Candidates must note that only paid challenges made during the stipulated time through the objection window will be considered for review. Challenges without justification, or evidence, or after the stipulated time period and those filed on any other medium other than the prescribed link will not be considered.

Awarding Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) depends on the aggregate performance of the candidate in Part 1 and Part 2 of the UGC NET, the testing agency stated. Candidates qualifying under the ‘appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD’ category will be eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD but not for the award of JRF. 

According to NTA, the objections raised through the answer key challenge link will be reviewed by a panel of subject experts.

Based on the challenges received against the provisional answer key, the NTA will publish the final answer key for final evaluation and marks calculation. 

Interested applicants can check the last exam's Anthropology cutoff below.

• JRF (Unreserved category): 198
• Assistant Professor (Unreserved category): 172
• PhD admission (Unreserved category): 152

Check the last year's December cycle cutoff scores for JRF, assistant professorship, and PhD admission below. 

• JRF: 218 (a total of 115 candidates qualified)
• Assistant Professor: 186 (1782 applicants qualified)
• PhD admission: 158 (3791 eligible)

The government informed the Supreme Court that it has constituted a High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) on examination reforms to recommend structural improvements in the conduct of public examinations and to modernise examination systems.

The government said the reforms are intended to create a stronger institutional framework capable of learning from previous examination cycles through systematic use of experience, data and information, thereby reducing vulnerabilities and improving oversight.

A UGC NET aspirant from Srinagar took to X writing  that "despite calling the NTA helpline for nearly three weeks, he received only scripted responses and no update on the answer keys. "Students are not fools to be dismissed like this. Drop the key now," he said. 

Responding to queries on the UGC NET June 2026 answer key delay, an NTA source told NDTV: "The June examination covered 87 subjects, which is a huge exercise. We will release the results soon."

Candidates can check the Assistant Professor cutoff for the UGC NET December 2025 Hindi exam:

• Unreserved: 182
• OBC(NCL): 168
• EWS: 168
• SC: 158
• ST: 150

Interested applicants can check the JRF cutoff for Geography here as per the last examination session.

• Unreserved: 224
• OBC(NCL): 212
• EWS: 212
• SC: 198
• ST: 186

Gujarat University has become the first and only state university in Gujarat to be granted UGC Category II Graded Autonomy, with the University Grants Commission conferring the status under the UGC (Categorisation of Universities [Only] for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018.

The UGC granted the Category II status to Gujarat University on July 29, 2026, enabling the institution to exercise greater academic and administrative autonomy.

According to the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office (CMO), with the grant of UGC Category II Graded Autonomy, Gujarat University will now be able to introduce new academic programmes, departments, schools, and specialised centres within its existing academic framework without prior approval from the UGC. In addition, the University will be able to launch new industry-oriented and employment-focused diploma and certificate courses in accordance with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).

Last year, for the UGC NET December 2025 exam conducted from December 31 to January 7, the provisional answer key was released on January 14. 

Applicants can check the UGC NET last exam's PhD cutoff for the Law exam below:

• Unreserved: 166
• OBC(NCL): 154
• EWS: 150
• SC: 144
• ST: 140

The NTA follows the given steps for the preparation of the UGC NET result:

• The number of candidates to be qualified for eligibility for Assistant Professor will be equal to 6% of the candidates who appeared in NET (in both papers) based on their master’s degree or equivalent examination.
• The total slots will be allocated to different categories as per the reservation policy of the Government of India.
• In order to be considered, candidates must have appeared in both papers and secured at least 40% aggregate marks in both papers taken together for the Unreserved and EWS category, and 35% for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and OBC(NCL), and PWD categories.

The UGC NET Cutoff for Public Administration, for Assistant Professor eligibility, went as high as 198 for the unreserved category in the June 2025 cycle. For OBC (NCL), the cut-off was 178, and for the EWS category, the cut-off was set as 178.

The UGC NET 2026 Psychology paper was held on June 25 in the evening shift. Check December 2025 exam cycle cutoff for the unreserved category below.

• JRF: 234 (a total of 45 candidates qualified)
• Assistant Professor: 206 (811 eligible)
• PhD admission: 182 (1592 applicants eligible)

The Gen Z is "apne log (our people)" and if they are protesting its concerns should be addressed, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat participating in one of the world's largest youth-led conferences on Thursday said.

"If the Gen Z is agitating, they certainly aren't anti-nationals; they are our own people, our next generation," Bhagwat said at the conference titled 'The Role of Youth in Uniting the World, the Indian Way'.

Check the UGC NET Economics cutoff (Unreserved category) of the last examination cycle.

• JRF: 232
• Assistant Professor: 200
• PhD admission: 172

The NTA will publish separate subject and category-wise cutoff PDFs after result declaration that will include cutoffs for JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD eligibility along with the number of candidates meeting each threshold. 

The UGC has cautioned students to beware of financial scams in higher education. " Verify university recognition on the official UGC website," the commission stated in a social media post on X.

🚨 Stay Alert. Stay Safe.

UGC cautions students to beware of financial scams in higher education.

❌ Don’t fall for fake promises or demands for upfront fees
✔️ Always choose institutions with transparent fee structures
✔️ Verify university recognition on the official UGC… pic.twitter.com/KmeS8CbFEh

— UGC INDIA (@ugc_india) August 6, 2026

Expressing frustration over the UGC NET June 2026 answer key delay, a student on X said: 

"At this point, the UGC NET answer key feels like a myth—everyone talks about it, but nobody has actually seen it."

#NTA
Dear NTA,

At this point, the UGC NET answer key feels like a myth—everyone talks about it, but nobody has actually seen it.
Are you evaluating the papers, writing a new constitution, or waiting for the next NET cycle before releasing the answer key?
#NTA #Answerkey

— Priya (@PriyaSingh99374) July 29, 2026

According to official guidelines, no grievance with regard to answer key after the declaration of  the UGC NET 2026 result and the NTA score will be entertained.

Based on the official marking scheme, each question carries two marks. There is no negative marking for incorrect responses. Candidates must also note that no marks will be given for unanswered or unattempted questions.

On August 2, Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) wrote to the UGC and NTA regarding the delay in release of UGC-NET answer key.  "It has now been more than 30 days since the conclusion of the examination, yet no official update has been provided regarding the timeline for the release of the answer key or declaration of results," the official letter read.

Here are the steps to challenge an answer key through the UGC NET 2026 objection link: 

• Visit the official NTA website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in
• Click on the link titled 'Challenge(s) regarding Answer Key'
• Log in using your credentials (application number and password)
• Click on 'View Question Paper' for marked responses 
• Now, click on the link indicating 'View/Challenge Answer Key' to view provisional keys and challenge the questions
• After selecting the desired option, scroll down, select 'Save Your Claims,' and move to the next screen
• Upload supporting documents and pay the required fee

The National Testing Agency is expected to issue the provisional answer key PDF along with the question paper attempted and response sheets of the candidates for the UGC NET June 2026 exam soon. However, there is no official confirmation from the NTA as of now. 

The UGC has issued a circular permitting eligible higher education institutions to offer one-year postgraduate programmes through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in accordance with the National Education Policy  2020.

The UGC NET candidates will be required to pay online an amount of Rs 200 per answer key challenged, as processing fee, according to official notification. 

The National Testing Agency has stated that it will provide an additional facility through the UMANG application to enable candidates to download examination-related documents such as the NTA scorecard and other relevant records. 

The eligibility for the UGC NET certificate will depend upon the performance of the candidate in both the sections of the NET exam in aggregate. However, the candidates qualifying exclusively for ‘Assistant Professor and admission to PhD’ or for ‘admission to PhD only’ will not be considered for the award of JRF. 

The certificates for the UGC NET June 2026 will be made available on the NTА website after the declaration of the result. The certificate will be issued for the following qualifications:

1. Award of Junior Research Fellowship and appointment as Assistant Professor
2. Аppointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD
3. Admission to PhD only

Candidates have repeatedly urged the testing agency to publish the provisional answer keys or give an official confirmation on the release date. The UGC NET provisional answer key will allow students to verify their responses, estimate their scores and challenge any discrepancies before the final answer key is prepared and results are announced.

As per official notification, the NTA will provide an additional facility through the DigiLocker platform to enable candidates to download examination-related documents such as the NTA scorecard and other relevant records. 

SL Goel, a doyen of public administration and former member of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has passed away aged 90, according to a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI), citing family sources. Goel, who was also UGC Emeritus Professor at Panjab University, died due to old-age-related ailments.

He provided research guidance to more than two dozen senior civil servants and faculty members, and his association with top policy-making bodies at the UGC, Panjab University and various other research bodies made a great impact on the society at large, the family sources said.

Candidates must note that only paid challenges made during the stipulated time through the objection window will be considered for review. Challenges without justification, or evidence, or after the stipulated time period and those filed on any other medium other than the prescribed link will not be considered.

The NTA will give an opportunity to the UGC NET 2026 applicants to challenge the provisional answer key in case of discrepancies found, along with valid justification and proof. Candidates will be required to pay an amount of Rs 200 per answer key challenged, as a non-refundable processing fee. As per the official information, the provisional answer keys are expected to be displayed for two to three days. 

Drawing a comparison with another national-level examination, a candidate wrote: "The NEET exam is conducted across India and abroad, with around 23 lakh candidates appearing, and its results were declared within 25 days. The UGC-NET is conducted only in India in computer-based mode for over seven lakh candidates, yet even after more than 40 days, there is no sign of the answer key. Why?"

Students and educators have expressed that the wait has turned into a daily refresh routine, with candidates asking NTA to either release the answer key or announce a date. In a social media post on X, Educator Ashwani Tyagi stated that "thousands of aspirants deserve transparency and a timeline."

The UGC NET 2026 exam will determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD.

The government informed the Supreme Court that it has constituted a High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) on examination reforms to recommend structural improvements in the conduct of public examinations and to modernise examination systems.

The government said the reforms are intended to create a stronger institutional framework capable of learning from previous examination cycles through systematic use of experience, data and information, thereby reducing vulnerabilities and improving oversight.

In a compliance affidavit filed before a bench headed by Justice P S Narasimha, the Ministry of Education said the reforms are aimed at creating a robust and institutionalised system that preserves institutional memory, strengthens examination security and prevents future incidents of paper leaks or other malpractices, according to a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The centre said that Parliament has further strengthened the legal framework against examination fraud through the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026, building on the 2024 law that criminalised question paper leaks, impersonation, tampering with computer systems and other examination-related offences.

The NTA is yet to issue the provisional answer key PDF along with the question paper attempted and response sheets of the candidates for the UGC NET June 2026 exam. 

Meanwhile, the protest against alleged examination irregularities in Jharkhand entered its Day 13 today with six demonstrators on hunger strike. Five protesters, including two women, have joined student leader Devendra Nath Mahto in his hunger strike. He has been on fast for the past five days, as per reports. 

Read full story | Jharkhand Student Protest Enters Day 13 With 6 On Hunger Strike

The testing agency will give an opportunity to applicants to challenge the UGC NET June 2026 answer key in case of discrepancies found, along with valid justification and proof. Candidates will be required to pay an amount of Rs 200 per answer key challenged, as a non-refundable processing fee. 

All representations received during the notified period will be examined by subject experts, and the final answer key and the UGC NET 2026 results will be prepared accordingly.

As per reports, following the NEET UG 2026 paper leak controversy, the National Testing Agency has floated a Rs 7.5 crore tender for round-the-clock security services at its headquarters at Minto Road, regional offices at Okhla, storage facilities and other notified locations.

According to the tender document, the move aims to safeguard NTA's personnel, visitors, assets, premises, records, confidential examination material, server rooms, strong rooms and other critical infrastructure.

The National Testing Agency has invited bids from printing agencies to handle the printing of confidential examination materials. Interested firms can submit their applications through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal by 7 pm on August 20, 2026.

The Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that the centre gives high priority to promoting health education, hygiene practices, and environmental consciousness among school children through various schemes and initiatives.

Read full story | NEP 2020 Focuses On Student Hygiene, Health, Environmental Awareness, Says Centre

According to official information, the testing agency will also give an opportunity to applicants to challenge the UGC NET 2026 answer key in case of discrepancies found, along with valid justification and proof. 

UGC NET candidates will be able to download the provisional answer key PDF from the official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in.

The NTA is yet to officially confirm the UGC NET June 2026 answer key release date.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Republic of Indonesia is partnering with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras Global Research Foundation (IITM Global) to strengthen strategic cooperation in higher education, research, innovation, deep technology, entrepreneurship and talent development. 

Read More | Indonesia Partners With IIT Madras For Strategic Research And Innovation

UGC NET candidates will be able to download the provisional answer key PDF from the official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in.

The UGC NET exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency twice a year (June and December sessions). Once the exam is conducted, the UGC NET provisional answer key is released, followed by the final answer key and the UGC NET result.

Shreshtha Sharma, a student from the Jawaharlal Nehru University's School of International Studies expressing her anxiety said, "the uncertainty is worse than the wait." "We don't know when the answer keys will be released, so it's impossible to estimate our scores or plan our next steps. A simple timeline would ease a lot of anxiety," she stated.

Last year, for the June exam cycle the UGC NET provisional answer key was published on July 6. The exams were conducted between June 25 and 29. However, for the June 2026 exam cycle, the NTA has not given any official confirmation till now. 

The National Testing Agency is yet to issue the provisional answer key PDF along with the question paper attempted and response sheets of the candidates for the UGC NET June 2026 exam. Over a month has passed since the exam concluded, leaving candidates anxious about score estimation and the next stage of the process.

The UGC NET June 2026 examinations were conducted at different locations throughout the country on June 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, and 30, 2026. The NTA also conducted a re-exam of the June 22 paper at the CT Group of Institutions exam centre, Jalandhar, on July 5, 2026. 

Responding to queries on the delay, an NTA source told NDTV: "The June examination covered 87 subjects, which is a huge exercise. We will release the results soon."

The National Testing Agency is yet to officially confirm the UGC NET June 2026 provisional answer key release date. Stay tuned for latest updates.