What has been the recent UGC NET Environmental Science cut-off?
For the Unreserved category, the JRF cut-off across the six latest completed cycles moved between 174 and 196 marks, while the Assistant Professor cut-off moved between 154 and 174 marks. The latest June 2026 cut-off is 194 for JRF, 162 for Assistant Professor and 142 for PhD only.
The highest JRF cut-off in this period appeared in December 2024 at 196. The latest June 2026 Unreserved JRF cut-off is 194—just two marks below that peak.
Why this blog now uses the last six exam cycles
UGC NET is normally conducted more than once in a calendar year. Comparing only one cut-off per year can hide important changes between June and December sessions. This article therefore uses the six latest completed cut-off cycles: December 2023, June 2024, December 2024, June 2025, December 2025 and June 2026.
The December 2023 cycle did not use the separate “PhD only” cut-off column shown in later cycles. Those cells are marked as not applicable rather than estimated.
A movement of 22 marks across five cycles.
A movement of 20 marks across five cycles.
Official June 2026 cut-off.
UGC NET Environmental Science cut-off: category-wise table
The first value is the cut-off out of 300. The percentage is a simple conversion for easier interpretation.
| Category | JRF marks | JRF % | Assistant Professor marks | AP % | PhD-only marks | PhD % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2023 | ||||||
| UR | 174 | 58.00% | 154 | 51.33% | Not applicable | — |
| OBC-NCL | 164 | 54.67% | 142 | 47.33% | Not applicable | — |
| EWS | 164 | 54.67% | 142 | 47.33% | Not applicable | — |
| SC | 154 | 51.33% | 136 | 45.33% | Not applicable | — |
| ST | 152 | 50.67% | 130 | 43.33% | Not applicable | — |
| June 2024 | ||||||
| UR | 182 | 60.67% | 160 | 53.33% | 142 | 47.33% |
| OBC-NCL | 170 | 56.67% | 146 | 48.67% | 132 | 44.00% |
| EWS | 172 | 57.33% | 148 | 49.33% | 132 | 44.00% |
| SC | 160 | 53.33% | 138 | 46.00% | 126 | 42.00% |
| ST | 160 | 53.33% | 136 | 45.33% | 124 | 41.33% |
| December 2024 | ||||||
| UR | 196 | 65.33% | 174 | 58.00% | 154 | 51.33% |
| OBC-NCL | 188 | 62.67% | 160 | 53.33% | 142 | 47.33% |
| EWS | 190 | 63.33% | 160 | 53.33% | 142 | 47.33% |
| SC | 174 | 58.00% | 150 | 50.00% | 134 | 44.67% |
| ST | 172 | 57.33% | 146 | 48.67% | 130 | 43.33% |
| June 2025 | ||||||
| UR | 174 | 58.00% | 156 | 52.00% | 140 | 46.67% |
| OBC-NCL | 164 | 54.67% | 144 | 48.00% | 130 | 43.33% |
| EWS | 166 | 55.33% | 144 | 48.00% | 130 | 43.33% |
| SC | 158 | 52.67% | 138 | 46.00% | 126 | 42.00% |
| ST | 156 | 52.00% | 136 | 45.33% | 124 | 41.33% |
| December 2025 | ||||||
| UR | 190 | 63.33% | 166 | 55.33% | 146 | 48.67% |
| OBC-NCL | 180 | 60.00% | 152 | 50.67% | 136 | 45.33% |
| EWS | 182 | 60.67% | 152 | 50.67% | 134 | 44.67% |
| SC | 166 | 55.33% | 142 | 47.33% | 128 | 42.67% |
| ST | 166 | 55.33% | 142 | 47.33% | 128 | 42.67% |
| June 2026 — Latest Official Result | ||||||
| UR | 194 | 64.67% | 162 | 54.00% | 142 | 47.33% |
| OBC-NCL | 178 | 59.33% | 146 | 48.67% | 132 | 44.00% |
| EWS | 182 | 60.67% | 148 | 49.33% | 132 | 44.00% |
| SC | 164 | 54.67% | 138 | 46.00% | 126 | 42.00% |
| ST | 156 | 52.00% | 136 | 45.33% | 124 | 41.33% |
Environmental Sciences (Subject Code 089): UR 194 / 162 / 142; OBC-NCL 178 / 146 / 132; EWS 182 / 148 / 132; SC 164 / 138 / 126; ST 156 / 136 / 124 for JRF / Assistant Professor / PhD only respectively.
Cut-offs are subject- and category-specific. A general minimum qualifying percentage is not the same as the final subject cut-off.
This table focuses on UR, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC and ST. PwD subcategory values are available in the detailed official PDFs.
The cut-off is not moving in one straight direction
June 2026 adds a new official point: JRF 194 and Assistant Professor 162 for the Unreserved category.
The original graph above is retained for historical context. The updated graph adds June 2026, where the UR JRF cut-off rose from 190 to 194, while the Assistant Professor cut-off moved from 166 to 162. This is another reminder that JRF and Assistant Professor cut-offs do not always move by the same amount.
- December 2023: UR JRF 174 and AP 154.
- June 2024: 182 and 160.
- December 2024: period peak—196 and 174.
- June 2025: fall to 174 and 156.
- December 2025: recovery to 190 and 166.
- June 2026: JRF rises to 194, while Assistant Professor is 162.
What changed in the UGC NET Environmental Science June 2026 cut-off?
Up 4 marks from December 2025 (190).
Down 4 marks from December 2025 (166).
Latest official June 2026 threshold.
The June 2026 result is interesting because the JRF cut-off increased while the Assistant Professor cut-off decreased for the Unreserved category. So a single statement such as “the paper was easy, therefore every cut-off should rise” is too simplistic.
Before the result, Dr. Mukesh Goyal had placed the expected JRF cut-off in the 190+ range. The official Unreserved JRF cut-off has now come at 194. This puts the prediction in the correct score band. Expected cut-offs are estimates; the official NTA figure remains final.
What the category data tells aspirants
Unreserved category
The five-cycle JRF average is approximately 183 marks. Aiming only at this average is risky because the cut-off reached 196 in December 2024.
OBC-NCL and EWS
These categories often remained close, but they were not always identical. In December 2024, EWS JRF reached 190 while OBC-NCL was 188.
SC and ST
In December 2025 both categories had JRF 166 and AP 142, but this equality should not be assumed for future cycles.
What should be considered a safe score?
There is no officially guaranteed safe score. A practical target should remain above the highest recent cut-off, not merely above the last session’s result.
These targets create a buffer above the highest cut-offs in the five-cycle table. Use the same principle for your own category.
Why does the cut-off change?
- Overall candidate performance
- Difficulty and scoring character of Paper 1 and Paper 2
- Number of candidates in the subject and category
- The applicable qualification framework
- Final answer-key changes, including dropped or revised questions
The cut-off is an outcome of the complete examination cycle and cannot be predicted from paper difficulty alone.
How should students use previous cut-off data?
- Set a range, not one magical number.
- Compare mock scores out of 300.
- Track Paper 1 and Paper 2 separately.
- Build a buffer above recent peaks.
- Analyse accuracy and recurring errors.
Also read the complete Environmental Science preparation guide and keep the Environmental Science syllabus beside your study plan.
Preparing above the cut-off requires more than syllabus completion
Cut-off analysis tells you the destination; a repeatable preparation system helps keep your score above it.
Build a score that does not depend on a low cut-off
Explore the current curriculum, class format, practice support and revision structure before enrolment.
UGC NET Environmental Science cut-off FAQs
Is 180 a good score?
It can be competitive for Assistant Professor in the recent cycles shown, but it has not always been enough for UR JRF.
What was the highest UR JRF cut-off?
196 marks in December 2024.
What was the December 2025 cut-off?
For UR: 190 for JRF, 166 for Assistant Professor and 146 for PhD only.
Is the minimum qualifying percentage the final cut-off?
No. The final subject/category cut-off can be much higher.
Can the next cut-off be predicted exactly?
No. Historical data is best used for target-setting and risk management.