CSIR NET 2026: Notification, Exam Date, Syllabus, Result

CSIR NET — the Joint CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test — is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research as an eligibility test for teaching posts. The Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026 was held on 17 and 18 July 2026, and its result was declared on 10 September 2026.

A single three-hour paper in three parts — A, B and C — with no break. Part A is common to all subjects; Parts B and C are subject specific. Conducted as a Computer Based Test in five science subjects.

CSIR NET exam pattern

Every subject paper totals 200 marks over three hours, but the number of questions, the marks per question and the negative marking all differ by subject.

All questions are objective multiple choice. Yes, and it varies by subject and by part. Most parts deduct 25% of the marks for that question. Earth Sciences Part C deducts 33%. Mathematical Sciences Part C carries no negative marking at all.

Qualifying marks

Qualifying candidates are placed in one of three categories: JRF, Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission; Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission but not JRF; or Ph.D. admission only.

Validity of the certificate

As with UGC NET, the category a candidate qualifies in determines what the certificate confers. Ph.D.-only does not carry Assistant Professor eligibility.

You are capped on how many questions you may answer

CSIR NET does not ask you to attempt every question. Each part sets a maximum — 15 in Part A, for instance — and if you answer more than that, only the first N questions in that part are evaluated. Answering extra questions cannot help you and, with negative marking applied to those first N, choosing which ones to answer is part of the exam. Mark your intended answers deliberately rather than filling in everything you can.

What this qualification is for

Award of the Junior Research Fellowship, eligibility for appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to Ph.D. programmes in the science subjects covered.

What is next

Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026 was held on 17 and 18 July 2026; scores were declared on 29 August 2026 and the result and rank on 10 September 2026. For the December 2026 cycle, NTA is accepting applications from 7 October to 5 November 2026, and the exam is on 19, 22 and 27 December 2026.

CSIR NET Eligibility

CSIR NET eligibility criteria are set out in the official information bulletin.

Minimum educational qualification

A Master’s degree or equivalent in the relevant science subject with the minimum percentage prescribed by CSIR, or an integrated BS-MS, BS four-year, BE, BTech, BPharma or MBBS qualification as set out in the Information Bulletin. Candidates awaiting results may apply.

Structure of the examination

A single three-hour paper in three parts — A, B and C — with no break. Part A is common to all subjects; Parts B and C are subject specific.

CSIR NET Application Form

CSIR NET applications are submitted online only, through csirnet.nta.nic.in. For the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026, applications are open from 7 October to 5 November 2026 (with a late fee of ₹500 from 6 to 9 November), corrections run from 10 to 12 November, and the exam is on 19, 22 and 27 December 2026.

Important dates — Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026

Application fee

General: ₹1,150. Gen-EWS and OBC-NCL: ₹600. SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and Third Gender: ₹325. Bank and payment gateway charges apply on top.