UGC-NET 2026: NTA releases provisional answer keys for 84 subjects, challenge window open

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the provisional answer keys for 84 subjects of the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) June 2026 examination. The answer keys were published on Sunday, August 16, 2026, on the official portal.

Candidates who appeared for the examination can now access the answer keys and submit challenges if they believe any answer is incorrect. The challenge window will remain open from August 16 to August 18, 2026, until 11:59 p.m. Challenges will be accepted only online through the official UGC-NET website at https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in.

According to the NTA, candidates challenging a question will need to pay a processing fee of ₹200 per question. The deadline for fee payment is also August 18, 2026, until 11:59 p.m. Each challenge must be supported by documentary evidence. The agency has clarified that challenges received through any other mode will not be entertained.

For three subjects — English, Commerce, and Sociology — the NTA has stated that a separate public notice is being issued later on the same day. This follows complaints regarding various types of errors in the question papers for these subjects. A committee was constituted to examine the grievances, and based on its recommendations, the separate notice is being issued.

The NTA has advised candidates to rely only on information published on the official website and its verified social media handles to avoid any misinformation.

In addition, the provisional answer keys for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026 examination have also been published on the NTA website. Candidates for this exam can access the keys and submit challenges through the same official portal from August 16 to 18, 2026, up to 11:00 p.m.

The UGC-NET June 2026 examination was conducted on June 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, and 30, with a retest held on July 5. The exam is conducted to determine the eligibility of candidates for the posts of Assistant Professor and for admission to PhD programmes. It consists of two papers: Paper I includes 50 questions on teaching aptitude, reasoning ability, and general awareness, while Paper II contains 100 subject-related multiple-choice questions.

The Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026 examination was held on July 17 and 18 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. It is conducted to determine eligibility for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes in institutions across India.

Candidates are encouraged to review the answer keys carefully before submitting any challenges. All necessary information is available on the official NTA portal.