The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the UGC NET Provisional Answer Key 2026 in the second week of July 2026. Candidates who appeared for the exam can download their UGC NET 2026 Provisional Answer Key and response sheet from the official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in once released. Candidates can access the key by entering their registered credentials such as registration ID and security PIN in the login window once activated. Candidates can challenge any question against the provisional answer key within the challenge window, which will open along with the release of the answer key. The challenge window will remain open for a given period of time. 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 made by them. The UGC NET Provisional Answer Key 2026 will be accessible through a direct link at the official website. Once the objection window is closed, authorities will check the raised objections and the final answer key will be made based on that. Candidates must note that no changes can be made in the final answer key.
UGC NET Provisional Answer Key 2026: Past Year Trends
The UGC NET Provisional answer key 2026 will be released soon by NTA. Candidates can check the following table to know about past year trends with regards to the provisional answer key release date for June sessions:
| UGC NET exam sessions | Exam dates | Provisional answer key release dates |
| June 2025 | June 25 to June 29, 2025 | July 5, 2025 |
| June 2024 (Rescheduled) | August 21 to September 5, 2024 | September 7, 2024 (Phase I) September 11, 2024 (Phase II) |
| June 2023 | June 13 to June 22, 2023 | July 6, 2023 |
| June 2022 (Merged with Dec 2021) | July, August, Sept 2022 | October 18, 2022 |
| June 2021 (Merged with Dec 2020) | Nov 20, 2021 to Jan 5, 2022 | January 21, 2022 |
Candidates must keep themselves updated by regularly checking the official UGC NET website and the IE Education Portal.
UGC NET 2026 Answer Key: Marking Scheme
Candidates can check the marking scheme for the UGC NET 2026 exam below and calculate their probable scores using the UGC NET provisional answer key 2026 and individual response sheets, once released:
| Answers | Marks allotted |
| Correct Answer | +2 |
| Incorrect Answer | 0 |
| Unanswered questions | 0 |
Candidates must remember that objections can only be raised within a given time period, after which no challenges will be allowed. Changes in the final UGC NET Answer key 2026 are not allowed.
