Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 – Key Highlights
| Conducting Agency | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
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| Governing Bodies | Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) & UGC |
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| Examination Name | Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 |
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| Eligible Core Disciplines | Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences |
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| Target Award / Eligibility | (1) JRF & Assistant Professor
(2) Assistant Professor & Ph.D.
(3) Ph.D. Admission Only |
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| JRF Monthly Fellowship | Rs. 37,000/- p.m. (Years 1-2) → Rs. 42,000/- p.m. (SRF) + HRA |
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| Contingency Grant | Rs. 20,000/- per annum reimbursed to fellow |
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| Examination Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) across Pan-India Test Centres |
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| Exam Duration | 180 Minutes (3 Hours) Continuous |
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| Upper Age Limit | 30 Years for JRF (Relaxable up to 5 Years) | No Age Bar for Lectureship/Ph.D. |
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| Application Window | 7th October 2026 to 5th November 2026 (11:50 PM) |
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| Official Portals | csirnet.nta.nic.in / examinationservices.nic.in |
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Core Subject Disciplines Covered
| Subject Code |
Scientific Discipline |
Paper Structure |
Maximum Marks |
| 101 | Chemical Sciences | Part A (General Aptitude) + Part B + Part C (Specialized Chemistry) | 200 Marks |
| 102 | Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Sciences | Part A + Part B + Part C (Geology/Geophysics/Meteorology) | 200 Marks |
| 103 | Life Sciences | Part A + Part B + Part C (Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, Ecology) | 200 Marks |
| 104 | Mathematical Sciences | Part A + Part B + Part C (Pure & Applied Mathematics, Statistics) | 200 Marks |
| 105 | Physical Sciences | Part A + Part B + Part C (Classical, Quantum, Condensed Matter Physics) | 200 Marks |
Eligibility Criteria
1. Educational Qualifications
- M.Sc. or equivalent degree / Integrated BS-MS / BS-4 Years / B.E. / B.Tech / B.Pharma / MBBS with at least 55% marks for General (UR) / General-EWS and OBC candidates.
- Relaxation to 50% marks for SC / ST / Third Gender / PwBD candidates.
- Candidates enrolled for M.Sc. or having completed 10+2+3 years of the qualifying examination as on the closing date can also apply under the "Result Awaited" (RA) category.
- B.Sc. (Hons) or equivalent degree holders or students enrolled in Integrated MS-Ph.D. programs with minimum 55% marks are also eligible to apply for JRF.
2. Age Limit & Relaxations
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Maximum 30 years as on 01/12/2026. Upper age relaxation of up to 5 years is provided to SC/ST/Third Gender/PwBD/Female applicants and 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) applicants.
- Assistant Professor & Ph.D. Admission: There is no upper age limit.
Application Fee Structure
| Candidate Category | Application Fee |
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| General / Unreserved | Rs. 1,150/- |
| General-EWS / OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | Rs. 600/- |
| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender Candidates | Rs. 325/- |
* Fee payment is strictly online through Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI.
Examination Pattern & Scheme
The single-paper Computer Based Test (CBT) consists of three parts designed to test analytical and domain competence:
| Part |
Focus & Nature of Questions |
Evaluation Objective |
| Part A |
Common to all subjects. 20 MCQs on General Science, Quantitative Reasoning & Analysis, and Research Aptitude. Candidates attempt any 15 questions. |
Tests general aptitude and scientific curiosity (30 Marks). |
| Part B |
Subject-related conventional Multiple Choice Questions covering core syllabus concepts. |
Assesses fundamental domain knowledge (approx. 70 Marks). |
| Part C |
Higher-value scientific questions evaluating analytical problem-solving, scientific design, and experimental synthesis. |
Tests advanced scientific problem solving (approx. 100 Marks). |
* Negative marking of 25% (or 33% depending on subject rules) applies for incorrect answers.
How to Apply Online for Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026
- Visit the official application portal at csirnet.nta.nic.in.
- Click on "Application Form Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026".
- Authenticate using your Aadhaar Card / DigiLocker / ABC ID / Passport.
- Fill up personal details, permanent address, and qualifying postgraduate degree details.
- Choose your applied subject (Chemical, Earth, Life, Mathematical, or Physical Sciences) and select 4 preferred examination city choices in Assam (e.g., Guwahati, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tezpur).
- Upload scanned passport photograph and signature conforming to specified pixel dimensions.
- Pay the application fee online through the payment gateway.
- Download and print the Confirmation Page for all subsequent admission and fellowship stages.
Important Dates – December 2026 Examination
| Online Applications Commenced | 7th October 2026 |
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| Closing Date for Online Application | 5th November 2026 (11:50 PM) |
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| Last Date for Fee Transaction | 6th November 2026 (11:50 PM) |
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| Application Correction Window | 7th November to 9th November 2026 |
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| Intimation of Exam City Slip | Second week of December 2026 |
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| Admit Card Release | 3 days prior to examination |
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| Dates of Joint CSIR-UGC NET CBT Exam | 19th, 22nd & 27th December 2026 |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the monthly stipend for CSIR JRF fellows?
A: JRF fellows receive Rs. 37,000/- per month for the first two years, which is enhanced to Rs. 42,000/- per month (SRF) for the third and subsequent years, along with an annual contingency grant of Rs. 20,000/-.
Q2: What are the examination dates for December 2026 cycle?
A: The CBT examination will be conducted on 19th, 22nd, and 27th December 2026.
Q3: What is the deadline to apply online?
A: The online application portal remains active until 5th November 2026 at 11:50 PM.
