UGC NET December 2026: Application Deadline Approaches Amid Website Technical Issues

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is scheduled to conclude the online application process for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) December 2026 session tomorrow, October 28. Prospective candidates intending to sit for the examination are required to finalize their registration and complete the mandatory fee payment by 11:50 PM on the final date.

Reports indicate that the official portal, ugcnet.nta.nic.in, has been experiencing significant technical slowdowns, causing concern among applicants. While there has been public speculation regarding a potential extension of the deadline due to these connectivity issues, the NTA has not issued any official notification confirming a change to the current schedule. As of October 26, over 5.50 lakh candidates had initiated their registration, though a portion of these applicants had yet to finalize their documentation or payment.

Application Deadlines and Late Registration Procedures

For those unable to meet the primary deadline of October 28, the NTA provides a late registration facility. Candidates may submit their applications between October 29 and October 31, 2026, provided they pay an additional late fee. The final window for both late applications and the associated fee payment will close at 11:50 PM on October 31. Following the conclusion of the registration period, the NTA will open an application correction window from November 2 to November 4, 2026, allowing candidates to rectify specific details in their submitted forms.

The examination fee structure is categorized based on the candidate's status. General category applicants are required to pay INR 1150, while General-EWS and OBC-NCL candidates must pay INR 600. For candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwD, or Third Gender categories, the application fee is set at INR 325. Payments must be processed online through the official portal as part of the final submission step.

Steps to Complete the Application Process

To register, candidates should visit the official website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in and select the registration link for the December 2026 session. The process requires applicants to provide personal details to generate an application number, which is then used to log in for subsequent steps. After logging in, candidates must upload the required documents, including a recent photograph and signature, before proceeding to the online payment gateway. It is advised that all applicants review their information thoroughly before final submission to ensure accuracy, as the subsequent correction window may have limitations on the types of edits permitted.