UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024, Qualification and Age Limit

 

UGC NET 2024 eligibility criteria are fundamental qualifications that candidates must meet in order to sit for the exam. Educational requirements, age restrictions (for some categories), and particular exceptions for restricted categories all fall under the NET Exam eligibility rules. In case you want to apply for the UGC NET 2024 Exam and opt for the teaching profession, it is essential for you to check your NET Exam Qualification. The article gives the candidate an insight into the UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024, so as to ensure that the candidate meets all the requirements asked by the NTA to sit in the examination. 

 

UGC NET Eligibility Overview

 

Particulars
Details
Educational Qualifications
Master’s Degree
Age Limit
30 years for Junior Research Fellowship. There is no age limit for Assistant Professorship
Number of Attempts
No limit on attempts 
Nationality
Indian
Subject Eligibility
Subject of Post-Graduation as chosen by the candidate

 

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024- Educational Qualifications

 

Educational Qualifications
UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024
1. General/Unreserved/General-EWS candidates
  • General/Unreserved/General-EWS candidates who have secured at least 55% marks in Master’s Degree or equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC , Computer Science and Applications, Electronic Science etc. are eligible for this Test. 
2. Other Backward Classes (OBC) 
  • The Other Backward Classes (OBC) belonging to Non-Creamy Layer/Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Persons with Disability (PwD)/Third gender category candidates who have secured at least 50% marks in Master’s degree or equivalent examination are eligible for this Test.
3. Master’s Degree
  • Candidates pursuing a Master’s degree or those who have taken their qualifying Master’s degree exams may also apply for this test. 
  • However, such candidates will be admitted provisionally and will be considered eligible for JRF/Assistant Professor only after passing their Master’s Degree. 
4. Third Gender Category 
  • Candidates from the Third Gender category are eligible for the same fee, age, and Eligibility Criteria for NET relaxations as candidates from the SC/ST/PwD categories. 
5. Ph.D. degree holders
  • Ph.D. degree holders whose Master’s level examination was completed by 19 September 1991 (regardless of date of result declaration) will be eligible for a 5% reduction in aggregate marks.
6. Post-Graduate diploma/certificate awarded by Indian University/ Foreign University
  • Candidates with a post-graduate diploma/certificate from an Indian University or a Foreign University should check with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, to see if their diploma/degree/certificate is equivalent to a Master’s degree from a recognised Indian university. 

 

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024- Assistant Professor/ Junior Research Fellowship

 

  • The candidate’s eligibility for ‘Assistant Professor’ or ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor’ will be determined by their overall performance in both UGC NET 2024 examinations. Candidates who qualify solely for Assistant Professor will not be considered for the JRF award. 

 

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024- Exemption (Eligibility for Assistant Professor)

 

Educational Qualifications
UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024
1. For Assistant Professors
  • The minimum eligibility requirement for recruitment and employment of Assistant Professors at Universities/Colleges/Institutions would continue to be NET/SET/SLET. Exemption from NET/SET/SLET would be governed by UGC norms. 
2. UGC/CSIR/ JRF Examination
  • Candidates who passed the UGC/CSIR/JRF examination before 1989 are excused from taking the NET.
3. For SET Candidates
  • Candidates who passed the States Eligibility Test (SET) accredited by UGC NET 2024 for Assistant Professor earlier to June 1, 2002, are exempt from taking the NET and are entitled to apply for Assistant Professor positions anywhere in India.
  • For SETs held after June 1, 2002, qualified applicants are only entitled to apply for Assistant Professor positions at universities/colleges in the state where they passed their SET.

 

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024- Reservations 

The Reservation Policy of the Indian Government also extends to UGC-NET 2024. According to this policy, there will be seat reservations in Central Universities and Institutions that are recognized as universities. These reservations will be allocated as per the following guidelines:

 

Category 
Reservations Allotted 
Scheduled Caste (SC)
15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST)
7.5%
Other Backward Classes (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer (NCL)
27%
General- EWS
10% 
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) with 40% or more disability
05%

 

UGC NET 2024- Age Relaxations 

The UGC NET 2024 provides the candidates with some age relaxations as mentioned in the table below. However it is to be noted that the following age relaxations are only applicable for the candidates applying for the JRF category. 

 

Category 
Age Relaxations 
Candidates pursuing LLM degree
3 years
Ex-Army man (The length of service in the armed forces up to the first day of the month in which the concerned UGC-NET is conducted)
5 years
SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Female/Transgender
5 years
Research candidates (only on producing the certificate issued by appropriate authority)
5 years

 

UGC NET 2024-Upper Age Limit 

 

Category 
Upper Age Limit 
JRF
Not more than 30 years as on the 1st day of the month in which the examination is concluded. 
Assistant Professor 
There is no upper age limit in applying for UGC NET 2024 for Assistant Professor.

 

UGC NET 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Certificates Required 

The following are some certificates required for the Eligibility verification when checking one’s eligibility and applying to the UGC NET 2024 exam:-

 

  • Candidates falling under the OBC (Non-creamy layer), SC, ST, or PWD categories are required to provide an attested copy of their category certificate along with a printed copy of their online application forms.
  • For individuals holding postgraduate degrees or diplomas from either Indian or foreign institutions, it is advisable to confirm the equivalence of their qualifications to Indian master’s degrees through the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi.
  • Essential documents include the Qualifying Degree Certificate or last semester marks sheet, Class 10th mark sheet, Category Certificate (if applicable), Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Certificate (if applicable), and Person with Disability (PwD) Certificate (if applicable).
  • Candidates are not mandated to provide Aadhaar numbers; alternative government identification numbers like passport, ration card, election card (EPIC No.), bank account number, or others are also acceptable.

 

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024 FAQs


Q Is there an age limit for appearing in the UGC NET 2024 exam?
Ans No, there is no upper age limit for candidates applying for the post of Assistant Professor. However, for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), there is an upper age limit, which varies based on reserved categories. 

Q I have completed my postgraduate degree. Can I apply for UGC NET 2024 before receiving my final result?
Ans Yes, you can apply for UGC NET2024 before receiving your final postgraduate degree result. However, you must ensure that you meet the minimum educational qualification criteria by the time of the award of the certificate.

Q I have a foreign postgraduate degree. Can I still apply for UGC NET 2024?
Ans Yes, candidates with foreign postgraduate degrees can apply for UGC NET 2024. However, they must obtain an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to demonstrate the equivalence of their qualifications to Indian master’s degrees.

Q Is there a restriction on the number of attempts for UGC NET 2024?
Ans No, there is no limit on the number of attempts for UGC NET 2024. Candidates can apply as many times as they wish, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

 

Conclusion

One of the most important factors for candidates looking to pursue a career in academics and research is the UGC NET 2024 eligibility criteria and to check whether they are eligible for it or not. As stated in the post these requirements include qualifications, age restrictions, and exceptions for reserved groups. Meeting these criteria is the prerequisite for taking this esteemed exam, which shapes the futures of people hoping to have a significant influence in the fields of teaching and research.

 

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