UGC NET Criminology

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts UGC-NET on behalf of the University Grants Commission. Qualifying determines eligibility for 'Assistant Professor' and, for those who also meet the JRF threshold, for 'Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor' in Indian universities and colleges. The award depends on aggregate performance in Paper-I and Paper-II.

It is a Computer Based Test (CBT). NTA has conducted UGC-NET in CBT mode with effect from December 2018 onwards, so prepare for on-screen navigation, a timer and digital marking rather than OMR sheet practice.

UGC-NET is conducted twice every year, in June and December. Each cycle has its own application window, correction window, city intimation, admit card and result notices, so track the official NTA UGC-NET website rather than relying on a previous cycle's dates.

Yes. Because the exam runs in June and December cycles, candidates may apply again in a subsequent session. There is no stated restriction in the official introduction on the number of attempts, but always confirm eligibility conditions in the Information Bulletin for the specific cycle you are applying to.

No. The official introduction is explicit that candidates qualifying only for Assistant Professorship are not eligible to be considered for the award of JRF. JRF depends on the aggregate performance across Paper-I and Paper-II, so a strong combined score matters, not just subject knowledge.

Qualifying the eligibility test is not a recruitment offer. Candidates who qualify for Assistant Professorship eligibility are governed by the rules and regulations of the concerned universities, colleges or State Governments, as the case may be, for recruitment as Assistant Professor.

The official introduction states that, to regularize the examination cycle, NTA with UGC's concurrence conducted UGC-NET December 2023 in 83 subjects at selected cities across the country. Check the Information Bulletin for the current cycle's subject list, since subject availability is announced per cycle.

Treating Paper-I as negligible. The official material makes JRF and Assistant Professor eligibility depend on aggregate performance across Paper-I and Paper-II, so candidates who over-invest in the Criminology subject paper and neglect Paper-I can lose the JRF threshold even with a strong subject score.

Use the NTA UGC-NET website, which publishes the Information Bulletin for each cycle, FAQs, final answer keys, public notices on city intimation, admit cards, results, subject and category wise cutoff marks, and score card and certificate download links. The National Testing Agency site also lists UGC-NET among its exams.