The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test, also known as the NTA UGC NET, was administered by the National Testing Agency. It is a national exam to select candidates for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship or NET JRF positions in Indian universities and colleges. It is the gateway for candidates who want to make their career in research work or want to impart education in universities and top colleges of India.
The UGC NET exam is conducted twice a year, in June and December. The exam was administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on behalf of the Union Grant Commission till June 2018. But since December 2018, the National Testing Agency (NTA) began administering the UGC NET exam.
UGC NET Posts
After completing the UGC NET exam, candidates must be well aware of the position they will be chosen for. Those who pass the exam will be qualified for assistant professor and junior research fellowship positions at Indian universities and colleges. Candidates can review the differences between these two positions below for a better idea.
- Assistant Professor: One of the most renowned and respected occupations in the nation is that of an assistant professor. Candidates who pass the UGC NET exam are eligible to apply for positions as lecturers at all public and private universities in the nation. Candidates can become assistant professors after clearing the NET Exam and JRF Exam.
- NET JRF: Candidates who clear the JRF Exam or qualify as Junior Research Fellows will get an initial salary of 25,000 rupees for up to two years. Starting in the third year, candidates will become Senior Research Fellows (Basic pay = Rs. 28,000). Additionally, Candidates can apply for Ph.D. programs at numerous colleges, including IITs, IIMs, and various R and D organizations. NET JRF is a prestigious opportunity offered only to selected candidates who wish to increase the standard of research in the country. The maximum age for JRF was changed on January 5, 2023, by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Candidates must not be older than 30 as of December 1, 2022, in accordance with the new NTA UGC NET regulations.
UGC NET Full Form
UGC NET full form stands for National Eligibility Test, which the Council of Scientific Research (CSIR) and Union Grant Commission (UGC) conduct to select the candidates for JRF or Assistant Professor in various subjects. The University Grants Commission earlier stated that applicants who pass the UGC NET Exam would be qualified for lucrative careers as private college lecturers in public sector organizations.
For the purpose of hiring executives for positions in their organization in the fields of science, management, corporate communications, human resources, and finance, PSUs may utilize both the NET and JRF Exam scores, depending on posts. The top NET Exams are CSIR and NTA UGC NET. Many states are also conducting the SET exam, i.e., the State Eligibility Test for states that help them select the best candidates for professor in-state colleges. The popular SET exams are: