UGC NET 2026: NTA clarifies Rs 200 answer key challenge fee, says amount refunded if objection upheld

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Amid concerns among candidates over the Rs 200 fee for challenging the answer key in UGC NET 2026, authorities have clarified that the system is designed to ensure fairness and allow genuine errors in the provisional answer key to be corrected.

While issuing an official statement on August 20, the National Testing Agency (NTA) said that the clarification comes as candidates raise questions over the cost involved in challenging answers in competitive examinations.

One valid challenge can benefit every candidate

As per NTA, under the answer key challenge system, a candidate does not necessarily have to be the only person who benefits from a successful objection.

The agency also added that if even one candidate challenges a question and the objection is accepted by the subject experts after review, the revised answer key is applicable to all candidates who appeared for the examination.

This means that a single valid challenge can potentially correct an error for lakhs of candidates who answered the same question.

Rs 200 to be fee refunded if the challenge is upheld

While taking it to social media handle X, the authorities also clarified that the Rs 200 fee charged per question is refunded if the candidate's challenge is accepted.

"Fee is refunded if you're right. The Rs 200/question is refunded to the candidate whose challenge is upheld. The fee exists to discourage frivolous challenges, not to profit from genuine ones," NTA highlighted.

The fee is intended to discourage candidates from filing frivolous or unsupported objections rather than to generate revenue from genuine challenges.

Therefore, candidates who have identified what they believe is a genuine error in the provisional answer key can raise an objection with supporting evidence. If the challenge is found to be correct by the subject experts, the candidate will receive a refund of the challenge fee, while the correction will also benefit all other candidates who appeared for the examination.

NTA also wrote, "So if you have identified a genuine error and raised it, if found correct, it will not only be refunded, but one accurate challenge from any candidate can correct the record for lakhs of others."

The clarification emphasises that the answer key challenge mechanism is intended to maintain accuracy and fairness in the evaluation process, with a single legitimate objection having the potential to correct the record for a large number of candidates.