What's the story
The University Grants Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test (NET) is one of India's most coveted exams. Held by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the national-level exam opens various career opportunities for qualifying candidates. For example, through UGC-NET, candidates are recruited for assistant professor posts and/or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) at universities/colleges across India. Check out these five career options you have after cracking UGC-NET.
Details
What is UGC National Eligibility Test?
The NTA conducts the NET exam twice a year on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). In order to be eligible for the exam, candidates must have secured at least 55% marks in their master's degree (for the general category). Candidates qualifying in the UGC-NET exam are eligible for research programs (JRF) and lectureships in various Indian universities and colleges.
NET-JRF
Candidates can pursue research after qualifying for NET-JRF
After clearing NET-JRF, candidates can pursue research in their respective postgraduate disciplines. They can choose universities/colleges from NET Coordinating Institutes and enroll to pursue PhD at different universities/institutes and IIMs. After registering for PhD, they will also be awarded a five-year fellowship: Rs. 31,000/month+HRA (HRA availability depends on the institute) for the first two years and Rs. 35,000/month+HRA for the next three years.
Information
JRF-qualified candidates can also work for various organizations
Candidates qualified for NET-JRF can also work as researchers in various firms. JRF-qualified candidates are recruited by many organizations to carry out research work for the benefit of the company. Alternatively, such candidates can also establish their own laboratories for research.
Assistant Professor
What about those qualifying for assistant professor posts through UGC-NET?
Candidates who qualify for the post of assistant professor through UGC-NET can pursue a career in teaching. They can explore opportunities at the top institutes across India and apply for the post of an assistant professor with their valid NET scorecard. In the initial career phase, they can earn a salary ranging between Rs. 25,000-40,000/month, depending on their score, skills, and the institutes.
PSU jobs
PSUs recruit candidates based on UGC-NET scores
Candidates who have successfully cleared UGC-NET are also eligible to get lucrative jobs offered by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). Based on UGC-NET scores, PSUs recruit candidates for posts of executives in various disciplines like science and R&D, management, corporate communications, human resources, and finance. Some of the top PSUs that shortlist candidates for recruitment through UGC-NET include BHEL, ONGC, NTPC, and HPCL, among others.
