For all those candidates seeking a career in the Teaching
or Research domain can give the University Grants Commission National
Eligibility Test (UGC NET) Exam and make their way towards achieving their
dream of being a teacher or professor. Since the UGC NET is taken in a wide
range of subjects, candidates interested in teaching jobs and want to become a
professor of their subject choices can opt for their desired career
destination. CBSE UGC NET is the exam through which an individual’s eligibility
to become a professor is tested. Candidates can easily get a job as lecturers
or researchers in the top Indian Universities & organizations by producing
their UGC NET certificate.
UGC NET is a national-level exam taken to determine
candidates’ eligibility for only Assistant Professor or both Junior Research
Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor posts in Indian universities and
colleges. Till mid-2018, CBSE arranged NET on behalf of UGC; but later from
December 2018 onwards, National Testing Agency (NTA) started organizing the UGC NET exam.
For the year 2021, the UGC NET exam dates have been revised by the NTA and the exam is scheduled to be held from October 6 to 8 and from October 17 to 19, 2021. The exam conducting agency combined UGC NET December 2020 and June 2021 exams to streamline the exam process, which was impacted due to COVID-19. Candidates preparing for the UGC NET exam can check detailed eligibility below.
Eligibility for UGC NET: Educational Qualification
Educational Qualification
Candidates acquiring a minimum of 55% marks in a master’s course or equivalent
from a recognized university in Humanities, Social Science, Computer Science
and Applications, Electronic Science, etc. can give the CBSE UGC NET exam.
However, candidates belonging to the reserved category can apply with a minimum score of 50% marks.
Final year students in their Master’s degree can also apply for the exam. However, it is mandatory to get a Master’s Degree with a minimum of 55% marks (50% marks for reserved category).
Candidates having a Ph.D. degree whose Master’s level examination was completed before September 19, 1991, will get 5% relaxation in aggregate marks.
Candidates are recommended to select the same NET subject for Paper 2 in which they are specialized and completed their PG. But if a particular PG subject is not included in the list of 81 NET subjects, candidates can choose another subject.
All details concerning UGC NET 2021 Age Limit for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professorship are mentioned underneath.
Junior Research Fellow (JRF) Eligibility
Candidates must not be more than 31 years as of October 1, 2021.
Candidates belonging to the reserved category, Transgenders, and women candidates are provided a relaxation of up to 5 years.
Candidates having similar research experience will also get age relaxation equivalent to the years/ period spent on research in the respective subject or PG Degree.
Up to 5 years of age relaxation can be offered to researchers but only on producing the relevant certificate.
Candidates with L.L.M. Degrees get upper age relaxation by 3 years.
Candidates who have served in the armed forces will get a relaxation of up to 5 years subject to the length of service in the armed forces up to June 1, 2021.
Total age relaxation on the above ground(s) shall not be more than five years under any circumstances.
Assistant Professor: There is no upper age limit criteria while applying for Assistant Professor.
Note: The age limit varies for the year of examination and is subjected to change for the 2022 examination.
UGC NET qualified candidates will be shortlisted based on the subject-wise and category-wise merit list. On average, less than 10% of the total students who have appeared for both the papers in the test will be considered qualified in the entrance test. Admission into different Indian Universities or Institutions for Assistant professor or JRF posts will be granted based on the cutoff score obtained as per their categories.
Joining any Indian university as an Assistant Professor or Lecturer is one of the respectable jobs, ideal for UGC NET qualified candidates. Post getting selected as professors, UGC NET qualified candidates can get decent salary packages as compared to other jobs. So work harder to pursue a career of your choice.