#CareerBytes: What career opportunities do you have after clearing UGC-NET?
The UGC National Eligibility Test (NET), conducted by the National Testing Agency, is one of the toughest exams in India. It is a national-level exam conducted to select candidates for the posts of Assistant Professor or both Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor at universities/colleges. Qualifying for UGC-NET also opens up several other career opportunities. Here are some career options after clearing UGC-NET.
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. Candidates qualifying in the UGC-NET exam are eligible for research programs (JRF) and lectureship in various Indian universities/colleges, including the IITs and NITs.
After clearing NET-JRF, candidates can pursue research in their respective postgraduate disciplines. They can choose universities/colleges from NET Coordinating Institutes and enroll themselves for pursuing 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.
Candidates who have qualified 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.
Candidates who qualify for the post of an 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 phase, they can earn a salary ranging between Rs. 25,000-40,000/month, depending on their score, skills, and the institutes.
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.
