The UGC NET is an exam used to determine a person’s eligibility for assistant professorships and junior research fellowships in Indian colleges and universities. The National Testing Agency administers the exam on behalf of the UGC or University Grants Commission.
The UGC NET consists of two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates may download the syllabus from the official site of UGC before beginning the exam registration and process.
Stages of the UGC NET exam
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1. Fill out the form
The first step is filling out the registration form. Candidates are required to fill out the registration form by uploading their photographs and signature.
2. Download the admit card
The next step is to download the admit card, which is released a few days before the exam.
3. Appear for Paper 1 and Paper 2
The UGC NET exam comprises two papers: Paper 1, which is a General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude, and Paper 2, which is subject-specific. All candidates need to appear for Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates must finish both UGC NET papers in a total of three hours. There is no extra time provided.
UGC NET Paper 1
Paper 1 is a 50-question objective test. The applicant will receive +2 marks for each correct answer; there are no negative marks for incorrect responses. It is the combined marks of both Paper 1 and Paper 2 that contribute to the final result. It is still preferable for the candidate to aim to achieve the highest marks in Paper 1, since this paper is comparatively easy.
UGC NET Paper 2
- Paper 2 comprises 100 questions with the same criteria as Paper 1; i.e. +2 for each right answer and no negative marks for incorrect answers.
- The syllabus of UGC NET Paper 2 is the entire graduation and post-graduation curriculum of the subject.
Please keep in mind that Paper 1 and Paper 2 will be set in both English and Hindi. A candidate who is taking the exam must obtain minimal marks on each paper as well as the overall.
4. Result
The final phase is the result. The UGC NET passing marks for the General category are 40% in Papers1 and 2, whereas the qualifying marks for the other categories are 35% in Papers 1 and 2.
Candidates scoring qualifying marks pass the NET exam, whereas others fail.
Career scope after qualifying in UGC NET
The NET score is an important criterion for admission to junior and senior research fellowship (JRF and SRF) programmes or to apply for UGC NET assistant professor positions at various institutions and colleges across India.
However, JRF and lectureship positions are not the only alternatives for a career. For eligible individuals, there are a variety of UGC NET jobs available.
- Candidates can opt to be research scholars at one of India’s universities.
- Another opportunity for UGC NET qualified applicants is working as an assistant professor or lecturer at any Indian university. Applicants have enormous opportunities in teaching and academic departments.
- The UGC NET scores provide access to a variety of lucrative public-sector employment. Candidates who want to work in any government organisation can use their NET scorecard to gain entry.
- Other career opportunities after qualifying for UGC NET are:
- Program executive
- Transmission executive
- Author
- Centre manager
- IP lead
- Lab trainer
- Guest faculty
- Consultant
- Coaching tutor
We recommend you visit BYJU’S Exam Prep website for detailed updates and information on the UGC NET exam. BYJU’S Exam Prep is India’s biggest platform for students and learners. So, if you are an aspiring UGC NET candidate, and looking for continuous updates, notifications, tips and guidance, make sure to visit the website regularly.
