Recruitment guide
UGC NET 2026 Subject Wise & Category Wise Cut Offs: A — Explained
Planning for UGC NET 2026? This guide breaks down subject-wise and category-wise cut-offs for JRF & Assistant Professor to help you prepare effectively.
UGC NET 2026 aspirants need a clear understanding of subject-wise and category-wise cut-off marks to effectively plan their preparation. Achieving the minimum qualifying marks is just the first step; the actual cut-off determines selection for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) positions.
Quick Overview: UGC NET 2026 Cut Offs
- Exam Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Purpose: Eligibility for Assistant Professor and/or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)
- Qualifying Marks: 40% for General, 35% for OBC/SC/ST/PwD (aggregate of both papers)
- Cut-Off Basis: Determined post-exam based on subject, category, number of candidates, and difficulty
- Selection Rate: Top 6% of candidates who appear in both papers and secure minimum marks qualify for Assistant Professor
- JRF Selection: A subset of the top 6% (approx. 1% of total appearing candidates) qualifies for JRF
- Official Website: ugcnet.nta.ac.in
What is the UGC NET Exam?
The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is a national-level examination. It assesses candidates' eligibility for 'Assistant Professor' positions and 'Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor' in Indian universities and colleges. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts this exam twice a year, typically in June and December.
How are UGC NET Cut-Offs Determined?
UGC NET cut-offs are complex, involving multiple factors and a specific methodology. The NTA employs a multi-stage process:
- Minimum Qualifying Marks: Candidates must first secure the minimum aggregate percentage in both Paper I and Paper II combined.
- Top 6% Rule: Among the candidates who meet the minimum qualifying criteria, only the top 6% of the total candidates who appeared in the exam (across all subjects and categories) are declared NET qualified for Assistant Professor.
- Subject-wise & Category-wise Merit: From this top 6%, separate merit lists are prepared for each subject and category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD). The cut-off percentage for each specific subject and category is then derived from these lists.
- JRF Quota: A further subset, approximately 1% of the total candidates who appeared, is selected for JRF from those who qualified for Assistant Professor, based on higher merit.
- Percentile Method: When exams are conducted in multiple shifts for the same subject, the raw marks are converted into percentile scores to ensure fairness and normalize the difficulty levels across shifts. The cut-off is then based on these percentile scores.
What are the UGC NET Qualifying Marks for 2026?
The minimum qualifying marks are the baseline a candidate must achieve to be considered for eligibility. These are fixed percentages, unlike cut-offs which fluctuate. Meeting these marks does not guarantee qualification, but failing to meet them ensures disqualification.
UGC NET Minimum Qualifying Percentage (Aggregate of Paper I & Paper II)
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Percentage |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved / EWS | 40% (80 out of 200 marks in Paper I + 120 out of 300 marks in Paper II = 200 out of 500 total) |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC - NCL) | 35% (70 out of 200 marks in Paper I + 105 out of 300 marks in Paper II = 175 out of 500 total) |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 35% (70 out of 200 marks in Paper I + 105 out of 300 marks in Paper II = 175 out of 500 total) |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 35% (70 out of 200 marks in Paper I + 105 out of 300 marks in Paper II = 175 out of 500 total) |
| Persons with Disability (PwD) | 35% (70 out of 200 marks in Paper I + 105 out of 300 marks in Paper II = 175 out of 500 total) |
These percentages apply to the aggregate score from both Paper I (General Paper) and Paper II (Subject Paper).
UGC NET Previous Year Cut-Offs: Subject-Wise & Category-Wise (Illustrative Data)
Understanding past cut-off trends is crucial for setting realistic preparation goals for UGC NET 2026. While actual 2026 cut-offs will vary, previous cycles like December 2023 and June 2023 provide valuable insights. The cut-offs are released in percentile for subjects conducted in multiple shifts and in percentage for single-shift subjects.
Below are illustrative cut-off percentages based on recent UGC NET cycles for a few popular subjects. These figures represent the minimum score required in the respective categories to qualify. Please note: These are examples and actual 2026 cut-offs will differ.
UGC NET JRF & Assistant Professor Cut-Offs (Illustrative Percentages/Percentiles)
| Subject | Category | JRF & Assistant Professor (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | General | 68.00% | |||
| Economics | OBC (NCL) | 63.33% | |||
| Economics | SC | 58.67% | |||
| Commerce | General | 99.90 Percentile | |||
| Commerce | OBC (NCL) | 99.50 Percentile | |||
| Commerce | SC | 98.00 Percentile | |||
| English | General | 99.80 Percentile | |||
| English | OBC (NCL) | 99.20 Percentile | |||
| English | SC | 97.00 Percentile | |||
| Political Science | General | 99.85 Percentile | |||
| Political Science | OBC (NCL) | 99.30 Percentile | |||
| Political Science | SC | 97.50 Percentile | |||
| Computer Science & Applications | General | 63.33% | |||
| Computer Science & Applications | OBC (NCL) | 59.33% | Computer Science & Applications | SC | 54.00% |
UGC NET Assistant Professor Only Cut-Offs (Illustrative Percentages/Percentiles)
| Subject | Category | Assistant Professor Only (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | General | 60.67% |
| Economics | OBC (NCL) | 55.33% |
| Economics | SC | 50.00% |
| Commerce | General | 98.00 Percentile |
| Commerce | OBC (NCL) | \
