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NET & SET Exams 2026: Exam Date, Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Anshika

Feb 5, 2026

Every year, UGC NET & SET exams are conducted to recruit Assistant Professors and Junior Research Fellowship in Indian Universities and Colleges. Back in 2018, CBSE was solely responsible for NET exam, but now the National Testing Agency (NTA) is in charge on behalf of the UGC (University Grants Commission). Candidates can watch the video to know about NET and SET Exam, Exam Date, Application Process, Exam Date, Admit Card, Answer Key, Syllabus, Result and many more related informations.

Most of the states conduct SET similar to UGC NET to recruit the Assistant Professor. The biggest difference between NET & SET exams is the number of subjects offered for the exam. NET is more centralised in nature as it is applicable all over the country. 

Candidates can check the proper schedule of UGC NET & SET Exams for the year 2026 from the table below:

Particulars Important Exam Dates
UGC NET Exam 2026 To be announced
Karnataka SET Exam To be announced
Maharashtra SET Exam  To be announced
Andhra Pradesh SET Exam To be announced
Tamil Nadu SET Exam To be announced
Kerala TET Exam 2026 To be announced
West Bengal SET Exam To be announced
RPSC Assistant Professor Exam 2026 To be announced
Gujarat SET Exam  To be announced
OPSC Assistant Professor Exam 2026 To be announced
KSET (Karnataka State Eligibility Test) To be announced 
UPTET (Uttar Pradesh  Teacher Eligibility Test) To be announced
Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) To be announced
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR UGC NET) To be announced
Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board National Eligibility Test (ASRB NET) To be Announced
Registration Process

UGC NET & SET Registration Process 2026

If you are looking for UGC NET & SET Exam 2026, then you must be aware of the registration process of the same. The steps to register for UGC NET & SET 2026 exam is mentioned below:

  1. Visit the official website of UGC NET
  2. Now, log in with your credentials.
  3. Fill the application form with the important details and submit it.
  4. Pay the application fee online.
  5. Take the print-out of the application receipt.
UGC NET 2026

UGC NET Exam 2026

It is one of the toughest exams in India. It is conducted twice a year (in June and December). It is conducted by NTA to recruit Assistant Professor & Junior Research Fellowship in UGC-approved Universities. The highlights of UGC NET Exam 2026 are as follows:

Particulars Details
Exam Mode Online 
Duration of Exam  3 hours
Number of papers 
Subjects Paper 1– General
Paper 2– Based on core subject
Weightage of Question 2 marks per question
Total Number of Questions 150
Negative Marking  NA

Candidates interested in NET Exam can follow the mentioned links to get the latest news and much more.

UGC Net vs CSIR Net

Similarities and Differences between UGC NET and CSIR NET

Following are the similarities and differences between UGC NET and CSIR NET mentioned in the table below:

Basis UGC NET/NET JRF CSIR NET
Exam Conducting Authority NTA CSIR
Educational Background Any Science
Qualification required Post Graduate B-Tech, BS, B-Pharm (4 Years Degree)
Upper age Limit 30 years 28 years
Exam Pattern Paper I, Paper 2 Part A, Part B & Part C
Subjects 81 5
Negative marking No Yes
Cut-off High Moderate
Career UGC Approved Universities CSIR Research Labs
Syllabus 2026

UGC NET & SET Syllabus 2026

Candidates should know the topics which are to be asked in the UGC NET & SET Exam. Knowing exact and important topics help candidates ace the exam. These topics are:

Section Topics
Teaching Aptitude
  • Teaching-Nature
  • Learner’s characteristics
  • Objectives and Basic requirements
  • Methods of Teaching
  • Factors Affecting Teaching
  • Teaching Aids
  • Evaluation Systems


Research Aptitude
  • Research-Meaning
  • Types and Characteristics
  • Steps of Research
  • Methods of Research
  • Research Ethics
  • Paper, Article
  • Conference & Seminar
D/B NET & SET

Difference Between NET & SET Exam

Many candidates get confused between NET & SET Exams, yet both are for recruitment for Assistant Professors or lecturers or researchers in any national or state-level institutions. 

There are some important differences between NET & SET Exam and candidates can understand them with the help of the table mentioned below:

Basis of Difference NET Exam SET Exam
Conducting Bodies It is a national level exam and is conducted by national bodies like NTA, UGC & ICAR.  It is a state-level exam and is conducted by state-controlled bodies. Mostly, every state has its own body that conducts this exam.
Frequency of the Exam UGC NET & CSIR NET is conducted twice a year while ASRB NET is conducted once a year. These exams are conducted once a year.
Purpose of the Exam Candidates who aspire to become lecturers or professors or Researchers at national or State level institutions should take up these exams. Candidates who aspire to become Assistant Professor or Lecturer in State-owned institutions should take up these exams.
Syllabus of the Exam UGC NET is conducted for 81 subjects. While CSIR NET is for science stream candidates and ASRB NET is for candidates who are interested in Agricultural Studies These are conducted by state-owned commissions and have their own syllabus. Candidates can check the syllabus of some of the exams from this article. 
Eligibility
  • The age limit is 30 years for JRF under UGC NET and 28 years for JRF under CSIR NET. For lectureship, there is no age limit.
  • There is no age limit for the ASRB NET Exam
  • A Master's Degree with at least 55 % from any recognised university for General Category and 50 % for the rest of the categories are acceptable for UGC NET & CSIR NET.
  • A Master's Degree from any of the recognised universities is required for ASRB NET.
  • There is no age limit.
  • Candidates have to score at least 55 % marks in their Master’s Degree from any University which is accredited by UGC.
Exam Pattern UGC NET:
  • It has two papers (Paper I & Paper II) and the duration will be 3 hours in total.
  • Paper I carries 100 marks and Paper II carries 200 marks.
  • There is no negative marking.
CSIR NET:
  • It has 3 different sections and the total duration is 3 hours in total.
  • Total marks will be 200. The marking scheme is different for each subject.
  • Negative Marking will be there and different for each subject.
ASRB NET:
  • It has only one paper with 150 MCQs in a total duration of 2 hours.
  • There is a negative marking in the ASRB NET exam.
  • It is also conducted in 2 papers (Paper I & Paper-II).
  • The duration of the exam is 3 hours in total on the same day or in two different sessions.
  • The paper consists of 150 objective type questions with a total mark of 300.
  • There is no negative marking.
Language of the Exam NET exams are available in English and Hindi.  SET Exams are available in state languages as well.
Exams Subjects 2026

UGC NET & SET Subjects 2026

The UGC NET & SET exams are conducted for many subjects for Paper 2. The UGC NET Paper 2 subject is a graduation subject. Check the list of subjects from the table below:

List of UGC NET & SET Subjects 
Commerce Urdu Psychology
Kannada Public Administration Philosophy
Economics Computer Science & Applications Social work
English Physical Sciences Women Studies
Political Science Mathematical Sciences Criminology
History Chemical Sciences Linguistics
Sociology Life Sciences Law
Geography Environmental Sciences Performing Arts
Hindi Home Science Sanskrit
Management Electronic Science Music
Tourism and Administration Earth Sciences Physical Education
Education Archaeology Visual Arts
Library & Information Science Anthropology Folk Literature
preparation Tips

How to Prepare for UGC NET & SET Exam 2026?

Candidates looking for UGC NET & SET Exam 2026 should make a study plan according to their own strengths and weaknesses. Important topics should be given priority. Follow a study plan and seek expert advice if necessary. 

Doing past papers and practise papers make candidates familiar with the exam anxiety. You can follow our study resources which have been tailored by the experts to conquer the exam.

GSET 2026

Gujarat State Eligibility Test (GSET) 2026 Exam

GSET exam is conducted once a year to recruit Assistant Professor & Lectureship in the state of Gujarat. The highlights of the GSET 2026 Exam is mentioned in the table below:

Particulars Details
Testing Agency Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara
Mode of exam Online
Duration of Exam 3 hours
Number of Papers 2 (Paper I & II)
Subjects 23
Total Questions 150
Negative Marking NA

Candidates interested in GPSC Exam can understand the Eligibility criteria and much more from the table below:

KSET 2026

Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) 2026 Exam

KSET is conducted annually for the post of Assistant Professor or Lectureship by the University of Mysore. The highlights of the Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) 2026 Exam are mentioned in the table below:

Particulars Details
Conducting Body University of Mysore
Mode of exam Online
Duration of exam Paper 1: 1 hour Paper 2: 2 hour
Subjects 41
Total Number of Questions Paper- I: 50 Paper-II: 100
Total Marks Paper- I: 100 Paper-II: 200
Negative Marking NA
MSET 2026

Maharashtra State Eligibility Test (MH SET) 2026 Exam

This exam is conducted by Savitribai Phule Pune University to recruit Assistant Professors and Lecturers. The highlights of MH SET Exam 2026 is as follows:

Particulars Details
Conducting Body Savitri Phule Pune University
Mode of exam Online
Duration of Exam Paper- I: 1 hour Paper-II: 2 hour
Number of Papers 2
Subjects 32
Total number of questions 50 (Paper- I) 100 (Paper-II)
Total Marks 100 (Paper-I) 200 (Paper-II)
Negative Marking NA

Candidates looking for exam pattern of CTET exam can refer to the table mentioned below:

Candidates looking for their dream opportunities in NET & SET Exams can go through the schedule and the eligibility criteria which is mentioned in this article. This article helps young aspirants to achieve their dreams. In case of any queries, candidates can drop their comments in the comment box down below. We will update the required section whenever the latest notification regarding any of the above-mentioned exams gets released.

NET & SET FAQs

NET & SET Exams 2026 FAQs

Ques: Who is eligible for NET Exam?

Ans: Candidates holding a post-graduation degree are eligible to apply for NET Exam 2026. Final-year postgraduate students may also apply subject to eligibility conditions.

Ques: How can one apply for NET Exam?

Ans: Candidates can apply for NET Exam through the official NTA website. The application process is completely online.

Ques: Why should one apply for NET Exam?

Ans: Qualifying NET Exam makes candidates eligible for Assistant Professor posts. It also provides an opportunity to apply for the Junior Research Fellowship across India.

Ques: How many times is NET Exam conducted in a year?

Ans: NET Exam is conducted twice every year. It is usually held in two separate sessions by NTA.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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