The National Testing Agency (NTA) issued an official notification yesterday for the Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2025 session. According to the published notice, candidates can now submit their applications online, and the examination will be conducted via Computer Based Test (CBT) format. The CSIR NET December 2025 examination will assess the qualification of Indian citizens for three distinct categories: Junior Research Fellowship with Assistant Professor eligibility, Assistant Professor qualification with PhD admission rights, and PhD admission eligibility only across universities and colleges in India.
Also read: NEHU PhD Admission 2025: Complete Guide to Application Process and Key Dates
Test Subjects for CSIR NET December 2025
The examination will be conducted across the following academic disciplines:
| ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE | CODE |
|---|---|
| Chemical Sciences | 701 |
| Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean, and Planetary Sciences | 702 |
| Life Sciences | 703 |
| Mathematical Sciences | 704 |
| Physical Sciences | 705 |
Who can Apply?
Essential Academic Qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent qualification/ Integrated BS-MS/ 4-year BS/ BE/ B.Tech/ B.Pharma/ MBBS with minimum 55% marks (without rounding) for General/ General-EWS categories and 50% marks (without rounding) for OBC (NCL)/ SC/ ST/ Third gender/ PwD candidates.
- Students currently pursuing M.Sc. or those who have finished 10+2+3 years of qualifying education by the application deadline are eligible for the Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2025.
- B.Sc. (Hons) degree holders or students in Integrated MS-PhD programs with a minimum of 55% marks (without rounding) for General/ General-EWS categories; and 50% marks (without rounding) for OBC (NCL)/ SC/ ST/ Third gender/ PwD candidates can also apply.
- Bachelor’s degree holders are only eligible for the JRF category, not for Lectureship/ Assistant Professor positions.
- Final year students of B.E./ B.S./ B.Tech/ B.Pharma/ MBBS or awaiting results can apply exclusively for fellowship, not for Lectureship/ Assistant Professor roles.
- Final year B.Sc. (Hons) students or those awaiting results cannot apply.
Age Limit
| JRF | Maximum 30 years on the first day of the examination month (Age relaxation: 5 years for SC/ ST/ Third gender/ PwD/ female candidates; 3 years for OBC-NCL candidates) |
| Assistant Professor | No age restriction |
| PhD Admission Only | No age restriction |
Exam Pattern of CSIR NET December 2025
The Joint CSIR UGC NET maintains the three-tier qualification system established in recent sessions. Candidates will be categorized into three groups based on their performances:
- CSIR UGC NET JRF Category: Candidates achieving scores at or above the JRF threshold qualify for Junior Research Fellowship, enabling them to conduct research in their field with stipend benefits.
- CSIR UGC NET Assistant Professor Category: Candidates meeting NET threshold requirements become eligible for lectureship applications at universities and colleges nationwide.
- PhD Admission Category: This category has a lower threshold than the previous two, qualifying candidates for PhD admission at various Higher Educational Institutions.
The qualification framework for CSIR NET December 2025 is given below:
| Achievement Level | JRF Eligibility | Assistant Professor Eligibility | PhD Admission Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| JRF Award and Assistant Professor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Assistant Professor and PhD Admission | No | Yes | Yes |
| PhD Admission Only | No | No | Yes |
- The scores of CSIR NET December 2025 in category-2 and category-3 can serve as PhD entrance qualification, replacing individual university entrance tests.
- Category-2 and category-3 qualified candidates receive 70% weightage from NET scores and 30% from university interview/ viva voce performance for PhD admission merit calculation.
How to apply?
- Visit the application portal by clicking on the link given below
- Click on the link given for new registrations
- Read the rules and regulations mentioned there carefully, and then get yourself registered on the portal
- Once the registration process is completed, log in and fill out the application form
- Upload the necessary documents in the prescribed format
- Then proceed to the payment section and pay the applicable fees
- Lastly, please submit the form of CSIR NET December 2025 and download it along with the payment receipt for future reference
Fees Applicable
Interested candidates must pay the application fee online through the payment gateway using their preferred method among Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. The fee structure is:
| General | Rs. 1150/- |
| OBC-(NCL)/ EWS | Rs. 600/- |
| SC/ ST/ PwD/ Third Gender | Rs. 325/- |
Key Dates
| Registration Commencement | 25th September 2025 |
| Registration Deadline | 24th October 2025 (11:50 PM) |
| Payment Deadline | 25th October 2025 (11:50 PM) |
| Application Correction Period | 27th, 28th & 29th October 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | – |
| Date of Exam (CSIR NET December 2025) | 18th December 2025 |
| Result Declaration | – |
Important Links
| Official Website |
| Notification of CSIR NET December 2025 |
| Information Bulletin |
| Link to apply |
| Previous Year Question Papers of CSIR NET |
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