The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 notification (Public Notice dated 07.10.2026) along with the official Information Bulletin. Online application is open from 07 October 2026 to 05 November 2026 on csirnet.nta.nic.in, and the exam will be held on 19, 22 and 27 December 2026 in CBT mode. In this post we explain the important dates, application fee, eligibility, age limit, JRF stipend (salary), exam pattern, marking scheme and syllabus – all taken directly from the official NTA PDFs, which you can also download below.
Quick Answer: CSIR NET December 2026 application form: 07.10.2026 to 05.11.2026 (late fee window 06–09 Nov 2026 with ₹500 late fee). Fee: ₹1,150 (General), ₹600 (EWS/OBC-NCL), ₹325 (SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/Third Gender). Eligibility: Master’s degree with 55% (50% for OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender) or 4-year bachelor’s with 75%. JRF age limit: 30 years; no upper age limit for Assistant Professor and PhD admission. Exam: 3 hours CBT, 200 marks, Part A, B, C with negative marking. JRF stipend: ₹37,000/month.
Last Date
05 Nov 2026
Exam Dates
19, 22, 27 Dec
Total Marks
200
JRF Stipend
₹37,000/m
CSIR UGC NET December 2026 – Public Notice
Short notice with schedule, dates and helpline (1 page)
⬇ Download Notification PDFOfficial PDF released by National Testing Agency (NTA) on 07.10.2026
CSIR UGC NET December 2026 Notification: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| On Behalf Of | Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) |
| Purpose | Award of JRF & appointment as Assistant Professor / Assistant Professor & PhD admission / PhD admission only |
| Subjects | 5 – Chemical, Earth (Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary), Life Sciences & Bio-Technology, Mathematical, Physical Sciences |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test (CBT), Objective MCQ |
| Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Medium | English and Hindi (bilingual) |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Official Website | csirnet.nta.nic.in / nta.ac.in |
CSIR NET December 2026 Important Dates
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application start | 07 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 05 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Last date of fee payment (normal fee) | 05 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Late submission with late fee ₹500 | 06 November 2026 to 09 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Last date of fee payment with late fee | 09 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Correction window | 10 November 2026 to 12 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Exam city intimation slip | To be announced later |
| Admit card download | To be announced later |
| Exam dates | 19, 22 and 27 December 2026 |
| Exam timing | Shift 1: 09:00 AM – 12:00 Noon | Shift 2: 03:00 PM – 06:00 PM |
| Answer key & result | Will be announced later on the website |
Dates given in the Information Bulletin are tentative; NTA will inform candidates if there is any change. Always check csirnet.nta.nic.in for updates.
CSIR UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| General | ₹1,150 | ₹500 |
| General-EWS / OBC (NCL) | ₹600 | ₹500 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender | ₹325 | ₹500 |
Fee can be paid online through Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI or Net Banking (SBI / Canara payment gateway). Bank / gateway service charges are extra. Once paid, the fee is not refundable except for duplicate payments.
CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria December 2026
Master’s Degree Route
General / UR / EWS: At least 55% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s degree or equivalent
OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender: At least 50% marks (without rounding off)
Final year / result awaited: Can apply provisionally; must complete Master’s with required % within 2 years of result (within 1 year for “PhD only” category)
PhD holders: Master’s completed by 19 September 1991 – 5% relaxation (55% to 50%)
4-Year Bachelor’s Route
Marks: Minimum 75% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade (5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD/EWS as per UGC)
Last semester / year: Can apply provisionally
Eligible for: JRF and PhD admission
Not eligible for: Assistant Professor
Subject choice: Can appear in the subject in which they want to pursue PhD, irrespective of bachelor’s discipline
Only bonafide Indian citizens are eligible. Candidates with a foreign qualification should get equivalence from UGC, and PG diploma holders should get equivalence from AIU.
CSIR NET Age Limit December 2026
| Category | Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| JRF | Not more than 30 years as on 01 December 2026 |
| Assistant Professor | No upper age limit |
| Admission to PhD only | No upper age limit |
Age relaxation for JRF:
- Up to 5 years for OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender candidates and women applicants.
- Research experience in the relevant subject of PG degree – equal to the period spent on research, maximum 5 years (with certificate from appropriate authority).
- Armed forces service – up to 5 years (length of service up to 01 December 2026).
- Total age relaxation on the above grounds shall not exceed 5 years under any circumstance.
CSIR NET Qualification Categories: JRF, Assistant Professor & PhD
| Qualified For | JRF | Assistant Professor | PhD Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 – JRF & Assistant Professor | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Category 2 – Assistant Professor & PhD | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Category 3 – PhD admission only | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
- For PhD admission, Category 2 and 3 marks are valid for one year from the result date.
- At the time of PhD admission, NET marks get 70% weightage and interview / viva voce 30% weightage.
- There is no end period for the validity of the Assistant Professor qualifying certificate.
CSIR NET JRF Stipend (Salary) 2026
| Fellowship Stage | Stipend / Grant |
|---|---|
| JRF (1st & 2nd year) | ₹37,000 per month |
| SRF (3rd year onwards, after assessment & PhD registration) | ₹42,000 per month |
| Annual contingent grant | ₹20,000 per year (reimbursed to the fellow) |
If the expert committee does not recommend up-gradation or the fellow is not registered for PhD, the candidate continues to get JRF stipend of ₹37,000/month in the 3rd year, or the fellowship may be terminated. The number of fellowships in each subject is limited.
CSIR NET Exam Pattern December 2026
The exam is a 3-hour Computer Based Test with three parts – Part A, Part B and Part C – all objective MCQs, with no break between parts. The paper carries 200 marks in every subject.
Chemical Sciences (701)
Total Questions (A + B + C): 20 + 40 + 60 = 120
Questions to Attempt: 15 + 35 + 25 = 75
Marks per Correct (A / B / C): 2 / 2 / 4
Negative Marks (A / B / C): 0.5 / 0.5 / 1
Total Marks: 200
Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Sciences (702)
Total Questions (A + B + C): 20 + 50 + 80 = 150
Questions to Attempt: 15 + 35 + 25 = 75
Marks per Correct (A / B / C): 2 / 2 / 4
Negative Marks (A / B / C): 0.5 / 0.5 / 1.32
Total Marks: 200
Life Sciences & Bio-Technology (703)
Total Questions (A + B + C): 20 + 50 + 75 = 145
Questions to Attempt: 15 + 35 + 25 = 75
Marks per Correct (A / B / C): 2 / 2 / 4
Negative Marks (A / B / C): 0.5 / 0.5 / 1
Total Marks: 200
Mathematical Sciences (704)
Total Questions (A + B + C): 20 + 40 + 60 = 120
Questions to Attempt: 15 + 25 + 20 = 60
Marks per Correct (A / B / C): 2 / 3 / 4.75
Negative Marks (A / B / C): 0.5 / 0.75 / 0 (no negative in Part C)
Total Marks: 200
Physical Sciences (705)
Total Questions (A + B + C): 20 + 25 + 30 = 75
Questions to Attempt: 15 + 20 + 20 = 55
Marks per Correct (A / B / C): 2 / 3.5 / 5
Negative Marks (A / B / C): 0.5 / 0.875 / 1.25
Total Marks: 200
- Part A – common to all subjects: General Aptitude (logical reasoning, graphical analysis, analytical & numerical ability, quantitative comparison, series formation, puzzles etc.).
- Part B – subject-related conventional MCQs covering the topics of the syllabus.
- Part C – higher-order analytical questions testing scientific concepts and their application.
- If you answer more than the required number of questions, only the first required questions of each part are evaluated.
- In Mathematical Sciences Part C, a question may have one or more correct options; credit is given only if all correct options are identified.
- The score card will be published with total percentile score and marks.
CSIR NET Syllabus 2026: Subjects & Specializations
The detailed syllabus and scheme is available on the CSIR HRDG website (csirhrdg.res.in). Subjects and specializations listed in the bulletin:
| Code | Subject | Specializations |
|---|---|---|
| 701 | Chemical Sciences | Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, Physical Chemistry, Others |
| 702 | Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Sciences | Geology, Geophysics, Meteorology, Oceanography, Physical Geography, Others |
| 703 | Life Sciences & Bio-Technology (LS-BT) | Biochemistry, Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Biotechnology, Botany, Genetics, Microbiology, Physiology, Zoology, Others |
| 704 | Mathematical Sciences | Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Statistics, Others |
| 705 | Physical Sciences | Atomic & Molecular Physics, Classical Dynamics, Condensed Matter Physics, Electromagnetics, Experimental Design, Electronics, Nuclear & Particle Physics, Quantum Physics, Thermodynamics, Others |
Note: CSIR and DBT will award fellowships in Life Sciences & Bio-Technology (LS-BT) through this exam (DBT-JRF). The same eligibility and age limit apply. Candidates for NFOBC, NFSC and NFPwD fellowships must also apply for this exam.
How to Apply for CSIR UGC NET December 2026
- Registration: Visit csirnet.nta.nic.in and register with your own email ID and mobile number (registration is also enabled through MeriPehchaan single sign-on). Note the Application Number and password.
- Application Form: Log in, fill personal and educational details, choose subject and exam cities, capture a live photograph and upload documents.
- Fee Payment: Pay the fee by Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI.
- Confirmation Page: Download and print the Confirmation Page for future reference.
| Document | Format | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph (colour, 80% face, white background) | JPG/JPEG | 10 KB – 200 KB |
| Signature | JPG/JPEG | 10 KB – 50 KB |
| PwD / UDID Certificate | 50 KB – 300 KB | |
| Identity proof (if not Aadhaar / DigiLocker) | JPG/JPEG | 10 KB – 200 KB |
| Result Awaited Attestation Form / Category Certificate (if applicable) | 50 KB – 300 KB |
Only one application per candidate is allowed. Corrections can be made only during the one-time correction window (10–12 November 2026).
Download CSIR UGC NET December 2026 Official PDFs
CSIR UGC NET December 2026 – Information Bulletin
Complete details: eligibility, fee, exam pattern, exam cities, instructions (86 pages)
⬇ Download Information Bulletin PDFOfficial PDF released by National Testing Agency (NTA) on 07.10.2026
CSIR UGC NET December 2026 – Public Notice
Inviting online applications – schedule of examination activities
⬇ Download Notification PDFOfficial PDF released by National Testing Agency (NTA) on 07.10.2026
CSIR NET Helpline
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone | 011-40759000 / 011-69227700 |
| csirnet@nta.ac.in | |
| Website | csirnet.nta.nic.in / nta.ac.in |
| Address | NTA, Fifth Floor, Government of India Press Building, Minto Road, New Delhi – 110002 |
