UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026, Paper 1 and Paper 2 Pattern
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- UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026
National Testing Agency conducts the UGC NET exam, which determines candidates' eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professorships, and admission to PhD programmes based on the qualifying category. The UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026 outlines the exam pattern, number of questions, total marks, duration, and marking scheme.
UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026
As per the UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin, the UGC NET 2026 will be conducted from 14 to 19 December 2026 in the Computer-Based Test mode. Before appearing for the exam, the candidates must be familiar with the UGC NET 2026 exam pattern. The question paper will consist of two papers, namely Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both papers consist of objective-type multiple-choice questions, and candidates are required to attempt the examination in three hours without any break between the papers.
| Papers | Pattern of Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | The questions will be generic in nature, intending to assess the teaching/research aptitude of the candidate. | 50 | 100 | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Paper 2 | This is based on the subject selected by the candidate and will assess domain knowledge. | 100 | 200 | |
| Total | 150 | 300 |
UGC NET December Notification 2026 Out - Click to Check
Important Points:
1. For each correct answer, the candidate will get 2 marks in both papers 1 & 2.
2. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers in the UGC NET 2026 exam.
3. No marks will be given for questions Unanswered/marked for review.
4. All questions are mandatory.
5. If a question is found to be incorrect/ambiguous during the key challenge, the candidate who has attempted the question and chosen one of the correct answers will be given credit. If there are any dropped questions (s), marks will be awarded to all the candidates.
UGC NET Paper 1 Exam Pattern 2026
The questions in Paper 1 will be generic in nature, intending to assess the teaching/research aptitude of the candidates. The paper will carry 50 questions for a total of 100 marks. Details are mentioned below;
| UGC NET Paper 1 Exam Pattern 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Examination Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 1 Hour |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Number of Questions | 50 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Subjects |
|
| Marking Scheme | 2 marks for each correct answer |
UGC NET Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2026
Paper 2 will be based on the subject selected by the candidate and will assess domain knowledge. There will be 100 questions for a total of 200 marks. Details are mentioned below;
| UGC NET Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Examination Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Total Subject | 83 |
| Syllabus Coverage | In-depth coverage of topics within the candidate’s chosen subject domain |
| Marking Scheme | 2 marks for each correct answer |
UGC NET Marking Scheme 2026
It is important to know the marking scheme before evaluating the score of the practice tests and building a strategy for the exam. As per the exam pattern, each question carries two marks. The candidates will be given two marks for every correct answer, and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
| Particulars | Details |
| Correct Answer | +2 |
| Incorrect Answer | 0 |
| Unattempted Question | 0 |
| Negative Marking | No |
Is there any Negative Marking in the UGC NET 2026?
No, there is no negative marking in the UGC NET 2026. However, no marks will be deducted if the candidate selects the wrong answer; unanswered questions will result in zero marks. The candidates must first attempt the questions they are confident about and then utilize the remaining time to attempt the incorrect ones and make assumptions.
UGC NET 2026 Syllabus
The first step for preparing for the UGC NET exam is to be familiar with the syllabus, as this helps the aspirants to strategize their preparations in a well-defined manner. The UGC NET 2026 exam will consist of 2 papers, and the syllabus for both papers is discussed in the article provided below.
UGC NET Syllabus 2026 - Click to Check