The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test, widely known as UGC NET, is one of India's major eligibility examinations for candidates seeking opportunities in higher education and research. However, the examination has not always been conducted by the National Testing Agency. Over the years, the responsibility for conducting the examination has moved through different stages, with the UGC and the Central Board of Secondary Education playing important roles before NTA took charge.
The examination is conducted on behalf of the University Grants Commission to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor positions and, under the current framework, for certain PhD admission categories. The National Testing Agency has been responsible for conducting UGC NET since December 2018.
UGC and the Earlier System
In its earlier phase, UGC was directly associated with the administration of the National Eligibility Test. The examination was designed to identify candidates who met the national eligibility requirements for teaching and research opportunities in universities and colleges.
As the number of candidates increased and the examination became a major national-level test, the need for a larger examination administration system became increasingly important. This eventually resulted in CBSE being entrusted with conducting UGC NET examinations.
CBSE Conducted UGC NET
The Central Board of Secondary Education conducted UGC NET examinations before the creation of NTA's role in the test. One of the important examinations during this period was the July 2018 UGC NET.
According to the Government of India's July 2018 release, CBSE conducted the seventh UGC NET examination on July 8, 2018, across 91 cities. The examination covered 84 subjects, with more than 11.48 lakh candidates registered for the test.
The July 2018 examination also reflected changes in the examination pattern. The number of papers was reduced from three to two, consisting of Paper I and Paper II. The change was introduced with the objective of reducing the examination burden on candidates.
CBSE also introduced measures aimed at improving transparency. Images of OMR sheets and captured examination data were made available for verification, while answer keys were displayed so that candidates could raise challenges.
These measures were important in a large examination in which hundreds of thousands of candidates participated across multiple examination centres.
NTA Takes Over in 2018
A major change came in December 2018 when the newly established National Testing Agency took over the conduct of UGC NET.
The first UGC NET examination conducted by NTA was held from December 18 to December 22, 2018. According to the Ministry of Education, 9,56,837 candidates registered for that examination, which covered 85 subjects and was conducted across 235 cities.
One of the biggest changes introduced during the transition was the move to computer based testing. The December 2018 examination was conducted in CBT mode, replacing the earlier paper based examination system.
The transition was intended to modernise the examination process and improve efficiency in areas such as test delivery, answer processing and result declaration.
NTA also introduced several technology based measures during the first UGC NET under its administration. The government stated that live CCTV surveillance was used at examination centres and that technology based security measures were implemented to prevent malpractice. Question papers and recorded responses were also made available for verification.
UGC NET Under NTA
Since December 2018, NTA has continued to conduct UGC NET on behalf of UGC. The examination is now primarily associated with computer based testing, although examination modes have been subject to changes depending on circumstances and specific examination cycles.
For example, the June 2024 UGC NET was initially scheduled in OMR based pen and paper mode. The examination was later cancelled by the Ministry of Education and subsequently reconducted in computer based mode.
Recent UGC NET examinations have also expanded the range of eligibility categories. Current examination information includes eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor and PhD admission, and PhD admission only, depending on the candidate's qualification and result category.
The scale of the examination has also grown considerably. In the June 2024 cycle, more than 11.21 lakh candidates registered, while more than 6.84 lakh candidates appeared for the examination. The test covered 83 subjects and was conducted across 280 cities.
What Changed Over the Years
The evolution of UGC NET can broadly be understood through three major stages. The first was the period when the examination was administered under UGC. The second involved CBSE taking responsibility for conducting the national examination. The third began in December 2018 when NTA became the conducting agency.
The changes were not limited to the organisation conducting the test. The examination also moved from a traditional paper based format towards computer based testing, while technology was increasingly used for examination security, answer processing, candidate verification and result management.
The transition to NTA also brought greater standardisation in the way a large national examination could be administered across hundreds of cities and examination centres.
Today, UGC NET continues to be conducted by NTA on behalf of UGC. The examination's core purpose remains linked to identifying candidates eligible for teaching, research fellowship and specified PhD admission opportunities in Indian higher education institutions.
For candidates preparing for UGC NET, understanding this history is useful because it explains why older examination papers, formats and procedures may differ from the current system. Changes in the conducting agency have been accompanied by changes in examination technology, paper structure and administrative procedures.
The journey from UGC to CBSE and ultimately to NTA represents the broader transformation of India's national examination system. The introduction of computer based testing and increased use of technology have significantly changed how UGC NET is conducted today compared with its earlier paper based form.