NEW DELHI | August 20, 2026
Centre Confirms UGC-NET Retest Before Delhi High Court
The Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that the UGC-NET June 2026 examination will be conducted again for three subjects — English, Commerce and Sociology.
The decision follows complaints regarding errors in the question papers. The Centre’s submission was made before the Delhi High Court on August 19, with the court taking note of the decision to conduct fresh examinations.
English, Commerce and Sociology Papers to Be Re-Conducted
According to the Centre’s submission, the English and Commerce papers will be held on September 9, while the Sociology paper will be conducted on September 10.
The retest applies specifically to these three subjects. Candidates who appeared for other UGC-NET June 2026 subjects are not included in this re-examination.
Why Was the UGC-NET Retest Ordered?
The National Testing Agency had received complaints about errors in the question papers.
Following the complaints, an expert committee examined the papers and identified factual, linguistic and translation-related issues. The NTA subsequently announced that the affected papers would be conducted again to ensure fairness for candidates.
The NTA’s official public notice dated August 16, 2026, confirms the re-conduct of the English, Commerce and Sociology papers.
Delhi High Court Petition Disposed Of
The matter came before the Delhi High Court after a candidate who appeared for the Sociology examination sought relief over concerns surrounding the paper and the declaration of results.
After the Centre informed the court about the decision to conduct a fresh examination, the court disposed of the petition.
What About the Other UGC-NET Subjects?
The June 2026 UGC-NET examination was conducted across 87 subjects.
The re-examination is limited to English, Commerce and Sociology. The remaining subjects are not part of the retest announced by NTA.
No Additional Examination Fee for Affected Candidates
Candidates appearing for the affected subjects will not have to pay another examination fee for the re-test, according to information reported following NTA’s announcement.
The fresh examination is intended to provide affected candidates with a fair opportunity after the problems identified in the original papers.
NTA Faces Questions Over Examination Process
The UGC-NET controversy has also triggered broader questions about quality control and the process used to prepare national-level examination papers.
Reports have highlighted repeated questions and errors in some of the affected papers. There has also been debate over allegations that artificial intelligence may have been used in question preparation; however, NTA has denied allegations of irresponsible use of generative AI in creating the papers.
Important Dates for Candidates
For affected candidates, the key dates are:
- English: September 9, 2026
- Commerce: September 9, 2026
- Sociology: September 10, 2026
Candidates should continue to monitor the official UGC-NET/NTA portal for admit-card, examination-centre and other schedule-related updates.
UGC-NET Candidates Await Fresh Examination
The September retest provides a fresh opportunity for candidates affected by problems in the original papers.
With the Centre confirming the schedule before the Delhi High Court and NTA already issuing its re-conduct notice, attention now shifts to the preparation and smooth conduct of the three examinations.
Source: National Testing Agency, The Indian Express, The New Indian Express, Times of India.
Original Report: Supreme News Network (SSN)
