The wait for thousands of candidates who appeared for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is about to enter a crucial phase. The computer-based test for the December 2025 cycle, which was conducted across multiple centres from December 31, 2025, to January 7, 2026, has officially concluded. With the examination process now over, all eyes are on the National Testing Agency (NTA) for the next big announcement: the release of the provisional answer key.
When to Expect the UGC NET Provisional Answer Key
Based on established patterns from previous sessions, the NTA is anticipated to publish the provisional answer key for UGC NET December 2025 in the very near future. Historically, the agency has released this key within a window of five to 14 days following the exam's conclusion. In many recent cycles, this timeline has been even shorter, with the key becoming available within five to seven days. This means candidates can expect the official answer key to be uploaded on the dedicated portal, ugcnet.nta.ac.in, at any moment now.
The Objection Process: Your Chance to Raise Challenges
The release of the provisional answer key is not the final step. It initiates a critical window for candidates to review the official answers. The NTA will open an online objection facility where aspirants can formally challenge any question or answer they believe to be incorrect or flawed.
All submitted objections will be meticulously examined by a panel of subject matter experts appointed by the NTA. If a challenge is found to be valid and correct, the necessary modifications will be made. These corrections will be incorporated into the final answer key, which will then form the basis for preparing the final results. It is imperative to note that the final results will only be declared after this comprehensive review process is complete.
How to Download the UGC NET Answer Key 2025
Once the NTA makes the provisional answer key live, candidates should follow these straightforward steps to access and download it:
- Navigate to the official UGC NET website at ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
- On the homepage, locate and click on the 'Latest News' or similar announcements section.
- Find and click on the specific link titled 'UGC NET Provisional Answer Key December 2025'.
- You will be prompted to log in using your application number and date of birth or the password created during registration.
- Upon successful login, the answer key PDF will be displayed on your screen.
- Download the file and save it for a detailed review of the responses.
What should candidates do next? Experts and the NTA itself advise aspirants to carefully cross-verify their recorded responses from the exam with the answers provided in the official key. This exercise allows for a reasonably accurate self-assessment of scores well before the final results are announced.
The NTA has consistently urged candidates to depend solely on official communications and updates. Any further notifications regarding the answer key, the objection window, or the result declaration will be published exclusively on the official website. Avoiding rumours and unverified sources is crucial during this period.
