About CSIR & Its NET Examination 2026

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in association with the University Grants Commission (UGC), conducts the CSIR UGC NET (National Eligibility Test) to determine eligibility for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for appointment as Assistant Professor / Lectureship in Indian universities and colleges. The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of CSIR, twice a year (June & December cycles).

CSIR NET is held for the following five subjects:

• Chemical Sciences
• Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
• Life Sciences
• Mathematical Sciences
• Physical Sciences

Candidates may apply for either:

• JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) + Assistant Professor / Lectureship — eligible for fellowship and research positions along with teaching eligibility.
• Assistant Professor / Lectureship only — eligible for teaching positions in universities/colleges.

Eligibility generally requires a Master's Degree/B.E./B.Tech/B.Pharma/MBBS or equivalent in the relevant subject with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD/third gender candidates), subject to age limits applicable for the JRF category (usually up to 28 years, with relaxation for reserved categories). There is no upper age limit for the Assistant Professor/Lectureship-only category.

🎯 CSIR NET Examination Overview

CSIR NET is conducted twice a year by NTA on behalf of CSIR, for five major science subjects. This overview will help you understand the exam structure and eligibility for each stream.

✍️ How to Fill the CSIR NET Application Form

To successfully complete the CSIR NET application process, follow these steps:

• Visit the Official NTA CSIR NET WebsiteNavigate to csirnet.nta.ac.in to begin your application process.
• Register with Basic DetailsNew users must register with name, date of birth, mobile number, and email ID to generate an application number and password.
• Select the Appropriate SubjectChoose the relevant subject (Chemical, Earth, Life, Mathematical, or Physical Sciences) and category (JRF or Lectureship) for which you are applying.
• Fill Personal & Educational DetailsEnter your personal, communication, educational qualification, and exam centre preference details as prompted.
• Upload Scanned DocumentsUpload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and category/PwBD certificates (if applicable) in the specified format and size.
• Pay the Application FeeComplete the fee payment via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI as specified in the guidelines.
• Review and SubmitCarefully review the application form before clicking the final submit button.
• Print the Confirmation PageAfter successful submission, download and print the confirmation page for your records.

📝 CSIR NET Application Fee

When applying for CSIR NET, candidates must adhere to the following fee structure:

• General Category: A standard fee is applicable as per the official notification.
• OBC-NCL / EWS: A reduced fee is applicable for these categories.
• SC / ST / PwBD / Third Gender: A further reduced/nominal fee is applicable.
• Payment Mode: Online payment through net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI is accepted.
• Non-Refundable: The application fee, once paid, is non-refundable under any circumstances.

📄 CSIR NET Eligibility (Subject-wise)

To qualify for the CSIR NET examination, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Educational Qualification: Master's Degree / B.E. / B.Tech / B.Pharma / MBBS or equivalent degree in the relevant science subject with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD/third gender candidates).
• Final Year Candidates: Candidates pursuing their final year of Master's Degree may also apply provisionally.
• Age Limit (JRF): Maximum 28 years as on the notified date, with standard age relaxation for reserved categories.
• Age Limit (Lectureship/Assistant Professor): No upper age limit.
• Number of Attempts: No restriction on the number of attempts, subject to the age limit for JRF category.
• Nationality: Must be a citizen of India.

📝 CSIR NET Selection Process

The CSIR NET selection process is based on a single Computer-Based Test (CBT) held in one session, divided into three parts:

• Part A — General Aptitude, common to all subjects, testing general science, quantitative reasoning, analytical and numerical ability.
• Part B — Subject-related conventional Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) testing knowledge of the chosen subject.
• Part C — Higher-order thinking application-based questions testing the candidate's understanding of scientific concepts and their applications.
• Cut-off & Merit List — Final selection for JRF and Lectureship/Assistant Professor eligibility is based on aggregate marks obtained, subject-wise and category-wise cut-offs, and merit list published by CSIR.

📄 CSIR NET Syllabus & Exam Pattern

The CSIR NET exam is a single-paper, single-session, three-hour Computer-Based Test with negative marking. The general pattern is as follows:

• Part A — General Science, Quantitative Reasoning & Analysis, Research Aptitude (common for all subjects, 15-20 questions to be attempted).
• Part B — Subject-specific conventional MCQs based on the syllabus of the chosen subject.
• Part C — Higher-order, application-based, analytical questions to test scientific concept application.

Negative marking is applicable for wrong answers across all three parts. The exact marking scheme and number of questions vary slightly by subject; refer to the official CSIR NET notification for full subject-wise syllabus details.

For more information visit the official CSIR NET (NTA) website.

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