UGC NET Answer Key 2026 Release Date Announced: Download PDF, Objection Process & Result Details

The NTA has officially announced the release date of the UGC NET Answer Key 2026 as 15 January 2026 for the December examination conducted from 31 December 2025 to 7 January 2026. Aspirants across India are eagerly waiting to download the official answer key to calculate expected scores, raise objections and plan their next steps.

NTA UGC NET Answer Key 2026

The provisional UGC NET Answer Key 2026 will be released on 15 January 2026 on the NTA UGC NET official website. Once it is published, candidates can access both the answer key and their individual response sheets for papers 1 & 2.

According to this NTA Public notice, NTA will upload the following documents together:

• Provisional UGC NET Answer Key 2026 (Paper 1 & Paper 2)
• UGC NET December 2025 Question Paper PDF
• Recorded Response Sheets of UGC NET candidates

These will be available through candidate login on the official portal. After the release, candidates will be allowed to submit challenges against the provisional answer key within the specified objection window.

How to Download UGC NET Answer Key 2026?

Once the UGC NET Answer Key 2026 is released, candidates can download the UGC NET Answer Key 2026 PDF by following these steps:

1. Visit the official NTA UGC NET website
2. Click on the link titled “UGC NET 2026 Provisional Answer Key”
3. Log in using your application number and date of birth.
4. Access the answer key and response sheet
5. Download and save the PDF for reference

Download the answer key immediately after release to ensure sufficient time for review and objection submission.

UGC NET 2026 Marking Scheme - Calculate Your Expected Score

Before calculating your expected scores in the UGC NET Exam, candidates must understand the official UGC NET 2026 marking scheme:

1. Correct Answer: +2 marks
2. Incorrect Answer: 0 marks (No negative marking)
3. Unattempted Question: 0 marks

Using this scheme, candidates can accurately estimate their UGC NET 2026 score by comparing their responses with the answer key.

Why the UGC NET Answer Key 2026 Is Extremely Important?

The UGC NET Answer Key 2026 is not just a solution sheet, it is a decisive document that impacts your final result. By using the answer key, candidates can:

• Calculate their probable score before results
• Verify the accuracy of official answers
• Identify questionable or incorrect responses
• Decide whether to challenge answers
• Assess chances of qualifying for JRF or Assistant Professor

This early evaluation helps aspirants plan their academic and career steps without waiting for the final result.

How to Challenge UGC NET Answer Key 2026?

After the release of the UGC NET Answer Key 2026 (Provisional), NTA will open the UGC NET objection window 2026. 

• Objections can be submitted only in online mode through the NTA UGC NET website.
• Candidates must pay UGC NET Answer Key Objection Fee ₹200 per question to challenge the UGC NET answer key 2026. 
• The UGC NET objection fee is non-refundable.
• Supporting academic documents are mandatory for raising objections.

By analysing every challenge, the NTA will release the Final UGC NET Answer Key 2026. Once the final answer key is published, no more objections will be accepted.

UGC NET Result Date 2026

As mentioned in the NTA UGC NET Public notice, the UGC NET Result 2026 will be declared only after the final answer key is published. The UGC NET 2026 final answer key is prepared after reviewing all challenges received against the provisional key.

After the final UGC NET Answer Key 2026 is released, NTA will:

1. Normalize scores across exam shifts
2. Prepare subject-wise merit lists
3. Release UGC NET Result 2026 online
4. Publish category-wise & subject-wise cutoffs

Candidates qualifying for the examination will be eligible for:

• Assistant Professor 
• Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) (for top-ranked candidates)

The result and scorecard will be available only in online mode through the official portal.

Refer to the following links to know more about NTA UGC NET Exam .

• UGC NET Admit Card 2025 December Released | Download Hall Ticket PDF Now
• UGC NET December 2025 Admit Card Releasing Soon!
• UGC NET December 2025 Advance City Intimation Out - Official NTA Update
• UGC NET December 2025 Exam Schedule Announced | View Subject-Wise Dates Now
• UGC NET December 2025 Exam Last Minute Preparation Plan: High Scoring Tips for Paper 1 & Paper 2
• UGC NET December 2025 Exam: Schedule, Syllabus Strategy & Complete Preparation Roadmap
• UGC NET Paper 1 Preparation Strategy 2025: How to Score 180+ Easily

Why CC Learning App Is the Best Choice for UGC NET Coaching in Kerala?

With the next UGC NET examination scheduled for June 2026, aspirants should begin their preparation early. The CC Learning App is the UGC NET online coaching app in Kerala, helping thousands of candidates prepare effectively for UGC NET Assistant Professor and JRF exams.

CC Learning App offers for UGC NET aspirants:

• Live and recorded sessions.
• Complete UGC NET 2025 syllabus and study materials.
• Subject-based mock tests to assess your performance.
• Discussions about past years' UGC NET exam papers
• Revision sessions and personal guidance by our expert tutors

Start your UGC NET June 2026 exam preparation with the CC Learning App. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is there negative marking in UGC NET 2026?

No, there is no negative marking in the UGC NET 2026 examination. Each correct answer carries 2 marks, while incorrect and unattempted questions carry 0 marks.

2. How can I calculate my expected score using the UGC NET Answer Key 2026?

Candidates can calculate their expected score by matching their recorded responses with the official answer key. For every correct answer, add 2 marks. Since there is no negative marking, incorrect answers do not reduce the score.

3. Can I challenge the UGC NET Answer Key 2026?

Yes, candidates can challenge the UGC NET Answer Key 2026 (Provisional) through the official website during the objection window. Objections must be submitted online with valid academic proof.

4. What is the objection fee for challenging UGC NET Answer Key 2026?

The UGC NET answer key objection fee is ₹200 per question. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid online while submitting the challenge.

5. When will the final UGC NET Answer Key 2026 be released?

The final UGC NET Answer Key 2026 will be released after NTA reviews all the objections submitted by candidates. Once the final answer key is published, no further challenges will be accepted.

6. When will the UGC NET Result 2026 be declared?

The UGC NET Result 2026 will be declared only after the release of the final answer key. NTA will normalise scores, prepare merit lists and publish category-wise cut-offs along with the result.

7. What happens after qualifying UGC NET 2026?

Candidates qualifying the UGC NET 2026 will be eligible for the post of Assistant Professor. Top-ranked candidates will also qualify for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).

8. When will the NTA UGC NET Answer Key 2026 be released?

The NTA UGC NET Answer Key 2026 will be released on 15 January 2026. The provisional answer key will be available on the official NTA UGC NET website through candidate login.