Are you ready to take the UGC NET December 2025 examination? You must be aware of the entire exam structure including syllabus, marking, and strategy to be successful. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared they will conduct the UGC NET examination for the month of December will take place between the 31st of December, 2025 and 7th of January 2026 using a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. This test is a entry point towards Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor positions at Indian colleges and universities.
The test consists of two sections: Paper 1 (General Teaching and Research Aptitude) comprising 50 questions that carry 100 marks and Paper 2 (Subject-specific) comprising 100 questions carry 200 marks. Understanding the syllabus in detail and marking system is essential because it allows you to concentrate your study on the most relevant areas and devise a logical method of study that increases the chances of scoring high marks.
UGC NET December 2025
It is the UGC NET December 2025 follows the comprehensive structure of the exam that is designed to test your general ability and specific understanding. The test will be conducted using Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode with a single exam of three hours, with no breaks between examinations. The test will consist of 150 objective multiple-choice questions spread over two papers. Paper 1 is a general test that is common to all applicants as Paper 2 is focused on your selected area of specialization. The test is offered to you in the English as well as Hindi languages, which allows candidates to choose the preferred language when you apply. This format ensures a fair evaluation of your ability to teach as well as your research abilities and your expertise in the chosen field.
UGC NET December 2025 Overview
| Exam Details | Information |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Dates | December 31, 2025 to January 7, 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Papers | 2 (Paper 1 + Paper 2) |
| Total Questions | 150 (Paper 1: 50, Paper 2: 100) |
| Total Marks | 300 (Paper 1: 100, Paper 2: 200) |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours (No breaks between the papers) |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Marking Scheme | 2 Marks for correct responses. There is no negative marking |
| Languages | English and Hindi |
| Official Website | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus
Paper 1, a mandatory general exam which tests your teaching skills, research abilities, reasoning skills and comprehension abilities. This test is mandatory for all candidates, regardless of their specialization in a particular subject. The syllabus is broken down into ten sections that test key skills that include analytical thinking communications skills and general awareness that are relevant to higher education.
Teaching Aptitude
This module focuses on the nature and goals of teaching, the characteristics of learners as well as individual and different learning styles. It is important to know the various methods of teaching, including lecture demonstration, discussion as well as evaluation methods that include summative and formative assessment. This section also covers teaching aids, both traditional and contemporary, as well as aspects that affect teaching, such as institutional, psychological, as well as social factors.
Research Aptitude
Research aptitude is based on methods that include qualitative and mixed methods. It is important to understand the stages of research, from the identification of problems to the formulation of hypotheses and research ethics, which includes intellectual property rights and plagiarism. The syllabus covers different types of research like basic, applied and experimental research in addition to methods for sampling and data analysis.
Communication and Comprehension
The section on communication covers the non-verbal, verbal and written communication styles, Communication barriers, efficient communication strategies. The test tests reading comprehension capacity to comprehend and interpret texts and vocabulary, including synonyms and antonyms as well as the ability to infer.
Reasoning and Data Interpretation
Mathematical and logical reasoning covers the basics of mathematics, number systems codes-decoding, and series-related problems. Data interpretation is covered by charts, graphs tables, and cases study analysis. You must be familiar with relationships with your blood seating arrangements, seat layouts, and directions regularly.
ICT and Higher Education System
Information and Communication Technology covers the basics of email, internet digital tools and ICT in education, including platforms for e-learning. The section on higher education includes regulatory bodies such as UGC, AICTE, NAAC as well as policies for education, such as NEP 2020 and universities of higher education.
UGC NET Paper 2 Syllabus
Paper 2 is a subject-specific test that examines your understanding of the area you chose when you applied. It is comprised of 85 topics to choose from and Ayurveda Biology being newly introduced as an additional subject starting the end of December 2024. The syllabus is different across subjects and includes particular questions for each subject in your area of expertise.
Subject Selection
You can pick from a variety of subjects offered by UGC which range from humanities to commerce and sciences. Each subject comes with an individual syllabus that covers deep topics in that specific subject.
Marking Scheme Details
This UGC NET December 2025 follows an approach to marking that encourages students to attempt every question. Every correct answer earns you two marks. There is no negative marking for wrong answers. There are no marks awarded for incomplete, unanswered questions or questions that are marked for review.
Special Marking Conditions
If a question is posed with multiple correct answer Two points will be given to those who scored any of the correct choices. If all choices are to be correct 2 marks will be awarded to all candidates who tried to answer the question. In the event that no answer is correct or the question is dropped due mistakes 2 points will be given to each candidate who took the test.
Normalization Process
Since the exam is scheduled over a number of shifts and days, raw scores are normalized to ensure fairness throughout all sessions. A percentile score can be calculated by using an equation: (Number of applicants scoring at or below your score / Total number of candidates during that shift) 100.
It is believed that the UGC NET December 2025 exam offers a unique chance for you to get a qualification for highly prestigious research and academic jobs in Indian colleges of higher learning. With the exam being held between the 31st of December, 2025 until January 7th, 2026, you will have a timetable to be prepared in a systematic manner in preparation for Paper 1 as well as Paper 2. The positive marking pattern without negative marking will help you tackle each question confidently, and the extensive syllabus that covers the teaching ability, research methodology and specific knowledge of the subject will ensure an accurate assessment of your academic abilities.
Clearing this exam will lead for Junior Research Fellowship with monthly salary stipends as well as Assistant Professor positions which is why it is important to understand the entire syllabus structure and devising efficient strategies to prepare for the exam for maximum performance.
FAQ’s
Did UGC NET syllabus has been revised in Dec. 2025?
The UGC NET syllabus for 2025 has been revised in accordance with NEP 2020 guidelines with enhanced focus on research methodology and the ability to teach. The authority has added new concepts in a few subjects and also added Ayurveda Biology as a new subject.
What is the distribution of weightage of UGC NET Paper 1 topics?
Paper 1 has 10 sections with five questions each, with an importance of 10 marks for each sections. The subjects comprise Teaching Aptitude and Research Aptitude Comprehension, Communication, Mathematical Reasoning, Logical reasoning, Data Interpretation, ICT, People & Environment and Higher Education System.
There is any changes to the marking scheme for UGC NET December 2025?
The marking system is unchanged with +2 marks per correct answer, and no negative markings for incorrect responses. There are a total of 300 marks and normalization is applied across various shifts to ensure fair assessment.
Hi, I’m Harikesh, a content writer at cgncollege.com. I write engaging and informative articles covering the latest news, India, and global updates. My goal is to keep readers informed with accurate and insightful stories from around the world.
