Breaking: The UGC NET June 2026 answer key is out. The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the provisional answer key, question papers and recorded response sheets on 16 August 2026 at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Candidates can now download their response sheet, compare answers, and raise challenges — the challenge window stays open till 18 August 2026, 11:59 PM (₹200 per question).
💡 Calculate your score now: paste your response sheet URL into our free UGC NET marks & rank calculator — it matches your chosen options against the official key, applies the +2/no-negative scheme and gives you a Paper 1 + Paper 2 scorecard plus a JRF/Assistant Professor eligibility estimate in seconds.
UGC NET June 2026 Answer Key: Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | UGC NET June Session 2026 (87 subjects) |
| Exam Dates | 22–30 June 2026 (+ re-exam 5 July 2026 for the Jalandhar centre) |
| Answer Key Released | 16 August 2026 |
| Challenge Window | Till 18 August 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Challenge Fee | ₹200 per question |
| Official Website | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
| Marking Scheme | +2 correct, no negative marking |
| Total Marks | 300 (Paper 1: 100 + Paper 2: 200) |
| Result | After final answer key (date TBA) |
How to Download the UGC NET Answer Key & Response Sheet
- Go to ugcnet.nta.nic.in and click the "UGC NET June 2026 Provisional Answer Key / Recorded Response" link.
- Log in with your application number and password (or date of birth).
- Open the Recorded Response Sheet (your chosen option for every question) and the Provisional Answer Key (official correct options).
- Download both PDFs — the response sheet is individual to you, the answer key is one master list per subject.
Caution: The answer key is available only through your candidate login at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Ignore third-party "direct download" links that ask for your password or OTP.
UGC NET June 2026 Marking Scheme & Score Calculation
| Paper | Questions | Marks per Question | Total | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (General Aptitude) | 50 | +2 | 100 | None |
| Paper 2 (Subject-specific) | 100 | +2 | 200 | None |
| Total | 150 | — | 300 | None |
- Score = Correct answers × 2. There is no deduction for wrong or unattempted questions, so attempting every question always pays.
- Qualifying marks: minimum 40% aggregate for General and 35% for OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/EWS across both papers combined.
- Both papers are held in a single continuous 3-hour CBT session.
Manual check: 42 correct in Paper 1 (84) + 90 correct in Paper 2 (180) = 264/300.
UGC NET Answer Key Challenge Window (Till 18 August)
Candidates who believe an answer is wrong can challenge it online before the window closes:
- Log in at ugcnet.nta.nic.in and open the "Challenge Answer Key" section.
- Select the question, upload supporting evidence (standard reference books, official syllabus, research papers).
- Pay the ₹200 per question processing fee online.
- NTA's expert committee reviews all valid challenges and publishes the final answer key, which is used to compute results.
⚠️ The provisional key is not final. If a challenged answer is corrected, the revision applies to all candidates for that question. No challenges are entertained after the final key is published.
What Happens Next: UGC NET Result
- Final answer key — published after the challenge window closes and objections are reviewed.
- Result — computed from the final key; the date has not been announced yet.
- JRF / Assistant Professor — qualifying candidates are awarded JRF (stipend) or NET eligibility based on subject-wise cutoffs and merit.
Bookmark the UGC NET marks calculator — we will update it with the result date and category-wise cutoff predictions as soon as NTA announces them.
Last updated: 16 August 2026. Facts are based on NTA's official announcement and the answer key release on ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Always verify dates and deadlines on the official portal.