UGC NET Cut Off 2026
UGC NET Cut Off 2026 – Expected Cutoff, Previous Year Cutoff & Qualifying Marks
The UGC NET Cut Off 2026 represents the minimum marks a candidate must secure to qualify for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor eligibility, or PhD admissions. The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the cutoff marks along with the result and final answer key on the official website ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
The cutoff is published in two formats — percentile-wise and percentage-wise — and is available separately for each subject and category. For the June 2026 session (exam dates: 22–30 June 2026), the cutoff is expected to be announced alongside or shortly after the result declaration in August 2026.
UGC NET Cutoff 2026 – Key Facts
|
Parameter |
Details |
|
Cutoff Released By |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
|
Released Along With |
Final Answer Key and Result |
|
Format |
Subject-wise and Category-wise PDF |
|
Qualifying Marks (General) |
Minimum 40% aggregate (both papers) |
|
Qualifying Marks (Reserved) |
Minimum 35% aggregate (both papers) |
|
JRF Cutoff |
Higher than Assistant Professor cutoff |
|
Expected Range |
160–216 marks (across subjects, based on past trends) |
UGC NET Qualifying Marks 2026
The following are the minimum qualifying marks that NTA prescribes for all candidates:
|
Category |
Minimum % Required |
Minimum Marks (out of 300) |
|
General (Unreserved) / EWS |
40% |
120 |
|
OBC – Non-Creamy Layer |
35% |
105 |
|
Scheduled Caste (SC) |
35% |
105 |
|
Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
35% |
105 |
|
Persons with Disability (PwD) |
35% |
105 |
|
Transgender |
35% |
105 |
Note: These are the minimum qualifying marks. The actual cutoff for JRF is significantly higher, as only the top 6% of candidates who appear in both papers are considered for qualifying.
How is UGC NET Cutoff Calculated?
NTA follows a transparent methodology for determining the UGC NET cutoff:
Step 1: Total qualified candidates = 6% of the total candidates who appeared in both papers.
Step 2: This 6% pool is further divided category-wise based on the Government of India reservation policy.
Step 3: Within each category, the top scorers (ranked by total marks in Paper 1 + Paper 2) qualify.
Step 4: The minimum marks of the last qualifying candidate in each category becomes the cutoff for that subject and category.
Factors That Determine the Cutoff
|
Factor |
Effect on Cutoff |
|
Number of candidates appearing |
Higher candidates → higher cutoff |
|
Difficulty of the question paper |
Tougher paper → lower cutoff |
|
Subject popularity |
More aspirants in a subject → competitive cutoff |
|
Previous year trends |
Acts as a benchmark for expected range |
|
Reservation policy |
Different cutoffs for each category |
UGC NET Expected Cutoff 2026 (June Session)
Based on analysis of past cycles and exam difficulty trends, the expected cutoff for UGC NET June 2026 is:
|
Category |
Expected Cutoff Range (out of 300) |
|
General (Unreserved) |
210–216 marks |
|
EWS |
195–205 marks |
|
OBC-NCL |
185–200 marks |
|
SC |
175–190 marks |
|
ST |
165–180 marks |
|
PwD |
160–175 marks |
Disclaimer: These are estimated ranges based on past trends. Official cutoffs will be released by NTA after the June 2026 exam.
UGC NET Previous Year Cutoff (Reference – Subject-Wise Trend)
The table below shows approximate cutoff trends for popular subjects in recent cycles:
|
Subject |
June 2025 (General – JRF) |
Dec 2024 (General – JRF) |
June 2024 (General – JRF) |
|
English |
~214 |
~210 |
~208 |
|
Political Science |
~210 |
~207 |
~205 |
|
Commerce |
~218 |
~215 |
~212 |
|
History |
~206 |
~202 |
~200 |
|
Education |
~208 |
~205 |
~203 |
|
Computer Science |
~200 |
~196 |
~194 |
|
Economics |
~212 |
~209 |
~207 |
|
Sociology |
~204 |
~201 |
~198 |
Note: These figures are based on publicly available data and trends. Always refer to the official NTA notification for exact past cutoffs.
UGC NET December 2025 Cutoff (Released)
The UGC NET December 2025 cutoff was officially released on 4 February 2026, along with the results. Key highlights:
-
Exam was conducted between 31 December 2025 and 7 January 2026 for 83 subjects.
-
The cutoff PDF (subject-wise and category-wise) is available on the official NTA website.
-
Candidates qualified for JRF, Assistant Professor eligibility, and PhD admission separately.
JRF Cutoff vs Assistant Professor Cutoff
|
Feature |
JRF Cutoff |
Assistant Professor Cutoff |
|
Level |
Higher (top performers) |
Lower than JRF |
|
Fellowship |
₹31,000/month (JRF) |
No fellowship |
|
Seats |
Limited (subject to vacancy) |
More seats available |
|
Certificate Validity |
3 years (must enroll in PhD) |
Lifetime |
Candidates who meet the JRF cutoff automatically qualify for Assistant Professor as well. Those below the JRF cutoff but above the Assistant Professor cutoff qualify only for lectureship.
How to Check UGC NET Cut Off 2026
Once officially released, you can check the cutoff by following these steps:
-
Visit ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
-
Click on "Cut-Off Marks 2026" or "Result" link on the homepage.
-
Select your subject from the dropdown.
-
Download the category-wise and subject-wise cutoff PDF.
-
Compare your score with the published cutoff to determine your qualification status.
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Frequently Asked Questions
General category: 40% aggregate (120 out of 300). Reserved categories: 35% aggregate (105 out of 300).
The cutoff will be released alongside the result declaration, expected in August 2026.
No. The cutoff varies subject-wise and category-wise. Competitive subjects with more applicants tend to have higher cutoffs.
Based on previous trends, the expected JRF cutoff for General category candidates ranges between 210–216 out of 300.
Yes. Past cutoff PDFs are available on the NTA website.
No. Clearing UGC NET only establishes your eligibility. Actual appointments are made through separate recruitment processes conducted by universities and colleges.
