What has been the recent UGC NET Environmental Science cut-off?
For the Unreserved category, the JRF cut-off across the five latest completed cycles moved between 174 and 196 marks, while the Assistant Professor cut-off moved between 154 and 174 marks.
The highest cut-off in this period appeared in December 2024: 196 for JRF and 174 for Assistant Professor in the Unreserved category.
Why this blog uses the last five 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 five latest completed cut-off cycles: December 2023, June 2024, December 2024, June 2025 and December 2025.
The December 2023 cycle did not use the separate โPhD onlyโ 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 December 2025 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 | โ |
| OBC-NCL | 164 | 54.67% | 142 | 47.33% | Not applicable | โ |
| EWS | 164 | 54.67% | 142 | 47.33% | Not applicable | โ |
| SC | 154 | 51.33% | 136 | 45.33% | Not applicable | โ |
| ST | 152 | 50.67% | 130 | 43.33% | Not applicable | โ |
| 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% |
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
The trend shows a sharp rise in December 2024, followed by a fall in June 2025 and another increase in December 2025. Students should not treat the previous sessionโs cut-off as a guaranteed target.
- December 2023: UR JRF 174 and AP 154.
- June 2024: 182 and 160.
- December 2024: period peakโ196 and 174.
- June 2025: fall to 174 and 156.
- December 2025: recovery to 190 and 166.
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 sessionโs 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.