The Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the University Grants Commission (UGC). The examination determines eligibility for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to Ph.D. programmes, depending on the qualification category.

According to the official CSIR UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin, online registration started on 7 October 2026. The regular application deadline is 5 November 2026, while applications with an additional late fee can be submitted from 6 November to 9 November 2026.

The examination will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode on 19, 22 and 27 December 2026. It covers five major subject areas: Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences and Biotechnology; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences.

NTA has released the official notification and Information Bulletin for Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026. The bulletin provides the registration schedule, fee details, eligibility conditions, subject-wise examination pattern and other application instructions.

The examination will be held on 19, 22 and 27 December 2026. Candidates should note that the application deadline, late-fee deadline and correction window are separate events. The city intimation slip, admit card, recorded responses, answer key and result dates will be announced separately.

Download Official CSIR UGC NET Notification PDF

Download CSIR UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin

The CSIR UGC NET December 2026 application form is available online through the official NTA CSIR NET portal. Candidates can submit their application from 7 October to 5 November 2026.

Applicants who miss the regular deadline may submit an application during the late-fee window from 6 November to 9 November 2026 by paying an additional late fee of ₹500, along with the applicable examination fee.

The application process is online only. Candidates must provide their own email address and mobile number because NTA may use these details for examination-related communication. Only one application should be submitted by each candidate.

Apply Online – Official CSIR NET Portal

The last date for submitting the regular CSIR UGC NET December 2026 application form is 5 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM. The applicable examination fee must also be paid by the prescribed deadline.

NTA has provided an additional late application window from 6 November to 9 November 2026. Candidates applying during this period must pay a late fee of ₹500 in addition to the regular category-wise examination fee.

Educational Qualification

• General/Unreserved and General-EWS candidates: At least 55% marks, without rounding off, in a Master's degree or equivalent examination from a recognized university or institution.
• OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender candidates: At least 50% marks, without rounding off, in a Master's degree or equivalent examination.
• Candidates pursuing a Master's degree, those who have appeared in the final-year qualifying examination with results awaited, and those whose qualifying examinations have been delayed may apply provisionally, subject to the bulletin's conditions.
• Provisionally eligible candidates generally must complete their Master's degree within two years of the CSIR UGC NET result for JRF or Assistant Professor eligibility. Candidates qualifying for Ph.D. admission only must complete the qualifying degree within one year, subject to the stated rules.
• Ph.D. degree holders whose Master's-level examination was completed by 19 September 1991 may receive a 5% relaxation in aggregate marks, subject to the bulletin's provisions.
• Candidates holding foreign qualifications should check the required equivalence provisions. Candidates with postgraduate diplomas should verify the applicable equivalence requirements.

Four-Year Bachelor's Degree Candidates

Candidates with a four-year/eight-semester bachelor's degree may be eligible to apply under the specific provisions in the Information Bulletin. The prescribed minimum is generally 75% aggregate marks or equivalent grade, with the specified relaxation for eligible categories.

Eligible candidates qualifying through a four-year bachelor's degree may be considered for JRF and Ph.D. admission under the applicable conditions. They are not eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor solely on the basis of this qualification. Candidates should consult the official bulletin for the full conditions and applicable subject provisions.

Age Limit for JRF

The upper age limit for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is 30 years as on 1 December 2026.

• Relaxation of up to 5 years is available to specified categories, including OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third Gender and women applicants, subject to the applicable rules.
• Eligible research experience may provide age relaxation, subject to the prescribed conditions and maximum limits.
• Eligible candidates who have served in the armed forces may receive relaxation according to the length of service and the bulletin's rules.
• Total age relaxation under the specified grounds is subject to the limits set out in the Information Bulletin.

Age Limit for Assistant Professor and Ph.D. Admission

• Assistant Professor: No upper age limit.
• Admission to Ph.D. only: No upper age limit.

Qualification Categories

The examination will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The paper consists of three parts—Part A, Part B and Part C—with objective-type multiple-choice questions. There is no break during the examination.

Examination Duration

The total examination duration is 180 minutes (3 hours). Candidates must follow the date and shift assigned on their admit card.

Examination Shifts

• Shift 1: 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon.
• Shift 2: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

The exact date, examination centre and shift for each candidate will be specified on the admit card.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

The marking scheme varies by subject and question-paper part. Candidates should check the official bulletin for the exact marks awarded for correct answers and the negative-marking rate for incorrect answers in their selected subject.

The CSIR UGC NET examination covers five major subject areas. Candidates should select the appropriate subject code and prepare according to the official syllabus applicable to the examination.

1. Chemical Sciences
2. Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
3. Life Sciences and Biotechnology
4. Mathematical Sciences
5. Physical Sciences

Part A: General Aptitude

Part A generally assesses general aptitude, including logical reasoning, analytical ability, numerical ability, graphical analysis and quantitative reasoning.

Parts B and C: Subject-Specific Knowledge

Parts B and C test subject-related knowledge. Part C generally emphasizes analytical and application-based questions. The precise structure, number of questions and marking scheme vary by subject.

View Official Information Bulletin & Subject Codes

Visit Official CSIR NET Website

The official December 2026 Information Bulletin specifies the following category-wise examination fees.

The additional late fee of ₹500 applies to applications submitted during the late application window from 6 November to 9 November 2026. Applicable bank/payment gateway service charges and taxes are extra.

Payment Methods

Candidates can pay through the payment methods provided in the online application portal, including debit card, credit card, net banking and UPI, subject to availability.

Candidates should keep the following details and documents ready before filling in the application form. Follow the official bulletin for the exact upload requirements and file specifications.

• Valid personal email address and mobile number.
• Personal details, including name, date of birth and parents' names.
• Details of the qualifying degree and postgraduate marks.
• Category certificate details, where applicable.
• EWS certificate details, where applicable.
• PwD/PwBD or UDID certificate, where applicable.
• Recent photograph and scanned signature in the prescribed format.
• Subject selection and examination-related preferences.
• Payment method for the examination fee.

• The Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 examination is scheduled for 19, 22 and 27 December 2026.
• Online registration started on 7 October 2026.
• The regular application deadline is 5 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM.
• The late application window is 6–9 November 2026, with an additional late fee of ₹500.
• The application correction window is scheduled for 10–12 November 2026.
• Apply only through the official CSIR NET portal.
• Submit only one application form and use your own email address and mobile number.
• Verify your educational details, category, subject selection and other information before submission.
• Download and save the Confirmation Page after successful payment.
• The examination is conducted in CBT mode for 180 minutes.
• Exam city intimation, admit card, answer key and result dates will be announced separately.

Has the CSIR UGC NET December 2026 notification been released?

Yes. The official notification and Information Bulletin for Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 have been released.

When did CSIR UGC NET December 2026 registration start?

Online registration started on 7 October 2026.

What is the last date to apply for CSIR UGC NET December 2026?

The regular application deadline is 5 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM. The late application window runs from 6 November to 9 November 2026 with an additional late fee of ₹500.

What are the CSIR UGC NET December 2026 examination dates?

The examination is scheduled for 19, 22 and 27 December 2026.

What is the application fee for CSIR UGC NET December 2026?

The fee is ₹1,150 for General candidates, ₹600 for General-EWS/OBC-NCL candidates, and ₹325 for SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/Third Gender candidates. Applicable service charges and taxes are extra.

What is the late fee for CSIR UGC NET December 2026?

The additional late fee is ₹500 for applications submitted from 6 November to 9 November 2026.

When is the CSIR UGC NET application correction window?

The correction window is scheduled from 10 November to 12 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM on the final day.

What is the educational qualification for CSIR UGC NET?

Generally, candidates need at least 55% marks in a Master's degree or equivalent qualification for General/Unreserved and General-EWS categories, and 50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender categories, subject to the detailed eligibility provisions.

What is the upper age limit for CSIR UGC NET JRF?

The upper age limit for JRF is 30 years as on 1 December 2026, subject to applicable relaxations. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or Ph.D. admission.

What is the duration of the CSIR UGC NET examination?

The examination lasts 180 minutes (3 hours) and is conducted in CBT mode.

Which subjects are included in CSIR UGC NET?

The five major subjects are Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences and Biotechnology; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences.

Is there negative marking in CSIR UGC NET?

Yes. Negative marking applies, but the rate varies by subject and, in some subjects, by question-paper part. Candidates should check the official examination scheme for their selected subject.

When will the CSIR UGC NET admit card be released?

The admit card release date has not yet been announced. Candidates should monitor the official CSIR NET website.

Where can I download the official notification and brochure?

The notification and Information Bulletin can be downloaded from the official PDF links provided below.

Check Official CSIR NET Website

Use the official resources below to check the notification, application form, eligibility conditions, subject-wise examination scheme, syllabus and future examination updates.

Download Official Notification PDF

Download Official Information Bulletin / Brochure

Official CSIR NET Portal & Application Form

Official National Testing Agency Website