The UGC NET December 2025 examination schedule has been officially released by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This update confirms the subject-wise exam dates for all 83 papers, bringing clarity for lakhs of aspirants preparing for Assistant Professor eligibility and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).
Along with the detailed date sheet, the Exam City Intimation Slip is now live on the official portal ugcnet.nta.ac.in, enabling candidates to plan travel and accommodation in advance. The examinations will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from December 31, 2025, to January 7, 2026, across multiple shifts.
This guide explains the complete schedule in a clear, non-repetitive format, covering shift timings, city slip download steps, admit card expectations, exam pattern, and exam-day instructions.
UGC NET December 2025: Key Facts
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) December 2025 |
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Dates | 31 December 2025 to 7 January 2026 |
| Total Subjects | 83 |
| City Intimation Slip | Released on 21 December 2025 |
| Admit Card | Expected around 28 December 2025 |
| Shift 1 Timing | 09:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Shift 2 Timing | 03:00 PM – 06:00 PM |
| Official Website | ugcnet.nta.ac.in |
UGC NET December 2025: Subject-Wise Exam Schedule
To ensure faster evaluation and result processing, NTA has scheduled the examination on six active days: December 31, January 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7. No exams on January 1 and January 4.
Day 1 – December 31, 2025 (Wednesday)
Shift 1 (Morning)
- Law
- Social Work
- Tourism Administration & Management
- Telugu
- Spanish, Prakrit, Kashmiri, Konkani
Shift 2 (Evening)
- Sociology
- Women Studies
- Social Work (if required)
Day 2 – January 2, 2026 (Friday)
Shift 1 (Morning)
- Computer Science & Applications
- Library & Information Science
- Forensic Science
- Urdu, Bengali, Arabic, Bodo
- Human Rights & Duties
Shift 2 (Evening)
- Psychology
- Philosophy
- Yoga
- Punjabi
- Social Medicine & Community Health
Day 3 – January 3, 2026 (Saturday)
Shift 1 (Morning)
- Commerce (Group 1)
- Sanskrit
- Criminology
- Santali
- Political Science (International Relations)
Shift 2 (Evening)
- Commerce (Group 2)
- Geography
- Education
- Indian Culture, Persian
Day 4 – January 5, 2026 (Monday)
Shift 1 (Morning)
- English (Group 1)
- Sanskrit Traditional Subjects
- Anthropology
- French, Russian, Chinese
Shift 2 (Evening)
- English (Group 2)
- History
- Visual Arts
- Assamese, Gujarati, Rajasthani
Day 5 – January 6, 2026 (Tuesday)
Shift 1 (Morning)
- Political Science (Group 1)
- Defence & Strategic Studies
- Arab Culture & Islamic Studies
- Hindu Studies
- Nepali, Japanese
Shift 2 (Evening)
- Political Science (Group 2)
- Hindi (Group 1)
- Mass Communication & Journalism
- Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam
Day 6 – January 7, 2026 (Wednesday)
Shift 1 (Morning)
- Hindi (Group 2)
- Economics
- Public Administration
- Population Studies
- Linguistics
Shift 2 (Evening)
- Management
- Environmental Sciences
- Physical Education
- Home Science
- Electronic Science
- Music
High-volume subjects such as Commerce, English, Hindi, and Political Science are divided into Group 1 and Group 2. Your admit card will clearly mention your assigned group and shift.
How to Download UGC NET City Intimation Slip (Available Now)?
The city slip informs candidates about the exam city only, not the exact centre. Here are the steps to download the timetable:
- Visit ugcnet.nta.ac.in
- Click on “UGC NET December 2025 – City Intimation Slip”
- Enter Application Number, Date of Birth, and Security Pin
- Submit and view your allotted exam city
- Download and save the PDF for reference
UGC NET Admit Card 2025: Expected Release
NTA generally releases admit cards 2–3 days before the exam date.
- Exams on Dec 31 – Admit Card by Dec 28, 2025
- Exams on Jan 7 – Admit Card by Jan 4, 2026
Admit Card Will Show these details:
- Exact exam centre address
- Shift timing
- Roll number and photograph
- Important instructions & declaration
UGC NET Exam Pattern (Recap)
Paper 1 (General Aptitude)
- Questions: 50
- Marks: 100
Paper 2 (Subject-Specific)
- Questions: 100
- Marks: 200
Total Duration: 3 Hours (No break)
Marking Scheme:
- +2 for correct answer
- No negative marking
Reporting Time & Exam-Day Instructions
| Shift | Reporting Window | Gate Closes |
| Morning Shift | 07:20 AM – 08:30 AM | 08:30 AM |
| Evening Shift | 01:20 PM – 02:30 PM | 02:30 PM |
These Items are allowed in the exam
- Printed Admit Card
- Original Photo ID
- Passport-size photograph
- Transparent water bottle
- Simple ballpoint pen
Follow the dress code as mentioned in the admit card guidelines: Avoid heavy jackets, thick soles, and metal accessories. Light winter clothing is advisable.
FAQs
When will the UGC NET December 2025 exam be conducted?
From 31 December 2025 to 7 January 2026.
Is the city slip the same as the admit card?
No. The city slip only shows the exam city. The admit card will have full centre details.
Is there negative marking in UGC NET?
No. There is zero negative marking in both papers.
