CSIR NET (Joint CSIR-UGC NET)
What is CSIR NET, who can sit it after a science master's, and what do the JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD-only results mean?
The Joint CSIR-UGC NET is the national test that decides who gets a CSIR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), who is eligible to be appointed Assistant Professor, and who can use the score for PhD admission, in five science subjects. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts it for CSIR. It is a three-hour computer-based test in three parts, and each subject has its own question counts and marking. This page follows NTA's Information Bulletin and public notice for the December 2026 exam, both dated 7 October 2026.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 31 December 2026. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
December 2026 cycle: applications from 7 October to 5 November 2026, exam on 19, 22 and 27 December 2026. NTA calls the dates tentative; check csirnet.nta.nic.in.
Exam at a glance
- Conducted by
- National Testing Agency (NTA), for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)[1]
- Subjects
- Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences and Bio-Technology; Mathematical Sciences; Physical Sciences[1]
- Education
- A master's degree or equivalent with 55% (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and third gender), or a four-year bachelor's degree with 75% for JRF and PhD only[1]
- Age limit
- JRF: not more than 30 on 1 December 2026, with up to 5 years' relaxation. Assistant Professor and PhD only: no upper age limit.[1]
- Mode and duration
- Computer-based test, 180 minutes, multiple-choice, in Hindi and English[1]
- Exam dates (December 2026 cycle)
- 19, 22 and 27 December 2026, tentative[2]
- Fee
- Rs 1,150 General; Rs 600 General-EWS and OBC-NCL; Rs 325 SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and third gender[1]
Life Sciences: questions set vs questions you may answer
| Category | JRF | Assistant Professor | PhD admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1: JRF and Assistant Professor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2: Assistant Professor and PhD admission | No | Yes | Yes |
| 3: PhD admission only | No | No | Yes |
The results committee decides how many candidates qualify in each category. Category 2 and 3 marks are valid for PhD admission for one year from the result, with 70% weight to the test and 30% to the interview.[1]
| Subject | Questions | Answer at most | Marks per correct answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Sciences | 20 / 40 / 60 | 15 / 35 / 25 | 2 / 2 / 4 |
| Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences | 20 / 50 / 80 | 15 / 35 / 25 | 2 / 2 / 4 |
| Life Sciences and Bio-Technology | 20 / 50 / 75 | 15 / 35 / 25 | 2 / 2 / 4 |
| Mathematical Sciences | 20 / 40 / 60 | 15 / 25 / 20 | 2 / 3 / 4.75 |
| Physical Sciences | 20 / 25 / 30 | 15 / 20 / 20 | 2 / 3.5 / 5 |
Every subject totals 200 marks. Part A is general aptitude, common to all subjects; Part B has subject questions; Part C has higher-order analytical questions. If you answer more than the limit, only the first ones count. Wrong answers lose 25% of the marks (33% in Part C of Earth Sciences), and Part C of Mathematical Sciences has no negative marking.[1]
You must be an Indian citizen with a master's degree or equivalent and at least 55% marks without rounding off (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and third gender candidates). You can apply while still studying for the master's or waiting for the result, but you are admitted provisionally and must finish with the required marks within two years of the NET result (one year if you qualify only for PhD admission).
Holders of a four-year (eight-semester) bachelor's degree with at least 75% marks, or 70% with the 5% relaxation for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwBD, EWS and others, can also apply. They can get the JRF and PhD admission, but not eligibility for Assistant Professor. They may take the subject in which they want to do the PhD, whatever their bachelor's discipline.
The JRF age limit is 30 on 1 December 2026, the first day of the month in which the exam ends. OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, third gender and women candidates get up to 5 years more; research experience and armed forces service can also earn relaxation, but the total never exceeds five years. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD-only.[1]
A JRF pays Rs 37,000 a month for the first two years, plus a contingent grant of Rs 20,000 a year. If you register for a PhD and an expert committee assesses your work, it moves to SRF (NET) at Rs 42,000 a month from the third year. JRF holders join PhD programmes through an interview under the UGC PhD Regulations, 2022. The number of fellowships per subject is limited and changes from cycle to cycle.
Assistant Professor eligibility has no end date. In Life Sciences, fellowships are also awarded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) through this exam.
The bulletin does not state how long the JRF award stays valid, so check the award letter and the CSIR HRDG website (csirhrdg.res.in) if you qualify.[1]
- Your marks in Parts A, B and C are added. There is no separate cut-off for each part.
- The minimum benchmark is 33% for General, EWS and OBC candidates and 25% for SC, ST and PwD/PwBD candidates, for all three categories.
- The third gender cut-off is the lowest of the SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, OBC-NCL and General-EWS cut-offs in that subject.
- Results use the final answer keys, and the score card shows marks and a percentile.
Source[1]
- 7 October to 5 November 2026 (11.50 p.m.): online applications and fee.
- 6 to 9 November 2026: late applications with a Rs 500 late fee.
- 10 to 12 November 2026: correction window.
- 19, 22 and 27 December 2026: exam days (shifts run 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.).
- Before you apply: check your master's marks against the 55% or 50% rule and, if you want the JRF, your age on 1 December 2026.
- Until the exam: download the syllabus from csirhrdg.res.in (NTA does not send copies) and practise within the answer limits of your subject, because extra answers are not counted.
Source[1]
Tips and tricks
- Work out which of the three categories you can reach before you plan. A four-year bachelor's degree can lead to the JRF and PhD, but never to Assistant Professor eligibility.[1]
- Check your age for the JRF against the first day of the month in which the exam ends (1 December 2026 for this cycle), not your age on the day you apply.[1]
- Learn your subject's answer limits by heart. In Physical Sciences you may answer only 55 of the 75 questions.[1]
Questions people ask
Can I apply for CSIR NET in the final year of my M.Sc?
Yes. Students still in their master's, or waiting for the result, can apply under the result-awaited category. You must then pass with 55% (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and third gender) within two years of the NET result, or one year if you qualify only for PhD admission.[1]
What is the age limit for CSIR NET JRF?
For the December 2026 exam, not more than 30 years on 1 December 2026. OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, third gender and women candidates get up to 5 years more, and the total relaxation can never exceed five years. Assistant Professor and PhD-only have no upper age limit.[1]
Can I take CSIR NET after a four-year B.Sc?
Yes, with at least 75% marks (5% relaxation for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwBD, EWS and others). You can qualify for the JRF and PhD admission, but not for Assistant Professor.[1]
Is there negative marking in CSIR NET?
Yes, in most parts. A wrong answer loses 25% of that question's marks (33% in Part C of Earth Sciences). Part C of Mathematical Sciences has no negative marking, but there you must mark all the correct options to get credit.[1]
Where do I find the CSIR NET syllabus?
On the CSIR HRDG website, csirhrdg.res.in. The bulletin says NTA will not send a copy of the syllabus to individual candidates.[1]
Connected pages
- Related · DegreeB.Sc (Bachelor of Science)How long a B.Sc takes, the honours and research year, the CUET tests that get you in, and M.Sc at IITs through JAM. From UGC and NTA.
- Related · ExamGATE 2027 (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)GATE 2027 from IIT Madras's brochure: who can sit it, the 30 papers and allowed pairs, marking, qualifying marks, the February dates and what the score opens.
Official and partner links
Sources
- Information Bulletin: Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 (published 07-10-2026), National Testing Agency. p. 4 (fee, dates, mode), sections 1.5-1.8, 2.1, 3.1-3.7, 11.3 (pp. 11-32). Accessed 17 October 2026.
- Public Notice: Inviting Online Applications for Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026, dated 07.10.2026, National Testing Agency. Accessed 17 October 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 17 October 2026.