The National Testing Agency (NTA) has invited online applications for the Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026. This test will determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professors, and admission to PhD in Indian universities and colleges.
NTA will be conducting the CSIR NET examination on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode on 19th, 22nd and 27th December 2026. The online application window opened on 7th October 2026 and will close on 5th November 2026 at 11:50 PM.
Also read: Download the Joint CSIR UGC NET syllabus and the Previous Year Question Papers
Subjects of Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026
The examination will be held in the following five subjects.
| Subject Code | Subject |
|---|---|
| 701 | Chemical Sciences |
| 702 | Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences |
| 703 | Life Sciences and Bio-Technology (LS-BT) |
| 704 | Mathematical Sciences |
| 705 | Physical Sciences |
Candidates qualifying in the Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026 will be placed in one of three categories, as given below.
| Qualified For | Eligible For |
|---|---|
| Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor | JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD admission |
| Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD. | Assistant Professor and PhD admission |
| Admission to PhD only | Ph.D. admission only |
JRF Stipend
The stipend of a JRF selected through the Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026 is as follows.
| Stage | Stipend |
|---|---|
| JRF (first two years) | Rs. 37,000/- per month |
| Annual Contingent Grant | Rs. 20,000/- |
| SRF (3rd and subsequent years) | Rs. 42,000/- per month |
The upgrade from JRF to SRF is subject to registration for PhD and an assessment of research progress by an Expert Committee. The number of fellowships in each subject is limited and may vary from one exam cycle to another.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have secured the following minimum marks (without rounding off) in a Master’s degree or equivalent examination from a recognised university or institution.
| Category | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|
| General/ Unreserved/ General-EWS | 55% |
| OBC-NCL/ SC/ ST/ PwD/ PwBD/ Third Gender | 50% |
- Candidates who are pursuing their Master’s degree or have appeared in the final year examination with the result awaited can also apply. They will be admitted provisionally and must pass the examination with the required marks within two years from the date of the Joint CSIR UGC-NET result. Candidates qualifying for PhD admission only must do so within one year.
- Candidates holding a 4-year/ 8-semester bachelor’s degree need at least 75% marks in aggregate, with a relaxation of 5% for SC/ ST/ OBC-NCL/ PwBD/ EWS and other categories as per UGC decisions. Such candidates will be eligible for JRF and PhD admission but not for appointment as Assistant Professor.
- PhD degree holders whose Master’s examination was completed by 19th September 1991 are eligible for a relaxation of 5% in aggregate marks.
Age Limit
- JRF: Not more than 30 years as on 1st December 2026.
- Assistant Professor and Admission to PhD only: No upper age limit.
- Candidates from OBC-NCL/ SC/ ST/ PwD/ PwBD/ Third Gender categories and women applicants are entitled to age relaxation of up to 5 years.
- Candidates should check the official notification, linked in the Important Links section, for the complete details of relaxation on account of research experience and armed forces service.
Nationality
Only Indian nationals are eligible to apply for Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026.
Exam Pattern
- The Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026 will be conducted in CBT mode.
- The test consists of three parts, and all of them contain objective-type multiple-choice questions.
- The question paper of Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026 will be bilingual, i.e. English and Hindi.
- The duration of the exam is 180 minutes.
The subject-wise pattern is given below:
| Subject | Total Questions (Part A/ B/ C) | Questions To Attempt (Part A/ B/ C) | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Sciences | 120 (20/ 40/ 60) | 75 (15/ 35/ 25) | 200 |
| Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences | 150 (20/ 50/ 80) | 75 (15/ 35/ 25) | 200 |
| Life Sciences and Bio-Technology | 145 (20/ 50/ 75) | 75 (15/ 35/ 25) | 200 |
| Mathematical Sciences | 120 (20/ 40/ 60) | 60 (15/ 25/ 20) | 200 |
| Physical Sciences | 75 (20/ 25/ 30) | 55 (15/ 20/ 20) | 200 |
- Part A is common to all subjects and tests General Aptitude.
- Part B contains subject-related multiple-choice questions, while Part C contains higher-order analytical questions.
- If a candidate answers more than the required number of questions, only the first questions up to the limit will be evaluated.
- There is negative marking of 25% in all parts for Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences and Bio-Technology, and Physical Sciences.
- In Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, it is 25% in Parts A and B and 33% in Part C.
- In Mathematical Sciences, it is 25% in Parts A and B, and there is no negative marking in Part C.
Documents Required
- Live photograph, captured at the time of filling the application form
- Scanned passport-size colour photograph in JPG/ JPEG format, between 10 KB and 200 KB
- Signature in JPG/ JPEG format, between 10 KB and 50 KB
- PwD/ PwBD certificate or UDID certificate in PDF format, between 50 KB and 300 KB, if applicable
- Category certificate (OBC-NCL/ SC/ ST/ EWS) in PDF format, between 50 KB and 300 KB, if applicable
- Result Awaited Attestation Form in PDF format, between 50 KB and 300 KB, if applicable
- Identity proof in JPG/ JPEG format, between 10 KB and 200 KB, for candidates who do not verify their identity through Aadhaar or DigiLocker
Steps to Apply
- Visit the application portal by clicking on the link given below in the “Important Links” section.
- Register using your e-mail ID and mobile number. The application can also be started through the MeriPehchaan single sign-on service.
- Create a password and security question. An application number will be generated after successful submission of the personal details.
- Log in with the application number and password to fill in the personal details, choose the examination cities and enter the educational qualification details.
- Upload the live photograph, scanned photograph, signature and other certificates as applicable.
- Pay the fee through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking or UPI.
- Download, save and print the confirmation page of Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026 for future reference
Application Fees
| General | Rs. 1,150/- |
| General-EWS/ OBC-NCL | Rs. 600/- |
| SC/ ST/ PwD/ PwBD/ Third Gender | Rs. 325/- |
A late fee of Rs. 500/- is payable by candidates who apply between 6th and 9th November 2026.
Key Dates
| Opening of Application portal | 7th October 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 5th November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Application with Late Fee Rs. 500/- | 6thto 9th November 2026 |
| Correction in Application Form | 10th to 12th November 2026 |
| City Intimation Slip and Admit Card | To be announced later |
| Date of Examination | 19th, 22nd and 27th December 2026 |
| Exam Timing | Shift 1: 09:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon; Shift 2: 03:00 p.m. to 06:00 p.m. |
| Declaration of Result | To be announced later |
Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for the Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026?
The last date to apply online is 5th November 2026 up to 11:50 PM. Candidates can apply with a late fee of Rs. 500/- till 9th November 2026.
When will the Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026 exam be held?
The exam will be held in CBT mode on 19th, 22nd and 27th December 2026 in two shifts.
What is the application fee for the General category?
The application fee for the General category is Rs. 1,150/-. General-EWS/ OBC-NCL candidates pay Rs. 600/-, and SC/ ST/ PwD/ PwBD/ Third Gender candidates pay Rs. 325/-.
What is the age limit for JRF?
The maximum age for JRF is 30 years as on 1st December 2026, with relaxation of up to 5 years for eligible categories. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor and admission to PhD only.
What is the stipend of a JRF?
The JRF stipend is Rs. 37,000/- per month for the first two years, along with an annual contingent grant of Rs. 20,000/-.
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