UGC-NET & JRF
Writing & examination
The national eligibility test for assistant professorship and PhD admission; top scorers additionally win the Junior Research Fellowship, a five-year funded route through the PhD.
The UGC NET is the national eligibility test conducted by the NTA in India, determining eligibility for Assistant Professor positions and, for higher-scoring candidates, the award of a Junior Research Fellowship. It is held twice yearly across a wide range of subjects.
The examination has two papers taken in a single session: Paper I tests teaching and research aptitude, reasoning, comprehension and general awareness, and is common to all candidates; Paper II tests the chosen subject in depth. Both are objective, and there is no negative marking.
JRF is awarded to a small percentage of qualifying candidates and provides a monthly stipend for two years, upgradable to Senior Research Fellowship thereafter, making full-time doctoral research financially viable. Many universities admit JRF holders to PhD programmes without a separate entrance test, though a candidate who qualifies for Assistant Professor eligibility only does not receive the fellowship.
Where it's used
- PhD admission route accepted by most universities
- Primary fellowship route in India
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