Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026
Applications for Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 are open till 5 November 2026 (11:50 PM IST); late fee window 6â9 November, correction 10â12 November. Exam dates 19, 22 and 27 December 2026 (subject to official change) in five science subjects. This is an eligibility test for JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD admission; it has no vacancy count.
Apply Online Now âComplete Details
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Online application opens | 7 October 2026 | Done |
| Last date for application and fee (till 11:50 PM) | 5 November 2026 | Open |
| Late application with Rs. 500 late fee (till 11:50 PM) | 6 November 2026 to 9 November 2026 | Upcoming |
| Correction window (till 11:50 PM) | 10 November 2026 to 12 November 2026 | Upcoming |
| Exam date (subject to official change) | 19 December 2026 | Upcoming |
| Exam date (subject to official change) | 22 December 2026 | Upcoming |
| Exam date (subject to official change) | 27 December 2026 | Upcoming |
| City intimation slip and admit card | To be announced | Tba |
| Answer key and result | To be announced | Tba |
Master’s degree route
General/Unreserved and General-EWS applicants need at least 55% in a recognized master’s degree or equivalent, without rounding. OBC Non-Creamy Layer (Central List), SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender applicants need at least 50%, without rounding. EWS status does not reduce the master’s requirement to 50%.
Candidates pursuing a master’s degree, awaiting final results or affected by delayed qualifying examinations may apply provisionally. They must complete the qualifying degree with the required marks within two years of the NET result; those qualifying for PhD admission only must do so within one year. PhD holders whose master’s-level examination was completed by 19 September 1991 receive a five-percentage-point relaxation. Foreign qualification holders should obtain UGC equivalence; Indian postgraduate diploma holders should ascertain master’s equivalence from AIU.
Four-year undergraduate route
A four-year/eight-semester bachelor’s degree requires at least 75% aggregate or equivalent grade. A five-percentage-point relaxation may apply to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwBD, EWS and other categories under the cited UGC provisions. This route is for JRF and PhD admission, not Assistant Professor appointment. Final-year/final-semester applicants may apply provisionally and must fulfil the requirements within two years if JRF-qualified or one year if qualified for PhD admission only.
Age limit
The JRF upper age is 30 years as on 1 December 2026. Up to five years’ relaxation applies to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender candidates and women. Certified relevant research experience may support relaxation up to five years, excluding research done to complete graduation or postgraduation. Armed-forces service permits relaxation up to five years according to service length. Total relaxation on these grounds cannot exceed five years. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility or PhD admission only.
| Category | Examination fee |
|---|---|
| General | Rs. 1,150 |
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | Rs. 600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender | Rs. 325 |
| Late period 6–9 November | Additional Rs. 500 late fee |
Bank processing/service charges and GST are additional where applicable. Pay through the integrated payment gateway using net banking, card or UPI. Registration without successful payment and the confirmation page is not a completed application.
Three-hour computer-based test with Parts A, B and C and no break; maximum 200 marks. The paper is bilingual in Hindi and English; English governs a translation ambiguity. Part-wise attempt limits and negative marking differ by subject (see the subject-wise table above).
There is no separate cutoff for Parts A, B and C. The minimum benchmark is 33% for General, EWS and OBC and 25% for SC, ST and PwD/PwBD; these are minimum benchmarks, not final cutoffs. Answer-key challenges cost Rs. 200 per question challenged (non-refundable); NTA prepares results from the final answer key.
- Open the December 2026 application link from csirnet.nta.nic.in. Use your own active email and mobile number. Record the application number and protect your password.
- Complete your qualification route, science subject, category, educational details and exam-city preferences. Allocation of a preferred city is not guaranteed.
- Capture the live photograph and upload the photograph (JPG/JPEG 10–200 KB), signature (JPG/JPEG 10–50 KB) and any applicable certificates as per the portal instructions.
- Review the application and pay by 5 November 2026, 11:50 PM IST, or use the late-fee window by 9 November, 11:50 PM.
- Save the confirmation page and payment evidence. During 10–12 November, use only the official correction facility for permitted particulars.
- Submit only one application; for multiple applications in the same subject, only the first is considered.
Full Details
CURRENT STATUS: Applications open – Last date 5 November 2026 (11:50 PM IST) | Late fee window 6–9 November | Correction 10–12 November | Exam 19, 22 and 27 December 2026
NTA is accepting applications for Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 from 7 October to 5 November 2026, ending at 11:50 PM IST. Complete the form and successful fee payment by the ordinary deadline. Late applications are separately allowed from 6 to 9 November, ending at 11:50 PM, with an additional Rs. 500 late fee. The notified correction period is 10–12 November until 11:50 PM.
The examination dates are 19, 22 and 27 December 2026 in the official schedule. The bulletin describes its dates as tentative and subject to official changes. Individual subject/date/shift allocations must be read from the subsequent schedule and admit card; do not assume candidates take all three dates. City-slip, admit-card, answer-key and result release dates are not announced in the official notices. This is an eligibility examination, not a recruitment notice with a vacancy count.
Current Status at a Glance
- Conducting body: National Testing Agency (NTA), for the Joint CSIR UGC NET.
- Reference: public notice dated 7 October 2026 and the December 2026 Information Bulletin.
- Vacancies: not applicable – this is an eligibility examination.
- Last date: 5 November 2026, 11:50 PM IST (late fee window 6–9 November).
- Last verified: 21 October 2026. Sources: NTA public notice dated 7 October 2026 and the Information Bulletin on csirnet.nta.nic.in.
- Candidate action: apply through the official NTA application link and save the confirmation page after successful payment.
Important Dates
| Event | Official schedule and status |
|---|---|
| Application and ordinary fee payment | 7 October–5 November 2026, ending 11:50 PM IST |
| Late application and late-fee payment | 6–9 November 2026, ending 11:50 PM IST |
| Correction | 10–12 November 2026, ending 11:50 PM IST; permitted particulars only |
| Examination dates | 19, 22 and 27 December 2026; scheduled, subject to official change |
| Shift timings | 9 AM–12 noon or 3 PM–6 PM IST; individual allotment on admit card |
| City slip and admit card | Release dates to be announced |
| Response sheet, answer key, objections and result | Dates to be announced |
What This Examination Qualifies You For
The examination determines eligibility in three outcome categories. Category 1 covers JRF, Assistant Professor eligibility and PhD admission. Category 2 covers Assistant Professor eligibility and PhD admission without JRF. Category 3 covers PhD admission only. Qualifying through a four-year undergraduate degree supports JRF and PhD admission, but does not provide Assistant Professor eligibility through that route.
Category 2 and 3 NET marks are valid for one year from result declaration for PhD admission, where NET marks carry 70% weight and the institution’s interview/viva carries 30%. The bulletin states no end period for the validity of the Assistant Professor qualifying certificate. Institutions still apply their own admission or appointment requirements. Qualifying does not guarantee a job, fellowship placement or admission.
Five Science Subjects
| 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 |
The bulletin describes CSIR and DBT fellowships in LS-BT; DBT administers its funded fellowships separately. No subject-wise fellowship allocation or vacancy total is advertised. Four-year degree applicants may choose the subject in which they intend to pursue a PhD irrespective of their undergraduate discipline, under the bulletin’s conditions.
Research Pathway and Stipend
The bulletin states a CSIR-NET JRF stipend of Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years and an annual contingent grant of Rs. 20,000 under the applicable terms. SRF upgradation to Rs. 42,000 per month after two years depends on PhD registration and research-progress assessment; it is not automatic or a salaried job offer. Fellowships remain governed by CSIR, UGC, DBT or the applicable scheme’s rules.
Subject-wise Examination Pattern
All five subjects use a three-hour computer-based examination with Parts A, B and C, no break, and a maximum of 200 marks. Part A tests general aptitude; Part B covers subject questions; Part C tests higher-order scientific understanding and application. In the table, each sequence is Part A / Part B / Part C. Wrong-answer figures are marks deducted.
| Subject | Questions available | Maximum attempts | Marks per correct | Deduction per wrong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Sciences 701 | 20 / 40 / 60 | 15 / 35 / 25 | 2 / 2 / 4 | 0.5 / 0.5 / 1 |
| Earth Sciences 702 | 20 / 50 / 80 | 15 / 35 / 25 | 2 / 2 / 4 | 0.5 / 0.5 / 1.32 |
| LS-BT 703 | 20 / 50 / 75 | 15 / 35 / 25 | 2 / 2 / 4 | 0.5 / 0.5 / 1 |
| Mathematical Sciences 704 | 20 / 40 / 60 | 15 / 25 / 20 | 2 / 3 / 4.75 | 0.5 / 0.75 / 0 |
| Physical Sciences 705 | 20 / 25 / 30 | 15 / 20 / 20 | 2 / 3.5 / 5 | 0.5 / 0.875 / 1.25 |
Do not attempt beyond the permitted part-wise maximum. Mathematical Sciences Part C can have one or more correct options; credit requires identifying all correct options, and there is no negative marking in that Part C.
Qualifying benchmark
There is no separate cutoff for Parts A, B and C; cumulative marks determine merit. The bulletin gives a minimum benchmark of 33% for General, EWS and OBC and 25% for SC, ST and PwD/PwBD. These are minimum benchmarks, not guaranteed final subject/category cutoffs.
CSIR NET vs UGC NET December 2026
This Joint CSIR UGC NET covers five science subjects and has its own application dates, bulletin and marking scheme. UGC NET December 2026 is a separate examination with different dates.
Source
Official sources: NTA public notice dated 7 October 2026 and the Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin on csirnet.nta.nic.in. Last verified 21 October 2026. NTA helpdesk: csirnet@nta.ac.in; 011-40759000 / 011-69227700.
SarkariResultAlertInfo.com is an independent information portal, not affiliated with NTA, CSIR, UGC or DBT. Use official authority-linked services for forms, payments and personal information.
Related: Latest updates · Exam Calendar
Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions
5 November 2026 at 11:50 PM IST for the ordinary application and fee payment.
Yes, 6â9 November 2026 until 11:50 PM IST, with the additional Rs. 500 late fee.
The notified correction period is 10â12 November 2026 until 11:50 PM IST for permitted particulars.
The notified dates are 19, 22 and 27 December 2026, subject to official changes; check your own date and shift on the subsequent schedule/admit card.
No release is confirmed in the official notices. Their release dates are to be announced.
No. Mathematical Sciences Part C has no negative marking; other part-wise rules differ by subject.
Not through the four-year undergraduate NET route, which supports JRF and PhD admission.
No. This Joint CSIR UGC NET covers five science subjects and has its own application dates, eligibility bulletin and marking scheme.