About NTA UGC NET

What is  National Testing Agency (NTA)?

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), which is now known as Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India (GOI) has established the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an independent, autonomous, and self-sustained premier testing organization under the Societies Registration Act (1860) for conducting efficient, transparent and international standards tests in order to assess the competency of candidates for admissions to premier higher education institutions.

What is University Grants Commission (UGC)?

The University Grant Commission (UGC) is a Statuary Body of Government of India, Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education, constituted under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), vested with two responsibilities: that of providing funds and that of coordination, determination and maintenance of standards in institutions of higher education. The UGC`s mandate includes:

o Promoting and coordinating university education.

o Determining and maintaining standards of teaching, examination and research in universities.

o Framing regulations on minimum standards of education.

o Monitoring developments in the field of collegiate and university education; disbursing grants to the universities and colleges.

o Serving as a vital link between the Union and state governments and institutions of higher learning.

o Advising the Central and State governments on the measures necessary for improvement of university education.

How many terms of Exam?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has been entrusted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) with the task of conducting UGC-NET, which is a Test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for ‘Assistant Professor’ as well as ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor’ in Indian Universities and Colleges. The UGC-NET is being conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode w.e.f. December 2018 onwards.

UGC-NET is conducted twice every year (June & December). In order to regularize the UGC-NET examination cycle, the National Testing Agency (NTA), with the concurrence of UGC is conducting UGC NET June 2023 in 83 subjects, at selected cities across the country.

What are the types of Fellowship?

Awarding of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and/ or Eligibility for Assistant Professorship depends on the aggregate performance of the candidate in Paper-I and Paper-II of UGC-NET. The selection of candidates for the following Fellowships of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Minorities Affairs is also made through the UGC-NET:

  • National      Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC)
  • National      Fellowship for Scheduled Tribe Students (NFST)
  • National      Fellowship for Other Backward Classes (NFOBC)
  • National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities      (NFPwD)
  • Maulana      Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students (MANF)

Candidates aspiring for the Fellowships listed above, shall also have to apply for the UGC NET Test.

The candidates qualifying only for Assistant Professorship are not eligible to be considered for the award of JRF. Candidates who qualify the eligibility test for Assistant Professorship are governed by the rules and regulations of the concerned Universities/Colleges/State Governments, as the case may be for recruitment of Assistant Professor.

What are the mode of Examination?

Mode of Examination

The Examination shall be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode only.

Medium of Question Paper

(i) The medium of Question Paper shall be in English & Hindi only except language papers.

(ii)  In case of any ambiguity in translation/construction of a question in the exam, its English version shall be treated as final and the decision of NTA shall be final in this regard.

Pattern of Examination

The Test will consist of two papers. Both the papers will consist of objective type, multiple choice questions. There will be no break between papers.

 In Paper-1 and Paper-2, a total of 50 questions and 100 questions are asked respectively.

Marking Scheme

(a) Each question carries 02 (two) marks.

(b) For each correct response, candidate will get 02 (two) marks.

(c) There is no negative marking for incorrect response.

What are Eligibility Criteria?

Eligibility Criteria

General/Unreserved/General-EWS candidates who have secured at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s Degree or equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC in Humanities and Social Science (including languages), Computer Science and Applications, Electronic Science etc. are eligible for this Test.

The Other Backward Classes (OBC) belonging to Non-Creamy Layer/Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Persons with Disability (PwD)/Third gender category candidates who have secured at least 50% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s degree or equivalent examination are eligible for this Test.

PhD degree holder who has completed Master’s level examination with 50 % marks (without rounding off) on or after 19 September 1991.

Age Limit and Relaxation

o JRF:Not more than 30 years as on 1st day of the month in which the examination is concluded i.e., 01.06.2023. A relaxation of upto 5 years is provided to the candidates belonging to OBC-NCL (as per the Central list of OBC available on website: www.ncbc.nic.in) /SC/ST/PwD/Third gender categories and to women applicants.

o Relaxation will also be provided to the candidates with research experience, limited to the period spent on research in the relevant / related subject of post-graduation degree, subject to a maximum of 5 years, on production of a certificate from appropriate authority, which should be a recognized Indian university/Institute of National Importance/foreign university which is duly approved/recognized/accredited in its own Country/Public Sector Undertaking of Government of India/State Government in India. The research should not have been carried out towards completion of graduation or post-graduation degree(s).

o Three years relaxation in age will be permissible to the candidates with L.L.M. degree. A relaxation of upto 5 years is provided to the candidates who have served in the armed forces subject to the length of service in the armed forces upto the first day of the month in which the concerned UGC-NET is, conducted, i.e., 01.06.2023. Total age relaxation on the above ground(s) shall not exceed five years under any circumstances.

Assistant Professor: There is no upper age limit in applying for UGC-NET for Assistant Professor.

What are Rewards and Benefits?

NET JRF Rewards and Benefits

The fellowship amount and duration can be extended if the research work has been observed as satisfactory by the concerned department of the college or university. The UGC revised rates of fellowship amount are as follows.

  • INR 37,000/- (+ HRA 2500-5000 Based on Institution) per month will be given to each Junior Fellow for the first 2 years.
  • INR 42,000/- (+ HRA 2500-5000 Based on Institution) per month will be given for remaining tenure (SRF).

Contingency A - Humanities and Social Sciences

  • INR 10,000 per year for the first two years (JRF).
  • INR 20,500 per year for the remaining tenure (SRF).

Contingency B - Science

  • INR 12,000 per year will be given for two years (JRF).
  • INR 25,000 per annum for the remaining tenure (SRF).

Reader Assistance/ Escorts

  • For blind candidates and physically handicapped, INR 2,000 per month shall be granted as a special allowance.

HRA

  • In case the accommodation is provided by the host institution, rent paid by the candidate shall be reimbursed as per the government of India norms.
  • The fellow may be entitled to draw HRA on the basis of the categorization of cities if he or she makes their own arrangement of accommodation.
  • HRA is not permissible for hostellers. However, candidates are only eligible to draw hostel fees excluding electricity, water, mess charges, etc.
  • No separate medical assistance is provided.
  • In addition to public holidays, 30 days of leave per year will be granted to each fellow.
  • Maternity/ Paternity leaves will be given as per government rules.
  • Intermittent Break of one year will be given to eligible women candidates, this can be availed 3 times during the fellowship.
  • One year of academic leave without fellowship is permissible throughout the tenure.

Note: Expenditure on any foreign visit in connection with research work will not be reimbursed from UGC.

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