Before you fill out the application form, you should be aware of the UGC NET Eligibility 2022. Lakhs of candidates apply for the exam, with many applications being rejected owing to non-compliance with age and qualification requirements. Most applicants overlook minute details of UGC NET eligibility, costing them one attempt. It is critical to thoroughly check all of the details.
Checking details like UGC NET exam date, exam pattern, syllabus and most importantly the eligibility criteria is the crucial step before filling out the UGC NET application form and starting your preparation.
On that note, let’s take a look at UGC NET eligibility criteria like age limit and qualification requirements in detail.
UGC NET Age Limit 2022
The UGC NET age limit is another key eligibility criterion. So, based on the most recent notification, below are the most recent age criteria. Complete information on the age restriction and relaxation for various categories is provided below.
UGC NET JRF Age Limit
To be eligible for the exam, candidates in the general category must be under the age of 31. Candidates from the reserved category, on the other hand, receive an age relaxation.
NET JRF Age Relaxation
According to the government of India, there is age relaxation for several groups. Candidates from the OBC/ST/SC/etc. categories will be given a 5-year relaxation. Check the table below.
| Category | Age Relaxation for JRF |
| OBC, SC/ST/PWD/Transgender, and female applicants | 5 Years |
| Candidates with research expertise in a field linked to their post-graduate studies | 5 Years |
| Candidates with Master of Laws (LLM) Degree | 3 Years |
| Candidates in Armed Forces | 5 Years |
NET Assistant Professor Age Limit
According to the UGC NET eligibility criteria, there is no upper age limit for applying for the position of assistant professor. Anyone who can teach students is eligible to take the exam for the Assistant Professor position.
UGC NET Qualification 2022
Candidates may sit for the NTA’s UGC NET exam if they have a Master’s Degree or equivalent in Humanities (including languages), Social Sciences, Computer Science and Applications, Electronic Science, etc. from a recognised university.
- On the other hand, applicants in the Non-Creamy Layer of Other Backward Classes (OBC-NC), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Persons with Disability (PwD), and Transgender categories must receive a minimum of 50%.
- Candidates seeking a Master’s degree, who are awaiting their results, or whose qualifying examinations have been postponed, may apply for the test. However, such candidates will be admitted provisionally and would be considered for JRF or Assistant Professor recruitment only after passing their Master’s Degree with at least 55% (50% for the restricted category).
Furthermore, students must complete their Master’s degree within two years of the date of the UGC NET 2022 Result with the required percentage of marks, or they will be considered disqualified.
- Candidates having a PhD degree whose Master’s level examination was completed before September 19, 1991 (regardless of the date of result declaration) will be eligible for a 5% aggregate mark relaxation (i.e. from 55% to 50%) for competing in UGC NET 2022.
- Transgender candidates will be given the same exam fee, age, and qualification criteria for NET (i.e. JRF and Assistant Professor) exemptions as SC/ ST/ PwD candidates. However, the needed topic-wise cutoffs for the Transgender category will be the lowest among all reserved categories in the corresponding subject, including SC/ ST/ PwD/ OBC-NCL.
- Candidates are advised to select the same NET subject for Paper 2 as their postgraduate specialisation. If your Post-Graduation subject is not listed among the 81 NET subjects, you can appear in a related subject.
- Candidates with a postgraduate degree or certificate from an Indian university or institute or a foreign degree or certificate from a foreign university or institute should, in their own interests, confirm that their diploma, degree, or certificate is equivalent to a master’s degree from an Indian university that has been recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi.
