New Delhi, December 20, 2025: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the detailed subject-wise schedule for the UGC NET December 2025 cycle. Aspiring candidates for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professorship can now access the complete timetable on the official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
According to the notification, the examination is set to commence on December 31, 2025, and will conclude on January 7, 2026. This national-level eligibility test will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across 85 subjects.
UGC NET December 2025: Key Dates and Timings
The NTA has planned the examination in two shifts daily (except for the opening day) to accommodate the large number of applicants.
| Event | Date / Details |
| Exam Start Date | December 31, 2025 |
| Exam End Date | January 7, 2026 |
| Shift 1 Timing | 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Shift 2 Timing | 03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
| City Intimation Slip | Expected by December 21, 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | Expected 3–4 days before the exam date |
Subject-Wise Schedule Highlights
The NTA has organized the 85 subjects based on candidate density and logistical requirements. Below are the dates for some of the major subjects:
December 31, 2025 (Shift I Only)
The exam begins with specialized subjects including:
- Law (058)
- Social Work (010)
- Telugu (027)
- Spanish (040)
- Kashmiri (084)
January 2, 2026
- Shift I: Computer Science & Applications (087), Library & Info Science (059), Urdu (028).
- Shift II: Sociology (005), Psychology (004), Philosophy (003), Yoga (100).
January 3, 2026
- Shift I: Commerce (008), Sanskrit (025), Criminology (068).
- Shift II: Geography (080), Education (009), Indian Culture (050).
January 5, 2026
- Shift I: English (030), Anthropology (007), French (039).
- Shift II: History (006), Visual Arts (079), Archaeology (067).
January 6, 2026
- Shift I: Political Science (002), Defence & Strategic Studies (011).
- Shift II: Hindi (020), Tamil (026), Mass Communication & Journalism (063).
January 7, 2026
- Shift I: Economics (001), Management (017), Public Administration (014).
- Shift II: Environmental Sciences (089), Home Science (012), Physical Education (047).
Admit Card and City Intimation
The Exam City Intimation Slip is expected to be released around December 21, 2025. This document allows candidates to know their assigned city in advance to make travel arrangements. However, the Admit Card, which contains the specific exam center address and reporting time, will be released 3 to 4 days before the candidate’s respective exam date.
Note: Candidates must carry a printed copy of the Admit Card and a valid Government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, etc.) to the exam center.
Preparation and Exam Day Guidelines
With the dates now fixed, candidates should focus on final revisions and mock tests. Since the exam follows a No Negative Marking policy, experts recommend attempting all questions.
The NTA has advised candidates to:
- Verify their subject code and shift timing carefully from the official PDF.
- Report to the center at least 90 minutes before the exam starts (7:30 AM for Shift 1 and 1:30 PM for Shift 2).
- Regularly monitor the NTA website for any last-minute changes or emergency notices.

