UGC NET December 2026: you can now apply until 11:50 pm on 31 October without the ₹500 late fee

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has given UGC NET December 2026 applicants three more days at the normal fee. In a public notice dated 27 October 2026, it moved the last date for the online form and for paying the fee to 31 October 2026, 11:50 pm, without any late fee.

What changed

Under the information bulletin, the regular window was to close on 28 October, and forms filed from 29 to 31 October were to carry an extra ₹500 late fee. The notice replaces that: the form and fee are now due by 31 October at the normal rate. NTA says every other term in the bulletin and its earlier notices stays the same.

What is left on the calendar

Step	Date
Online application and fee, no late fee	Until 31 October 2026, 11:50 pm
Correction window	2 to 4 November 2026 (until 11:50 pm)
Exam city slip	23 November 2026
Admit card	7 December 2026
Exam (computer based, 3 hours, no break between Paper 1 and Paper 2)	14 to 18 December and 21 December 2026

Fee

Category	Fee
General or unreserved	₹1,150
General-EWS, OBC-NCL	₹600
SC, ST, third gender	₹325
PwD or PwBD	₹325

Bank charges and GST are paid on top. The form counts only when the fee transaction succeeds, so check that you have a confirmation page, not just a submitted form.

What to do now: if your form is half done, finish it and pay before 11:50 pm on Saturday, 31 October, and do not leave it to the last hour. If you have already applied, note the 2 to 4 November correction window for any mistakes. Subjects, eligibility and the JRF rules are in our UGC NET December 2026 guide.

CareerBox News Desk, reporting on the National Testing Agency: its public notice of 27 October 2026 extending the UGC-NET December 2026 application deadline, read with the information bulletin. Official portal: ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Dates and eligibility change; confirm them on the official portal before you act.