UGC NET Previous Year Papers 2026 — Free PDF Download (June + Dec Cycles)
UGC NET 2026: Download previous year papers (June + Dec cycles 2018–2025) free PDF, paper-1 + 83 subjects. Latest pattern, exam dates, syllabus, and how to use past papers to score 90+ percentile.
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Quick summary. The UGC National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is conducted by NTA twice a year — June and December cycles. Previous-year question papers from 2018 to December 2025 (16 cycles) are freely available as PDF on the NTA UGC NET portal — covering Paper 1 (General Aptitude) and all 83 subject papers. The exam is now fully Computer-Based Test (CBT) and offers three categories of qualification: JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) + Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor only, and (since 2024) PhD admission. Using past papers strategically — full mock simulation + topic-wise repetition tracking — is the single highest-leverage prep technique for cracking NET in the 99-percentile band.
UGC NET is the qualifying exam for JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) and Assistant Professor posts in Indian universities and colleges. Since June 2024, NET also serves as the PhD admission test for university PhD programmes — replacing university-specific entrance tests in many institutes. The exam is conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) under the UGC.
Exam pattern
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total duration | 3 hours (180 min) |
| Paper 1 — General Aptitude | 50 questions × 2 marks = 100 marks |
| Paper 2 — Subject-specific (one of 83) | 100 questions × 2 marks = 200 marks |
| Total | 150 questions / 300 marks |
| Marking | +2 correct, 0 negative |
| Languages | English + Hindi |
| Single-shift | Both papers in one combined session |
Previous year papers — download links
NTA hosts all previous papers + answer keys on the official portal. Direct subject-wise PDFs:
| Cycle | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | 2024 | Cancelled and re-conducted; both versions available |
| Dec 2024 | 2024 | Available |
| June 2025 | 2025 | Available |
| Dec 2025 | 2025 | Available |
| June 2026 | 2026 | Pending — exam typically in June 2026 |
Earlier years (June 2018 to Dec 2023) are also archived on ugcnet.nta.ac.in under Question Papers / Answer Keys. Each cycle has Paper 1 + 83 subject PDFs.
How to download
- Visit ugcnet.nta.ac.in → Public Notice → Question Papers and Answer Keys.
- Pick the cycle (e.g., December 2025).
- Choose Paper 1 (mandatory for all candidates) + your subject paper.
- PDF opens; download or print.
Top 10 Most Important Subjects (by candidate count)
| Rank | Subject | Approximate appearance per cycle |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commerce | 1.2 lakh |
| 2 | Education | 95,000 |
| 3 | History | 75,000 |
| 4 | Economics | 65,000 |
| 5 | Political Science | 60,000 |
| 6 | English | 55,000 |
| 7 | Hindi | 45,000 |
| 8 | Sociology | 40,000 |
| 9 | Public Administration | 38,000 |
| 10 | Management | 32,000 |
How to use past papers strategically
1. Full-mock simulation (last 4 cycles)
Sit a 3-hour timed mock with the most recent paper, in CBT-like environment. Score it; identify Paper-1 gaps + subject gaps separately. Repeat for the previous 3 cycles. This gives you a baseline score and a clear weakness list.
2. Topic-wise repetition tracking
Tabulate which Paper-1 topics appeared in how many of the last 8 cycles. Topics that appear in 6+ cycles are high-yield — focus your last 30 days here. Sample Paper-1 high-yield topics:
| Paper-1 topic | Cycles featured (out of last 8) |
|---|---|
| Research Aptitude — types, methodology, ethics | 8 |
| Reasoning — verbal + analytical | 8 |
| Communication | 7 |
| Maths Reasoning + DI | 8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 8 |
| Higher Education System | 7 |
| ICT — basic computer + internet | 7 |
| People & Environment | 6 |
| Teaching Aptitude | 8 |
| Logical Reasoning | 7 |
3. Subject-wise repetition tracking
For your subject paper, do the same exercise. Identify the 5–8 chapters that appear in every cycle and master them first. Then expand to next-tier chapters.
4. Answer-key analysis
After NTA releases the provisional answer key (1–3 days after the exam), match against the final answer key (released after objection-window of 2 days). The changed answers indicate disputed questions — these are your “common-error traps”. Practice these specifically.
5. Topic-mapped revision
Build a revision table mapping each chapter → number of questions that appeared in last 8 cycles → your accuracy. Revise low-accuracy + high-frequency topics first.
Qualifying cut-off categories
To qualify NET (any category), you must:
- Score at least 40% in Paper 1 + Paper 2 combined for General candidates (35% for OBC/SC/ST/PWD).
- Be in the top 6% of all qualified candidates in your subject for Assistant Professor.
- Be in the top 6% AND meet additional cut-off for JRF eligibility.
The exact cut-off varies by subject and cycle — past trends:
| Category | Total marks (out of 300) for AP qualification |
|---|---|
| General | 175–190 |
| OBC | 165–180 |
| SC | 150–170 |
| ST | 145–165 |
JRF cut-off is typically 10–15 marks higher than the AP cut-off for the same subject and category.
Exam dates and notification
| Cycle | Notification | Application | Exam | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Expected April 2026 | April–May 2026 | June 2026 (late June, 1 week) | August 2026 |
| Dec 2026 | Expected October 2026 | October–November 2026 | December 2026 | February 2027 |
The June 2024 cycle had to be cancelled and re-conducted in August 2024 due to security concerns; both versions of papers are available on the portal.
Frequently asked questions
1. Are UGC NET previous papers free?
2. How many years' papers should I solve?
3. Is NET PhD admission compulsory now?
4. What is the difference between JRF and Assistant Professor qualification?
5. Is there negative marking in UGC NET?
6. Can I use a calculator?
7. What happens if NET June 2026 gets cancelled?
8. How is NET different from CSIR NET?
Official links
Disclaimer. SarkariBaba is an independent information publisher. Always check ugcnet.nta.ac.in for the latest information bulletin, exam dates and syllabus before depending on this article for preparation timelines.
