UGC NET 2025 Eligibility Criteria, Age Limit, Minimum Qualifying Marks
UGC NET Eligibility Criteria is prescribed by the National Testing Agency on behalf of the University Grand Commission. Candidates looking to participate in the UGC NET examination for June or December cycle have to qualify for the same. The agency has prescribed the minimum UGC NET age limit and educational qualification. Additionally, the candidates will also be eligible to enjoy reservation benefits and exemptions applicable to the post they are applying for. UGC NET Eligibility Criteria As per the UGC NET eligibility criteria, the NTA revised the upper age limit for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) on January 5, 2023. Candidates must be no older than 30 years old to apply for the UGC JRF. Those who meet the eligibility requirements can proceed to fill out the application form. Candidates need to review the eligibility criteria for both the NET JRF and the NET Assistant Professors/Lecturers before applying. The UGC NET is conducted biannually to assess candidates’ qualifications for JRF and Assistant Professorships along with admission to PhD. UGC NET Age Limit The National Testing Agency has prescribed the minimum age limit that candidates have to possess to be eligible for the exam. The agency has notified separately the age limit for both JRF (Junior Research Fellow) and Assistant Professor and the same can be checked below. JRF Candidates applying for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) should not exceed 30 years of age as of the first day of the month (i.e., June) in which the UGC NET exam concludes. This age limit applies only to the current examination. Candidates can check out the age relaxation applicable to the post as per UGC NET eligibility criteria. Assistant Professor There is no age restriction for applying for the position of Assistant Professor or Lectureship through the UGC NET exam. UGC NET Educational Qualification Candidates applying for the UGC NET examination have to possess the basic eligibility prescribed for appearing in the exam. According to UGC NET eligibility criteria, candidates should have the following educational qualifications: UGC NET Reservation Policy The UGC NET exam follows the Government of India’s reservation policy, reserving seats in central universities and deemed universities according to established guidelines for various categories. Here, in the section below you can check the reservation applicable to UGC NET eligibility criteria. Category UGC NET Reservation of seats (In %) Scheduled Castes (SC) 15 Scheduled Tribes (ST) 7.5 Other Backward Classes (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) 27 General-Economically Weaker Sections (General- EWS) 10 Persons with Disability (PwD) with 40 per cent or more disability 4 UGC NET Exemptions Candidates who are applying for the post of Assistant Professor under the UGC NET examination will be eligible for exemptions. These applicable to UGC NET eligibility criteria can be checked below: UGC NET Subject Eligibility One of the most important UGC NET eligibility criteria for the exam is the selection of the appropriate subject while submitting the application form. The UGC NET exam comprises Paper 1 and Paper 2. Other Criterias Applicable to UGC NET Eligibility Criteria Apart from the basic UGC NET Eligibility Criteria, candidates also have to fulfill the other eligibility criteria listed in the section below. FAQs Who is eligible for the UGC NET exam?Candidates with a master’s degree from a UGC-recognized university, securing at least 55% marks (50% for reserved categories), are eligible to apply for the UGC NET exam. Can I apply for NET after graduation?No, candidates must have completed their master’s degree to be eligible for the UGC NET exam; graduation alone does not qualify for application. Can an undergraduate apply for UGC NET?Undergraduates cannot apply for the UGC NET exam. A completed master’s degree is a mandatory requirement for eligibility. What is UGC NET salary?The salary for UGC NET qualified Assistant Professors varies by institution but typically ranges from ₹30,000 to ₹60,000 per month, depending on experience and university regulations. Can I do PhD without NET?Yes, candidates can pursue a PhD without qualifying for the NET exam, but some universities may require it for admission or offer fellowships.