Apply for UGC NET Dec 2026: last date, photo and signature sizes
UGC NET December 2026 applications are open from 8 to 28 October 2026 (late fee Rs 500 till 31 October) on ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Upload a photo of 10-200KB and a signature of 10-50KB, capture a live photo, and use the 2-4 November correction window only for genuine errors.
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UGC NET December 2026 applications opened on 8 October 2026 and close on 28 October 2026 at 11:50 PM on ugcnet.nta.nic.in. You upload a photo of 10-200KB and a signature of 10-50KB, and the form also captures a live photo. The fee must be paid by the same 28 October deadline, or you pay a Rs 500 late fee and apply by 31 October.
UGC NET form last date and correction window
The form is out, and the dates below come from NTA's public notice of 8 October 2026 and the Information Bulletin. NTA calls them tentative, so recheck the site before the last week.
| Step | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Apply online and pay the fee | 8 Oct to 28 Oct, till 11:50 PM |
| Late submission with Rs 500 late fee | 29 Oct to 31 Oct, till 11:50 PM |
| Correction in the form (online only) | 2 Nov to 4 Nov, till 11:50 PM |
| Exam city slip and admit card | To be intimated later |
| Computer based exam, 87 subjects | 14 Dec to 19 Dec |
Source: NTA, Public Notice of 8 October 2026 and Information Bulletin UGC-NET December 2026.
The fee is Rs 1,150 for General, Rs 600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL, and Rs 325 for SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates, plus gateway charges.
Photo, signature and certificate sizes
The signature limit is the part to watch. This bulletin says 10-50KB, so a signature file you saved for an earlier NTA form may be too small. Check its size in KB before you upload.
| Document | Format | File size (KB) | Dimensions | Other rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recent photograph | Format not stated; use JPG | 10-200 | Not given | Colour or black and white, white background, 80% of the face visible including ears, no mask |
| Live photograph | Captured on screen | Not given | Not given | Webcam, or scan the on-screen QR code with a phone or tablet; light background, good lighting |
| Signature | Format not stated; use JPG | 10-50 | Not given | Your own signature, not anyone else's |
| Disability or UDID certificate | 50-300 | Not given | Only for PwD candidates; must be clearly legible |
Source: NTA, Information Bulletin UGC-NET December 2026 (as on 8 October 2026), Step 2 of the application procedure. The bulletin gives no pixel size for any upload.
Crop your face and fix the white background with the photo resizer, then clean a phone picture of your signature with the signature resizer. Check the final KB before you upload, because the photo needs at least 10KB. Downloading the result needs a free Google sign-in.
Photo and signature, set to the bulletin ranges
Photo JPG 10 to 200 KB, signature JPG 10 to 50 KB. The bulletin gives no pixel size, so your picture keeps its shape.
Runs in your browser. Your file never leaves your device. Open the full Resize Photo to 50 KB page
How do I fill the UGC NET form step by step?
- Register on ugcnet.nta.nic.in with your own email address and mobile number. NTA sends every update there. The bulletin also lets you sign in through Meri Pehchaan.
- Complete the form and write down the application number the system generates.
- Switch on your webcam when the live photo step comes. If your device has no webcam, scan the QR code on screen with your phone.
- Upload the photograph, the signature and, if you claim PwD status, the disability or UDID certificate as PDF.
- Pay the fee by card, net banking or UPI. The Confirmation Page appears only after a successful payment.
- Download the Confirmation Page and keep two to five printed copies. You do not post anything to NTA.
The three steps can be done at different times, but the form counts as complete only after steps 2 and 3. A form with the upload or the fee missing is rejected.
Documents to keep ready
- Your own email ID and mobile number, both working until the result.
- A photo and signature saved as separate files, within the sizes above.
- The PwD or UDID certificate as a PDF of 50-300KB, if it applies.
- Your qualification and category details, typed exactly as on your certificates.
Your Aadhaar photo matters too. NTA advises you to update the photo, name and date of birth on Aadhaar before applying, and to use Aadhaar verification in the form where possible. It says this speeds up checks at the exam centre and the JRF processing.
The bulletin says no change is allowed after final submission, except in the online correction window. NTA does not accept corrections by post, fax, WhatsApp, email or by hand.
If the live photo or upload fails
The most common cause is the camera angle. Sit in front of a window or a light, keep the camera at eye level, and make sure both ears are visible. Take off your mask, and keep a plain light wall behind you. If the file upload says the size is wrong, check the size in KB on your phone's file details: the portal rejects files below the minimum as well as above the maximum.
For a photo that is too big, bring it under 200KB by lowering quality, not by shrinking the face. Our guide to resizing a photo for exam forms covers that, and the signature scanning guide shows how to get a clean signature on white paper. For the sister exam running at the same time, see the CSIR NET December 2026 application guide.
Checklist before you submit
- Photo between 10 and 200KB, ears visible, white background.
- Signature between 10 and 50KB, your own.
- Email and mobile are yours, and you can open both.
- Category and PwD status are right. NTA treats them as final after the correction period.
- Fee paid and Confirmation Page downloaded.
- One application only. The notice allows a single application per candidate.
For other exams, the all-exams photo and signature size list has the usual limits side by side.
Tools for this
Frequently asked questions
Is the UGC NET December 2026 form out yet?
Yes. NTA opened the online application on 8 October 2026 on ugcnet.nta.nic.in. It closes on 28 October 2026 at 11:50 PM. Apply only on the official site, because NTA accepts no other mode.
UGC NET ka form kaise bhare?
Register with your own email and mobile number, fill the form, capture the live photo, upload the photo and signature, pay the fee and download the Confirmation Page. All three parts must be completed for the form to count.
What documents are needed for the UGC NET form?
A recent photo (10-200KB), your signature (10-50KB) and, for PwD candidates, a disability or UDID certificate as a PDF of 50-300KB. Keep your qualification and category details ready to type exactly as on your certificates.
When is the UGC NET form correction window, and can I edit after submitting?
The notice gives 2 November to 4 November 2026, until 11:50 PM, online only. Outside that window NTA does not edit anything, and category and PwD status are treated as final after it. Corrections sent by post, fax, WhatsApp, email or by hand are not accepted. The dates are tentative.
What are the UGC NET December 2026 form apply date and exam date?
You can apply from 8 October to 28 October 2026 (till 11:50 PM), or up to 31 October with a Rs 500 late fee. The computer based exam is scheduled for 14 to 19 December 2026. NTA calls these dates tentative and will announce any change.
What is the UGC NET form fee amount?
General is Rs 1,150, General-EWS and OBC-NCL are Rs 600, and SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates pay Rs 325, plus gateway charges. Fees once paid are not refunded.
Can a final-year Master's student apply for UGC NET?
Yes. The bulletin lets candidates pursuing a Master's degree, or whose final-year result is awaited, apply. They are admitted provisionally and become eligible for JRF or Assistant Professor only after passing the Master's with the required marks, within the time the bulletin gives. Read the eligibility section of the bulletin for your category.
Sources
- NTA, Public Notice: Opening of the online registration portal for UGC-NET December 2026 (8 October 2026) (checked 2026-10)
- NTA, Information Bulletin UGC-NET December 2026 (as on 08.10.2026) (checked 2026-10)
Rules and limits change. Always check the latest official notification or portal before you submit a form.