NE SET 2026 Exam: Complete Guide for State Eligibility Test 2026

The NE SET 2026 exam has been officially announced by the SLET Commission Assam (North Eastern Region) for candidates who want to qualify for Assistant Professor posts in universities and colleges across the North East. The exam will be held on 15th March 2026, and the online application process begins on 21st November 2025. The last date to submit the form is 5th January 2026. The test covers 38 subjects and is an important career opportunity in Northeast India for individuals aiming to enter the teaching field.

The State Eligibility Test 2026 is open to candidates who have completed or are appearing in their Master’s degree final year. There is no upper age limit, and the SET certificate issued after qualifying remains valid forever. Candidates from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim can apply. This annual exam serves as a gateway for Assistant Professor careers in the Northeast region.

NE SET 2026 Exam Overview

NE SET 2026 Important Dates

NE SET 2026 Subject Details

The NE SET 2026 Exam does not offer job vacancies. Instead, it provides the eligibility certificate required for applying to Assistant Professor posts in universities and colleges of the Northeastern States.

Subjects Offered in NE SET 2026:

Here is the list of subjects offered in the NE SLET 2026 exam:

Expert Tip: Choose your subject carefully as per your Master Degree. If your subject is not available, select the closest related subject as allowed in the brochure.

NE SET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• General and EWS candidates must have 55 percent marks in Master Degree.
• SC, ST, OBC Non-Creamy Layer, PWD and Third Gender must have 50 percent marks.
• Final year PG students may apply but must secure required marks within two years of result declaration.
• Candidates must appear in the subject of their Master Degree only.

Age Limit

• No upper age limit for applying.
• Unlimited attempts allowed.

Experience Requirements

• No experience required.

Expert Tip: If you are in your final semester, upload the attestation format signed by the Head of Department to avoid rejection.

NE SET 2026 Application Process

The entire application and fee process is completely online.

Mode of Application

• Online through www.sletneonline.co.in

Direct Application Link

• Click here to register online for NE SET 2026 Exam.
• Click here to login for NE SET Exam 2026.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Visit www.sletneonline.co.in
2. Register and fill out the online form with personal and educational details.
3. Upload scanned photograph, signature and required certificates.
4. Submit the form and note your Application ID.
5. Pay the examination fee through Payment Gateway or download bank challan.
6. If paying by challan, deposit fee at any SBI branch after one day of submission.
7. Take printout of the submitted form.

Documents Required

• PG Marksheets and Certificates
• Category Certificate (SC, ST, OBC NCL, EWS) if applicable
• PWD Certificate if applicable
• Attestation form for final year students
• Passport-size photograph
• Scanned signature

Expert Tip: Keep your documents scanned between 5 KB and 50 KB as required to avoid upload errors.

NE SET 2026 Application Fees

Payment Method:

• Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, Wallet
• SBI challan at bank branches

NE SET 2026 Salary / Pay Scale

NE SET does not provide a salary because it is a qualification exam, not a recruitment. Salary depends on the Assistant Professor post you apply for later.

Expert Tip: After clearing SET, you can apply for Assistant Professor posts in NE states under UGC Pay Level 10, which offers strong career stability.

NE SET 2026 Selection Process

Exam Pattern

• Paper I:
  • 50 questions
  • 100 marks
  • Duration: 1 hour
• Paper II:
  • 100 questions
  • 200 marks
  • Duration: 2 hours
• No negative marking
• Questions include: MCQ, Matching, Assertion-Reason, True/False

Qualifying Criteria

• Top 6 percent of total appearing candidates are declared qualified.
• General and EWS: 40 percent aggregate in both papers.
• SC, ST, OBC NCL, PWD, Third Gender: 35 percent aggregate.

Expert Tip: Focus more on conceptual clarity because no negative marking allows you to attempt all questions confidently.

Important Links

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