The wait is finally over for lakhs of aspiring Assistant Professors and Junior Research Fellows (JRF)! The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the Provisional Answer Key for the UGC NET December 2025 cycle. Along with the answer key, the NTA has also made available the candidates’ recorded response sheets and question papers.
Candidates who appeared for the exams conducted in mid-December 2025 can now log in to the official portal to calculate their tentative scores. Furthermore, if you believe any answer provided by the NTA is incorrect, you have a limited-time window to raise objections. This blog provides a complete guide on how to download the key, calculate your marks, and submit challenges.
Key Highlights
The UGC NET Dec 2025 exam covered 83 subjects across multiple shifts nationally. The release of the provisional key is the first major step towards the final results. This is your opportunity to cross-verify your responses against official answers.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NTA UGC NET December 2025 Cycle |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Document Released | Provisional Answer Key & Response Sheet |
| Status | Released |
| Login Credentials Required | Application Number & Date of Birth/Password |
| Official Website | ugcnet.nta.ac.in |
Important Dates: Challenge Window
NTA has opened a short window for candidates to challenge the provisional answer key. It is crucial to act within these deadlines, as no representations will be accepted afterward.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| UGC NET Exam Dates | December 10 to December 22, 2025 |
| Answer Key Release Date | January 12, 2026 |
| Challenge Window Start Date | January 13, 2026 |
| Last Date to Challenge Key | January 16, 2026 (upto 11:50 PM) Hurry Up! Window Closed |
| Final Result Date (Tentative) | End of January 2026 |
How to Download and Challenge Answer Key
Follow this step-by-step process to access your response sheet and raise objections if necessary:
- Visit Official Website: Go to the NTA UGC NET portal: ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
- Candidate Login: Click on the link “UGC NET Dec 2025 Answer Key Challenge”. Log in using your Application Number and Date of Birth.
- View Question Paper: Once logged in, you will see links to view your “Question Paper” (which contains your recorded responses) and the “Click to view /Challenge Answer Key”. Open both to compare.
- Marking Scheme: Add +2 marks for every correct answer. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers in UGC NET.
- Challenging a Question: If you find a discrepancy, select the ‘Option ID’ you claim to be correct against the respective Question ID in the challenge section.
- Upload Proof: You must upload supporting documents (from standard textbooks/journals) as a single PDF file to substantiate your claim. Challenges without proof are usually rejected.
- Pay Fee: Pay the non-refundable processing fee online to submit your challenge finally.
Challenge Fee Details
NTA charges a processing fee to discourage frivolous challenges. If your challenge is accepted by subject experts, the fee might be refunded (subject to NTA policy), but generally, it is non-refundable.
| Fee Per Question | Payment Mode |
|---|---|
| ₹200/- (Rupees Two Hundred only) | Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking / UPI |
What Next After Answer Key?
Once the challenge window closes on January 16, 2026, NTA’s subject experts will review all submitted objections. Based on their feedback, a Final Answer Key will be prepared. The UGC NET December 2025 Results will be declared based strictly on the final key. No grievances regarding answer keys will be entertained after the result declaration.
The release of the provisional answer key is a crucial stage. We advise all candidates to download their response sheets immediately and calculate their scores to get an idea of their standing before the official cut-offs are announced. Use the challenge facility wisely if you have strong evidence against any answer.
– Best of luck future Professors and Researchers!
