NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Online Form: Eligibility, Exam Dates, Fees, Exam Pattern & How to Apply

Introduction to NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026

National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened the online application process for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 examination on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The examination determines eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) with Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor with Ph.D. admission, and Ph.D. admission only.

The online application process started on 7 October 2026. Candidates can submit applications without a late fee until 5 November 2026 at 11:50 PM. A late-fee window will remain available from 6 to 9 November 2026. The Computer Based Test is scheduled for 19, 22 and 27 December 2026. Candidates should check their educational qualification, age limit and chosen subject carefully before submitting the form.

National Testing Agency (NTA) and CSIR NET Overview

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the Joint CSIR-UGC NET examination on behalf of CSIR. The examination is conducted for science candidates seeking eligibility for research fellowships, Assistant Professor positions and admission to Ph.D. programmes.

Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 is being conducted as a Computer Based Test (CBT) covering five science subjects: Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences & Bio-Technology; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Overview

Applicants can use the table below for a quick overview of the examination before checking the detailed eligibility and exam pattern.

CSIR NET December 2026 At a Glance

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Important Dates

Candidates should complete the application sufficiently before the deadline rather than waiting until the final hours. NTA has stated that examination-related dates are subject to official updates.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee

The application fee must be paid online through the available payment gateway. A separate Rs 500 late fee applies to candidates submitting the application during the 6-9 November 2026 late window.

Payment can be made online through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI using the available SBI or Canara Bank payment gateways. Applicable bank charges and GST may be additional. The application fee is generally non-refundable, except in applicable duplicate-payment reconciliation cases.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the prescribed educational qualification and other eligibility requirements for Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026. Candidates should carefully verify their eligibility before submitting the online form.

Educational Qualification

• Candidates appearing in the final year or awaiting the result of their Master's degree can apply provisionally subject to fulfillment of the prescribed qualification within the specified period.
• Master's degree candidates must ordinarily complete the required qualification within two years from the NET result. Candidates qualifying for Ph.D. admission only are required to complete it within the prescribed shorter period stated in the rules.
• Candidates possessing a 4-year Bachelor's degree may qualify for JRF and Ph.D. admission but not for Assistant Professor eligibility under this route.
• Eligible 4-year Bachelor's degree holders may choose a NET subject regardless of the discipline of their Bachelor's degree, subject to the applicable rules.
• For eligible Ph.D. holders whose Master's degree was completed by 19 September 1991, the qualifying Master's percentage is relaxed from 55% to 50%.
• Applicants holding foreign qualifications or specified diploma qualifications should obtain the required equivalence from the appropriate authority where applicable.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Age Limit

For JRF, relaxation of up to 5 years is available to eligible OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third Gender and women candidates. Eligible research experience and armed forces service may also be considered for relaxation as prescribed. The total JRF age relaxation cannot exceed the maximum relaxation permitted under the applicable rules.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Subjects

A candidate can apply for only one of the five CSIR NET subjects.

The detailed subject syllabus is made available through the CSIR Human Resource Development Group (HRDG). Candidates should prepare according to the syllabus applicable to their selected subject.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Exam Pattern

Each CSIR NET paper is conducted for 200 marks over 3 hours. The paper is divided into Part A, Part B and Part C without a separate break.

• Part A: General Aptitude, common to all subjects.
• Part B: Subject-specific multiple choice questions.
• Part C: Higher-order analytical and application-based questions.

If a candidate answers more questions than the prescribed maximum in a part, only the permitted number of responses according to the evaluation rules will be considered.

In Mathematical Sciences Part C, questions may contain one or more correct options. Credit is awarded according to the applicable multiple-correct-option rules, and the source notification specifies no negative marking for Mathematical Sciences Part C.

Calculators are not permitted. Where any discrepancy occurs between the Hindi and English versions of a question, the English version is treated as final.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Qualifying Categories

The CSIR NET result can place successful candidates into one of three qualifying categories.

For Categories 2 and 3, NET scores can be used for Ph.D. admission according to the applicable university admission rules. The stated admission framework gives 70% weightage to NET marks and 30% to interview/viva performance.

The Assistant Professor qualifying certificate does not have an expiry under the stated rules, while the Ph.D.-admission use of Category 2 and Category 3 scores follows the validity period prescribed for that purpose.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Minimum Qualifying Benchmark

There is no separate sectional cut-off stated for Parts A, B and C. Merit is determined using the combined performance across the paper.

Meeting the minimum benchmark does not by itself guarantee JRF or Assistant Professor qualification because the final result and cut-offs depend on the applicable merit criteria.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 JRF Stipend

Candidates qualifying for Junior Research Fellowship through CSIR-UGC NET may receive the fellowship according to the applicable rules.

After two years, an eligible JRF registered for a Ph.D. may be upgraded to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) after assessment under the prescribed procedure.

How to Apply for NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026

1. Visit the official CSIR NET website at csirnet.nta.nic.in.
2. Open the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 online application link.
3. Complete registration using your own valid email address and mobile number. Eligible candidates may also use the supported MeriPehchaan/DigiLocker sign-on facility.
4. Create the required password and security details and note the generated Application Number.
5. Log in and enter personal information, category details, disability information where applicable, APAAR details, educational qualifications and selected CSIR NET subject.
6. Select the required examination city preferences according to the available options.
7. Capture the required live photograph using the supported webcam or QR-based mobile process.
8. Upload your photograph, signature and applicable supporting certificates in the prescribed format and file size.
9. Pay the applicable examination fee through Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card or UPI.
10. Submit the application and download the Confirmation Page after successful payment.
11. Keep a copy of the Confirmation Page and payment details for future reference.

Only one application should be submitted by a candidate. Any permitted corrections must be made during the scheduled 10-12 November 2026 correction window.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Document Upload Specifications

The uploaded colour photograph should meet the prescribed specifications, including a clear face and suitable background. Candidates should verify the latest upload requirements on the application portal before final submission.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Password Requirements

The application password must contain 8 to 13 characters and include:

• At least one uppercase letter.
• At least one lowercase letter.
• At least one number.
• At least one special character.

Candidates should keep their Application Number and password secure because these credentials are required for accessing the application, admit card and other examination-related services.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Exam City Selection

Candidates can select four examination city preferences from the available list. The source information states that a total of 209 exam-city options are provided, with choices subject to the applicable present/permanent-address conditions prescribed in the application system.

The final allotted examination centre will be communicated through the city intimation slip and admit card according to the schedule announced by NTA.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Exam Day Guidelines

Candidates are advised to reach the examination centre approximately two hours before the examination. Entry is not permitted after the prescribed gate-closing time.

Documents and Items to Carry

• Printed admit card with the required self-declaration on A4 paper.
• Two passport-size photographs matching the uploaded photograph.
• One valid original photo ID such as Aadhaar/e-Aadhaar, PAN Card, Voter ID, Passport, Driving Licence or another permitted identification document.
• PwD/PwBD certificate where applicable.
• Name-change supporting document where applicable.
• Simple ballpoint pen.
• Transparent water bottle where permitted.
• Permitted food items for eligible diabetic candidates as specified in the examination instructions.

Items Not Permitted

• Mobile phones.
• Earphones or electronic communication devices.
• Smartwatches and health bands.
• Calculators and log tables.
• Paper or study material.
• Unauthorised electronic gadgets.
• Other prohibited items specified in the admit-card instructions.

Candidates should follow the final instructions printed on their admit card because examination-centre rules may contain additional requirements.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 PwBD Compensatory Time

Eligible PwBD candidates entitled to a scribe/compensatory time are provided 20 minutes of compensatory time per hour according to the applicable guidelines. For the three-hour CSIR NET examination, this corresponds to up to one additional hour for eligible candidates.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Preparation Focus

Preparation should be based on the three-part structure of the examination. Part A tests General Aptitude, while Parts B and C test subject knowledge and higher-level analytical ability. Because the number of questions to be attempted and the negative-marking rules differ across subjects, candidates should practise specifically according to their chosen subject's pattern rather than following one common attempt strategy.

Aspirants should first complete the official subject syllabus, then practise previous-style questions under a three-hour time limit. Part C deserves particular attention because it carries higher marks per correct answer in each subject. Candidates can also keep up with general awareness and preparation resources through daily current affairs, Static GK and the daily current affairs quiz.

NTA CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Important Links

Candidates should rely on the official CSIR NET portal for final application, admit card, examination-city, answer-key and result updates.

Explore More on thejobsme.com

For more examination and recruitment updates, regularly check the latest govt jobs notifications. Candidates can also strengthen their preparation with daily current affairs, Static GK and the daily current affairs quiz.