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HomeExamsCSIR NET

CSIR NET

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Eligibility Test (CSIR UGC NET)

Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA), on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Key facts

  • 3 hr

    Duration

  • 200

    Total marks

  • 5

    Sections

  • 150 MCQs

    Questions

  • INR 325 - 1,150

    Application fee

  • Not announced yet

    Nearest upcoming date

  • Application feeINR 325 - 1,150
  • Nearest upcoming dateNot announced yet

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Courses this exam leads to

  • Not applicable in the traditional sense -- CSIR NET is an eligibility/qualifying test for JRF (research fellowship, typically leading to a PhD) and for Assistant Professor/Lectureship positions in Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences

Eligibility criteria

  • Candidates must hold (or be pursuing the final year of) a Master's degree (MSc or equivalent, e.g. BS-4 years/BE/BTech/BPharma/MBBS) in a relevant Science subject, generally with a minimum 55% aggregate (50% for //third gender categories) per CSIR's standard eligibility norms
  • There is a prescribed upper age limit for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) category (with relaxations for reserved categories), while there is no upper age limit for the Lectureship (Assistant Professor)-only category

Category-wise eligibility

Category-wise eligibility
CategoryEligibility / relaxation
GeneralCriteria listed above
There is a prescribed upper age limit for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) category (with relaxations for reserved categories), while there is no upper age limit for the Lectureship (Assistant Professor)-only category
SC50% for //third gender categories There is a prescribed upper age limit for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) category (with relaxations for reserved categories), while there is no upper age limit for the Lectureship (Assistant Professor)-only category
ST50% for //third gender categories There is a prescribed upper age limit for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) category (with relaxations for reserved categories), while there is no upper age limit for the Lectureship (Assistant Professor)-only category
50% for //third gender categories

Application fee

Application fee
Application typeFee
General categoryINR 1,150
General-/(NCL)INR 600
//PwBD/Third GenderINR 325

Colleges accepting this exam

  • Not a college-admission exam -- clearing CSIR NET determines eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for Lectureship (LS)/Assistant Professor positions in universities and colleges across India (in Science & Technology faculty subjects only), rather than admission to a specific institution
Important dates
EventDate
Life Sciences in Shift 1Jul 17
  • CSIR NET June 2026 session: application window May 27-Jun 19, 2026 (correction window Jun 22-23), city intimation slip Jul 8, Jul 13, exam held Jul 17-18, 2026 (Mathematical Sciences and Physical Sciences in Shift 2 on Jul 17
  • Chemical Sciences and Earth Sciences in Shift 1 on Jul 18), answer key Aug 16, result Aug 29, 2026
  • CSIR NET December 2026 session: exam dates announced as Dec 20-21, 2026 (notification/application form expected around Sep-Oct 2026)
  • CSIR NET June 2026 result and final answer key were declared Aug 29, 2026, on csirnet.nta.nic.in
Register / Apply now Opens the official application portal

How to register

  1. 1Apply online at csirnet.nta.nic.in
  2. 2Complete registration (name, mother's name, date of birth, etc.) to generate an application number sent by email/SMS
  3. 3Log in to fill the application form with personal and educational details
  4. 4Upload photograph
  5. 5Signature and certificates as per specifications
  6. 6Pay the exam fee online (net banking/debit/credit card/UPI). A correction window is opened after submission for specific editable fields

Application fee

Application fee
Application typeFee
General categoryINR 1,150
General-/(NCL)INR 600
//PwBD/Third GenderINR 325

CSIR NET college predictor

We cannot estimate admission chances from a CSIR NET result yet, because we do not hold enough data for it. Find Colleges can still match you to colleges using your marks, course and budget.

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CSIR NET previous year question papers

We are adding previous year papers for CSIR NET. Until then, the exam body's official site is the best source for authentic papers.

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  • Subject-specific syllabus released separately for each of the 5 subjects (Chemical Sciences, Earth/Atmospheric/Ocean/Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences) by CSIR/, covering topics at the postgraduate (Master's) level of the corresponding discipline
  • Full syllabus PDFs (Part A/B/C structure) are published on the official portal
Exam pattern
ParameterDetails
ModeOnline, (CBT)
Duration180 minutes (3 hours), in Shift 1 (9:00 AM-12:00 Noon) or Shift 2 (3:00 PM-6:00 PM) depending on subject
Total questions150 per subject paper
Total marks200 marks per subject paper
+2 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each incorrect answer
SectionsSingle subject paper chosen from 5 subjects: Chemical Sciences, Earth/Atmospheric/Ocean/Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences

CSIR NET mock tests

We are adding practice tests for CSIR NET. Meanwhile, look for an official practice portal on the exam's website.

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CSIR NET books

Recommended books for CSIR NET are being added. Ask Mimi or a counsellor for a suggested reading list.

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  • Subject-specific postgraduate-level textbooks and CSIR NET's own previous years' question papers (PYQs) for the chosen subject are the primary preparation resources
  • Candidates are advised to focus on unit-wise syllabus coverage, regular practice, and revision of core Master's-level concepts, given that all 5 subject papers test material at the MSc level

Download process

  • Released via candidate login on csirnet.nta.nic.in ahead of each session (June 2026 session released Jul 13, 2026, after a City Intimation Slip on Jul 8)
  • Shows exam centre, date and shift timing
  • Mandatory hard copy required for exam-day entry

Result date

  • CSIR NET June 2026 result and final answer key were declared Aug 29, 2026, on csirnet.nta.nic.in

After the result

  • Declared online at csirnet.nta.nic.in
  • Candidates log in with application number and date of birth/security PIN to view and download their scorecard
  • Qualified candidates are also issued a CSIR NET e-certificate (JRF or Assistant Professor eligibility) downloadable via roll number and date of birth
  • No centralised -- CSIR NET is a qualifying/eligibility test, not a seat-allotment exam
  • Candidates who qualify for JRF are separately awarded a fellowship (subject to enrolling in a PhD programme at a recognised institution within 2 years), while those qualifying for Lectureship/Assistant Professor eligibility apply independently to universities and colleges for teaching positions
  • Category-1 (JRF), Category-2 (Lectureship/Assistant Professor) and Category-3 (PhD-only admission) are released separately, subject-wise and category-wise (UR////), and vary significantly by subject and session -- e.g. December 2024 JRF cutoffs ranged from around 50-59% for Chemical/Mathematical/Physical Sciences (UR) up to over 99% for Life Sciences (UR, due to its distinct scoring/ method)

Campus-wise and branch-wise cut-off figures are being added. Check the official website for the latest.

  • Not a college-admission exam -- clearing CSIR NET determines eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for Lectureship (LS)/Assistant Professor positions in universities and colleges across India (in Science & Technology faculty subjects only), rather than admission to a specific institution
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Quick answers

+2 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each incorrect answer

180 minutes (3 hours), in Shift 1 (9:00 AM-12:00 Noon) or Shift 2 (3:00 PM-6:00 PM) depending on subject

The Application Form tab has the step-by-step process and the registration link.

Is CSIR NET right for you?

Tell Mimi your course and marks

Never miss a date

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