The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the UGC NET Answer Key 2026 on August 16, 2026, at its official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The UGC NET 2026 exam was conducted from June 22 to 30, 2026. Candidates who appeared for the exam can now download their UGC NET Answer Key 2026 and response sheet from the official website by using their registered credentials such as registration ID and security pin. This answer key is provisional and candidates can challenge any question within the challenge window. The challenge window will remain open from August 16 to August 18, 2026. Candidates can verify their responses using the response sheet and calculate their tentative raw score.
The answer key will contain the correct responses to the questions asked in the UGC NET Exam 2026. A challenge can be submitted by paying a refundable fee of Rs 200 per question. If the objection raised is found to be valid, candidates will receive a refund for the objections raised on the UGC NET answer key 2026, credited to their bank account. The challenge fee can be submitted online using credit card, debit card, net banking, and UPI payment methods. NTA will release the final answer key soon after the objection window closes. Candidates must note that no changes can be made in the final answer key.
UGC NET Answer Key 2026 Released: Marking Scheme
The UGC NET 2026 Answer Key has been released on August 16, 2026. Candidates can check the given below table to understand the marking scheme and calculate their tentative raw scores accordingly:
| Answers | Marks allotted |
| Correct Answer | +2 |
| Incorrect Answer | 0 |
| Unanswered questions | 0 |
Candidates can download their UGC NET Answer Key 2026 and response sheet from the official website by using their registered credentials and verify their responses and calculate their tentative raw score.
UGC NET 2026: How to Challenge Answer Key?
Candidates who are not satisfied with the answer key can challenge the same within the given time period. The answer key challenge window will remain open until August 18, 2026. If the objection raised is found to be valid, candidates will receive a refund for the objections raised on the UGC NET answer key 2026. If the objection raised is not valid, then the fee will not be refunded. The steps to challenge the answer key are given below:
Step 1: Visit the official website of UGC NET, ugcnet.nta.nic.in..
Step 2: Open the answer key portal and click on the link.
Step 3: Enter the application number, password/date of birth, and click sign in.
Step 4: Click on the Challenge Answer Key button.
Step 5: Choose the correct answer option ID for the question.
Step 6: Click on the save your claims button and pay the fee.
For each question challenged in the UGC NET answer key 2026, candidates are required to pay Rs 200.
