The UGC NET 2025 began on December 31 with candidates appearing for Day 1 Shift 1 from 9 am to 12 noon at designated centres nationwide. Reporting time for the morning shift was 7.30 am, and entry gates were closed at 8.30 am, as per instructions mentioned on the admit cards released by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The UGC NET 2025 is being conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode to assess eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor positions. According to the official schedule, the examination will be held on December 31, January 2, January 3, January 5, January 6, and January 7, with different subjects allotted to specific dates and shifts. Candidates were required to carry a printed admit card, a valid government-issued photo identity proof, and a passport-size photograph, while electronic devices and other prohibited items were barred from the examination centres.
Reporting time, gate closing and documents required
For the morning shift held on December 31, candidates were instructed to report to their allotted examination centres by 7.30 am, while entry gates closed at 8.30 am. The examination commenced at 9 am and concluded at 12 noon. Late entry was not permitted under NTA guidelines.
Candidates were required to carry a printed copy of the admit card, one valid government-issued photo identity proof, and a passport-size photograph matching the one uploaded in the application form. Accepted ID documents included Aadhaar card, voter ID, PAN card, passport, and driving licence.
Electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, and written materials were prohibited inside the examination hall. Candidates were also required to follow the dress code instructions mentioned on the admit card.
Exam dates and shift timings notified by NTA
According to the official schedule released by the National Testing Agency, the UGC NET December 2025 examination is being conducted on December 31, 2025, and January 2, January 3, January 5, January 6, and January 7, 2026. The test is being held in multiple shifts, with subjects allotted to specific dates and time slots as mentioned on candidates’ admit cards.
On most exam days, the test is being held in two shifts:
- Shift 1: 9 am to 12 noon
- Shift 2: 3 pm to 6 pm
Candidates have been advised to verify their subject-wise schedule carefully, as not all subjects are scheduled on every exam day.
Exam pattern and marking scheme
The UGC NET examination consists of two papers conducted in a single session without a break.
Paper 1 comprises 50 multiple-choice questions for 100 marks and assesses teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, comprehension, and general awareness.
Paper 2 consists of 100 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks based on the subject selected by the candidate.
There is no negative marking for incorrect answers. The total duration of the examination is three hours.
Candidate responses after Day 1 Shift 1
Candidates who appeared for the December 31 morning shift reported varied experiences. Some examinees stated that Paper 1 was time-intensive, particularly in reasoning and comprehension sections. Feedback on Paper 2 differed by subject, with candidates indicating a mix of factual, conceptual, and application-based questions.
Detailed question paper analysis and memory-based questions are expected to be released by coaching institutes and subject experts after the completion of additional shifts.
Answer key, result process and qualifying criteria
The NTA is expected to release the provisional answer key after all scheduled exam dates are completed. Candidates will be allowed to challenge the answer key within a specified window by paying the prescribed fee per question. After reviewing objections, the final answer key and results will be declared.
To qualify UGC NET, candidates must secure at least 40 per cent marks (general category) or 35 per cent marks (reserved categories), subject to category-wise and subject-wise cut-offs determined through normalization.
What candidates should track next
With exams scheduled through January 7, candidates appearing in upcoming shifts are advised to regularly check the official website for admit card releases, subject-wise schedules, and exam-related instructions. Updates on answer keys, result dates, and cut-off trends are expected after the conclusion of all six exam days.