applicable |
NTA stated that the extension was granted in the interest of candidates who have not yet completed the application process.
What happens to the Rs 500 late fee?
Under the previous schedule, applicants submitting their forms between October 29 and 31 were required to pay an additional Rs 500.
The latest notification removes that additional fee for applications submitted within the extended deadline.
Candidates will still have to pay the regular examination fee applicable to their respective categories.
Will the correction window and examination dates change?
NTA has clarified that all other terms and conditions mentioned in the information bulletin and earlier public notices remain unchanged.
Accordingly, the previously announced application correction window remains scheduled from November 2 to 4, 2026.
The UGC NET December 2026 examination is scheduled to take place from December 14 to 18 and on December 21, 2026, as per the existing information bulletin.
Candidates should continue monitoring the official website for subsequent announcements.
What should candidates do now?
Applicants who have not completed their registration should use the additional three days to review their personal information, examination subject, category and uploaded documents.
They should also ensure that their examination fee is successfully paid and retain the confirmation page for future reference.
NTA has advised candidates not to wait until the final hours of registration, citing the possibility of last-minute technical difficulties.
The UGC NET examination is conducted to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD programmes in Indian universities and colleges.
Candidates can complete their applications through the official website, https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/.
Source: National Testing Agency, Public Notice dated October 27, 2026.