UGC NET Exam 2026 (June 23) Highlights: Shift 1 Ends; Check Subject-Wise Difficulty Level, Student Reactions Here

Based on expert analysis, the exam was of an easy-to-moderate difficulty level, featuring a mix of conceptual and previous years' questions (PYQs).

General Papers:  Coverage included Buddhist education, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, and standard commission reports.

NEET/NEP 2020: A significant portion featured 10 to 15 matching-type questions.

Sectional Trends: Teaching Aptitude focused heavily on learning concepts, while Environment included crucial Act-based questions, and Communication featured modern App-based queries.

A unique Bollywood movie-based question added a surprising twist to the paper!

The first shift of the UGC NET June 23 exam has concluded at all centers; stay tuned to The Daily Jagran Live blog to learn about the difficulty level of the paper, expected cut-offs, and reactions from students and experts.

The first shift of the UGC NET 2026 exam on June 23 is set to conclude shortly; it will end at 12:00 PM. As soon as candidates exit the exam hall, the exam analysis, student reactions, and other details will be made available here. Stay tuned to this page immediately after the exam concludes.

Candidates can check below the UGC NET exam timings:

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced a re-examination for a section of candidates affected by technical issues during the UGC NET June 2026 examination at the CT Group of Institutions Examination Centre in Jalandhar. The disruption was reported during Shift I of the examination conducted on June 22, 2026. The re-examination has been scheduled for July 5, 2026, at 3 PM.

The UGC NET Qualifying Criteria 2026 is based on aggregate marks obtained in Paper 1 and Paper 2 combined. Candidates from the General category must score at least 40 per cent, while OBC, SC, ST, EWS and PwD candidates need a minimum of 35 per cent to qualify the UGC NET exam.

The NTA has commenced the 3-hour UGC NET June 2026 Shift 1 exam nationwide, running from 9 AM to 12 PM, with student reactions and paper analysis expected soon.

Candidates appearing in the first shift will take both Paper 1 and Paper 2 in a single session without any break. The detailed UGC NET 23 June 2026 Shift 1 Exam Analysis will be updated after the examination concludes.

The Geopgraphy paper difficulty level is Moderate to Difficult as per the feedback received from the students.

The NTA started the UGC NET 2026 Shift 2 on June 22 at 3 PM. After the conclusion of the shift exam analysis will be provided here based on the student reactions. 

The UGC NET June 22 Shift 2 examination will take place from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM across India.

Key Point To Remember:

Gate Closing: Gate entry usually closes strictly 30 minutes before the paper begins. No candidate will be allowed inside after 2:30 PM.

No Breaks: Paper 1 and Paper 2 will be conducted continuously without any interval.

Candidate Login: Systems allow candidate login at 2:50 PM to read exam instructions. 

Shift 1 was conducted for subjects like Visual Art (Including Drawing & Painting/Sculpture/Graphics/Applied Art/History of Art), Museology & Conservation, Punjabi, Tamil, Geography, Marathi, Labour Welfare/Personnel Management/Industrial Relations/Labour and Social Welfare/Human Resource Management.

Shift 2 will be conducted for subjects including Computer Science and Applications, Persian, Russian, Bengali, Home Science, Music and Population Studies

UGC NET exam has two papers conducted in a single session on the same day. Both papers are computer-based and there is no negative marking for wrong answers. Paper 1 tests general teaching and research aptitude, while Paper 2 is based on the subject chosen by the candidate. Paper 1 is usually easier to score in compared to Paper 2.

As per the initial feedback received from the students, the UGC NET June 22 first shift overall difficulty level was Moderate to difficult as compared to last year.

The UGC NET 2026 syllabus comprises two parts: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, while Paper 2 contains 100 subject-specific questions. The UGC NET June session exams are being held from June 22 to June 30, 2026. Scroll down for a detailed analysis of both shifts held on June 22.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting the UGC NET June 2026 session exam in two shifts. The first shift on June 22 has concluded, and the second shift is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM. Candidates can view the exam analysis for the first shift based on student feedback. This analysis is useful for aspirants preparing to appear in upcoming UGC NET exams. Scroll down for details regarding the shift-wise difficulty level, number of good attempts, expected cut-off, and further information about the UGC NET 2026 exam. Additionally, candidates can access memory-based question papers and unofficial answer keys for both shifts.

The first shift of the exam has concluded at all centers; stay tuned with us to learn about the difficulty level of the paper, expected cut-offs, and reactions from students and experts.

The first shift of the UGC NET exam will conclude at 12:00 PM. Immediately after the exam ends, we will discuss the difficulty level, expected cut-off, and a comparison with the previous year.

Candidates must achieve the minimum qualifying marks in Paper I and Paper II for consideration of eligibility. The following are the recommended UGC NET History qualifying marks:

Shift 1 of UGC NET June 2026 is now underway across centres nationwide. Candidates are appearing in an organised manner as officials enforce strict dress code norms, document checks, and entry protocols at all designated venues.

The NTA commenced the first shift of the UGC NET June 2026 session at 9:00 AM on June 22. It will conclude at 12:00 PM. Once the first shift ends, we will provide an analysis of the exam based on feedback received from students.

Test centers will deny entry to any applicant who fails to present the prescribed physical documentation at the security perimeter. Ensure you carry:

-A clearly printed copy of your official UGC NET June 2026 Admit Card.

-A valid government-issued photo identity proof (such as a Passport, PAN card, Voter ID, Driving Licence, or official ID).

-A recent passport-size photograph matching your application record.

-An authorized PwD/PwBD category certificate, if applicable.

The NTA is organising the daily testing schedule into two distinct blocks. Candidates are advised to arrive well before the gates close to smoothly complete mandatory biometric verification and security layers.