The Joint CSIR-UGC NET is the science counterpart to UGC NET, conducted by the National Testing Agency on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. It determines eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship, Assistant Professor posts and PhD admission — in five science subjects only.
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The June 2026 examination is scheduled for 17 and 18 July 2026. The notification was released on 27 May 2026, applications closed on 19 June, and admit cards have been issued.
Two provisions separate CSIR NET from UGC NET in ways that decide eligibility, and both are widely misunderstood: the qualification must be in the subject you apply for, and engineering and medical graduates are eligible for JRF and PhD but not for Assistant Professor.
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Overview
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | NTA on behalf of CSIR |
| Purpose | JRF, Assistant Professor (Science & Technology faculty only), PhD admission |
| Subjects | Five |
| Qualification | Master’s degree with 55% (50% reserved) |
| Age (JRF) | 30 years as on 1 July 2026 |
| Age (Assistant Professor / PhD) | No upper age limit |
| Attempts | No limit, within the age band |
| Mode | Computer Based Test, bilingual |
| Structure | Part A + Part B + Part C — 200 marks |
| Qualifying marks | 33% (General/EWS/OBC) · 25% (SC/ST/PwD) |
| Fee | ₹1,150 General · ₹600 OBC-NCL/EWS · ₹325 SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender |
| Nationality | Indian citizens only |
| Portal | csirnet.nta.nic.in |
1. The Five Subjects
| Subject |
|---|
| Chemical Sciences |
| Life Sciences |
| Mathematical Sciences |
| Physical Sciences |
| Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences |
This is the first major difference from UGC NET, which covers 87 subjects.
Candidates clearing CSIR NET can become lecturers in subject areas falling under the faculty of Science and Technology only.
The Subject Rule
You must hold a postgraduate degree in the subject you apply for.
A candidate with a post-graduation in Mathematics cannot apply for Physical Sciences. The subject of the examination must correspond to the subject of the degree.
This differs from UGC NET, where a candidate whose subject is not listed may choose a relevant subject from the list. CSIR NET does not permit that latitude — with one exception, covered below.
2. Eligibility — And the Route That Excludes Assistant Professor
The Standard Route
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Degree | M.Sc or equivalent, or Integrated BS-MS, from a recognised university |
| Marks (General / EWS) | 55% |
| Marks (OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender) | 50% |
| Rounding | The minimum percentage must be fulfilled without rounding off |
Read that last line carefully. 54.99% is not 55%. There is no rounding, and candidature is cancelled if ineligibility is detected at any stage.
Final year and Result Awaited candidates may apply provisionally, but must complete the degree:
- Within two years of the result declaration — for JRF and Assistant Professor
- Within one year — for candidates qualifying under “Admission to PhD Only”
Failure to fulfil these conditions results in cancellation of candidature.
The Bachelor’s Route — And Its Limit
This is the provision most candidates get wrong.
| Qualification | Eligible for |
|---|---|
| BS-4 years / BE / B.Tech / B.Pharma / MBBS with 75% | JRF and PhD admission only — not Assistant Professor |
| Four-year / eight-semester bachelor’s degree with 75% (relaxation for reserved categories) | JRF and PhD admission only — not Assistant Professor |
“Candidates possessing only a Bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply for a Junior Research Fellowship only, and not for the Lectureship/Assistant Professor.”
BE, B.Tech, B.Pharma and MBBS final-year or result-awaited candidates are eligible to apply for JRF only.
And a further condition: candidates holding an undergraduate degree become eligible for a CSIR fellowship only after registering for a PhD or Integrated PhD course within the validity period of two years.
One compensating provision: candidates with a four-year bachelor’s degree may select any CSIR NET subject, irrespective of their bachelor’s discipline, for pursuing a PhD. This is the exception to the subject rule — and it applies only to this route.
Other Provisions
| Situation | Position |
|---|---|
| PhD holders who passed Master’s before 19 September 1991 with 50% | Eligible for Lectureship only |
| M.Sc holders or M.Sc Result Awaited | Eligible for Lectureship, subject to UGC criteria |
| Foreign degrees | Must be equivalent to an Indian Master’s as recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi |
| B.Ed | Not mandatory |
| Nationality | Indian citizens only. Foreign nationals are not eligible. |
Note the nationality restriction. CSIR NET is exclusively for Indian nationals — a narrower position than several other examinations in this series.
3. Age
| Post | Limit |
|---|---|
| JRF | 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the examination concludes — 1 July 2026 for the June session |
| Assistant Professor | No upper age limit |
| PhD admission | No upper age limit |
Relaxation — And a Conflict
Sources differ on the OBC-NCL relaxation. One states up to 5 years for SC/ST/Third Gender/PwD/Women and up to 3 years for OBC-NCL. Another states up to 5 years for OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender and women applicants.
Verify the relaxation table in the Information Bulletin for your category before relying on it.
Consistent across sources: women applicants receive a relaxation — as in UGC NET, and equally under-used.
Third Gender candidates are entitled to the same relaxations as SC/ST in fee, age and educational qualification, and the subject-wise qualifying cut-off for Third Gender is the lowest among those for SC/ST/PwD/OBC-NCL/General-EWS in that subject.
The Automatic Fallback
If a candidate is found over-age for JRF, they are automatically considered for Lectureship/Assistant Professor only.
This is a useful safety net. An over-age JRF applicant does not lose the attempt — the candidature converts.
Attempts
No limit. Candidates may appear as many times as they wish, provided they are within the upper age limit for their category. For Assistant Professor and PhD, where there is no age limit, attempts are effectively unlimited.
4. Examination Pattern
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Test, two shifts |
| Language | Bilingual |
| Structure | Part A, Part B, Part C |
| Total marks | 200 |
| Part A | General aptitude |
| Part B | Subject-related questions |
| Part C | Higher-level scientific concepts |
Part A is common in character across subjects; Parts B and C are subject-specific. The marking scheme is subject-wise and set out in the Information Bulletin.
On negative marking — sources conflict. One states there is no negative marking; another describes a subject-wise marking scheme with negative marking for incorrect responses. This is a material difference for examination strategy. Verify the marking scheme for your subject in the official Information Bulletin before the examination, and do not assume the UGC NET position (no negative marking) applies here.
Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / OBC | 33% |
| SC / ST / PwD | 25% |
These are the minimum qualifying marks for both Fellowship and Lectureship/Assistant Professor. The actual cut-off is subject-wise and category-wise, published with the result, and varies with the number of candidates, difficulty and available JRF/Assistant Professor seats.
5. Validity — And the Difference from UGC NET
| Certificate | Validity |
|---|---|
| Lectureship / Assistant Professor | Lifetime — no validity limit is prescribed |
| JRF | Two years from the date on the certificate |
Sources conflict, with one stating three years from the declaration of result. The majority position is two years. Verify on your certificate, since the consequence of misjudging it is the loss of the fellowship entitlement.
Note the comparison with UGC NET, where the JRF award letter is reported valid for three years. If the CSIR figure is indeed two, CSIR JRF holders have a year less to secure PhD admission — which makes the timeline materially tighter.
6. The Three Outcomes
| Outcome | What it means |
|---|---|
| JRF + Assistant Professor | Fellowship and eligibility to apply for teaching posts and as a Research Scholar |
| Assistant Professor + PhD admission | Eligibility to teach in universities and colleges, and to pursue a PhD |
| PhD admission only | Admission eligibility |
JRF qualifiers are eligible to apply for the post of Assistant Professor and Research Scholar.
7. Application
The June 2026 window has closed. For the December session:
- Visit csirnet.nta.nic.in and open “Joint CSIR-UGC NET: Registration” under the latest news section.
- Click New Registration, enter name, email and mobile, create a password, and submit. Note down the application number carefully.
- Log in and complete personal details, category, educational qualification, preferred subject and exam city choices.
- Upload photograph (10 KB to 200 KB) and signature (4 KB to 30 KB) in the required formats.
- Pay the fee online — debit/credit card, UPI or net banking.
- Download the fee receipt and the confirmation page.
Candidates do not need to send certificates, documents or application printouts to NTA.
Two Rules Worth Knowing
“Once a candidate enters their Option/preference in the application form, it will be considered final and no request for change will be entertained later.” Choose JRF, Assistant Professor or PhD-only deliberately.
“NTA does not verify the information provided by candidates during online registration, and candidature is purely provisional subject to fulfilment of eligibility criteria.” An admit card is not proof of eligibility. CSIR NET admit cards are not issued to candidates who do not fulfil the criteria, and if ineligibility is detected at any stage, candidature is cancelled and the candidate is liable for legal action.
The June 2026 Calendar
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 27 May 2026 |
| Application opened | 27 May 2026 |
| Application closed | 19 June 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Fee payment closed | 20 June 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Correction window | 22 to 23 June 2026 |
| Examination | 17 and 18 July 2026 |
| Next session | December 2026 |
CSIR NET is conducted twice yearly — June and December.
8. CSIR NET or UGC NET?
| Feature | CSIR NET | UGC NET |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | 5 science subjects | 87 subjects |
| Faculty | Science & Technology only | All disciplines |
| Qualification marks | 55% / 50% | 55% / 50% |
| Subject switching | Not permitted (except 4-year bachelor’s for PhD) | Relevant subject may be chosen if yours is unlisted |
| JRF age | 30, as on 1 July | 30, as on 1 June |
| Assistant Professor age | No limit | No limit |
| Negative marking | Sources conflict — verify | None |
| JRF validity | 2 years (reported) | 3 years (reported) |
| Lectureship validity | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Fee (General) | ₹1,150 | Lower |
| Nationality | Indian citizens only | — |
Both are accepted for Assistant Professor recruitment. As set out in our guide to college recruitment, recruiters accept UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, SET or SLET, or a qualifying PhD.
For a science postgraduate, CSIR NET is the natural route — and the JRF fellowship it carries funds the PhD that later exempts you from NET altogether.
9. Documents Checklist
- ☐ Master’s degree — certificate and mark sheets, 55% (50% reserved), without rounding
- ☐ Four-year bachelor’s / BE / B.Tech / B.Pharma / MBBS mark sheets with 75%, where applying via that route
- ☐ AIU equivalence certificate, for foreign degrees
- ☐ PhD certificate, where relying on the pre-1991 Master’s provision
- ☐ Caste / category certificate
- ☐ PwD certificate, where applicable
- ☐ Age proof
- ☐ Photograph (10–200 KB) and signature (4–30 KB)
- ☐ Application number, fee receipt and confirmation page
10. Assessment
In favour:
- No upper age limit for Assistant Professor and PhD — as with UGC NET
- No attempt limit
- Automatic fallback — over-age JRF applicants are considered for Lectureship
- Lectureship validity is lifetime
- Conducted twice yearly — a missed cycle costs six months
- Qualifying marks are modest — 33% General, 25% SC/ST/PwD
- BE/B.Tech and MBBS holders can access JRF — a route into research from a professional degree
- Four-year bachelor’s holders may choose any subject for PhD
- Women receive an age relaxation for JRF
Against:
- Only five subjects — a science postgraduate outside them has no CSIR route
- The subject of the degree must match the subject of the examination
- Bachelor’s-route candidates cannot become Assistant Professors through it
- JRF validity is reported at two years — a year less than UGC NET
- Fee of ₹1,150 for General candidates — substantially higher than most examinations in this series
- Indian citizens only
- The percentage requirement is applied without rounding
- Negative marking is unclear across sources — verify in the bulletin
Recommendations:
Verify your percentage without rounding before applying. 54.99% is not 55%, and the admit card is not proof of eligibility.
If you hold BE, B.Tech, B.Pharma or MBBS with 75%, understand the limit precisely. You are eligible for JRF and PhD admission — not Assistant Professor. The fellowship route is open; the teaching route through this qualification is not.
Check the marking scheme for your subject in the Information Bulletin. Do not carry the UGC NET assumption of no negative marking into this examination.
And if you are over 30, apply anyway. The candidature converts automatically to Lectureship, which has no age limit and lifetime validity — and it is the qualification that the Assistant Professor recruitments covered in the previous guide actually require.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What subjects does CSIR NET cover? Five — Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences. Candidates clearing CSIR NET can teach in the faculty of Science and Technology only.
Q2. Can I apply for a subject different from my post-graduation? No. Candidates must hold a post-graduation degree in the subject they apply for. The one exception: candidates with a four-year bachelor’s degree may select any CSIR NET subject for pursuing a PhD, irrespective of their bachelor’s discipline.
Q3. Can a B.Tech or MBBS holder apply? Yes — for JRF and PhD admission only, not for Assistant Professor. BS-4 years, BE, B.Tech, B.Pharma and MBBS candidates with 75% are eligible for JRF only, and become eligible for the fellowship only after registering for a PhD or Integrated PhD within two years.
Q4. What is the age limit? JRF: 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the examination concludes — 1 July 2026 for the June session — with relaxation for reserved categories and women. Assistant Professor and PhD admission: no upper age limit. Candidates over-age for JRF are automatically considered for Lectureship.
Q5. Is there negative marking? Sources conflict. The marking scheme is subject-wise and set out in the official Information Bulletin. Verify it for your subject rather than assuming the UGC NET position.
Q6. How long is the qualification valid? Lectureship/Assistant Professor eligibility is valid for a lifetime. JRF is reported valid for two years from the date on the certificate, though one source states three. Verify on your certificate.
Q7. What are the qualifying marks? 33% for General, EWS and OBC candidates; 25% for SC, ST and PwD — for both Fellowship and Lectureship/Assistant Professor. The actual cut-off is subject-wise and category-wise and is published with the result.
Q8. Can foreign nationals apply? No. CSIR NET is exclusively for Indian nationals. Candidates with foreign degrees must obtain AIU equivalence to an Indian Master’s.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. CSIR NET is an eligibility test and does not constitute recruitment or guarantee appointment. Eligibility, age limits and relaxations, marking scheme, qualifying marks, validity, fees and dates are set by the official NTA Information Bulletin for each session and are revised periodically. Secondary sources conflict on the OBC-NCL age relaxation, on negative marking, and on JRF validity. Candidature is provisional and NTA does not verify information at registration; ineligibility detected at any stage results in cancellation. Candidates must read the official Information Bulletin on csirnet.nta.nic.in before applying and treat it as the final authority.