The National Eligibility Test (NET), also known as UGC NET or CBSE NET, is a test to determine eligibility for college and university level lectureship and for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for Indian nationals.

It aims to ensure minimum standards for the entrants in the teaching professions and research. On behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) holds the test for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the Eligibility for Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship and Eligibility for Assistant Professor both in Indian universities and colleges.


When you give UGC NET/JRF, according to your rank, the first 10–15% get JRF qualification and others get NET qualification. The score of NET is valid for a lifetime whereas the score of JRF is valid only for 2 years.
The basic benefit of qualifying UGC NET is that through NET you can apply for teaching in various colleges across India.


Also Read: ugc net exam pattern | ugc net admit card & eligiblity

But, if you are awarded Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), then you have the following additional benefits-
[a] You are not required to give the written test when applying for M.Phil.
[b] You can apply for Ph.D., otherwise many universities don’t allow for Ph.D. if you do not have JRF.
[c] If you do Ph.D. or M.Phil then you get a monthly stipend of around 25000–30000 with JRF.
[d] While you are pursuing M.Phil, you can also teach in a college with JRF.

Resources for UGC NET Exams: ugc net books | ugc net previous year question paper