COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
JOINT CSIR - UGC NET
JUNE - 2026
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND DATES AT A GLANCE
Name of the Examination Joint CSIR-UGC NET June, 2026
Online registration and submission of
Application Form through NTA Website:
https://csirnet.nta.nic.in
27-05-2026 to 19-06-2026
(upto 11:50 P.M.)
Correction in the Particulars of Application Form
online only
22-06-2026 to 23-06-2026
(upto 11:50 P.M.)
CHAPTER – 1: INTRODUCTION ABOUT NTA AND JOINT CSIR- UGC NET
1.1. About National Testing Agency (NTA)
The Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India (GOI) has established the National
Testing Agency (NTA) as an independent, autonomous, and self-sustained premier testing
organization under the Societies Registration Act (1860) for conducting efficient,
transparent and international standard tests in order to assess the competency of
candidates for admissions to premier higher education institutions.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has been entrusted by the Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR), with the task of conducting of Joint CSIR-UGC NET, June,
2026 which is a test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for ‘award of Junior
Research Fellowship and appointment as Assistant Professor’, ‘appointment as Assistant
Professor and admission to Ph.D.’ and ‘admission to Ph.D. only’ in Indian universities and
colleges.
1.2. About Joint CSIR-UGC Fellowship
CSIR and UGC provide Research Fellowships for research under expert guidance of
faculty members/scientists working in University Departments/ National Laboratories
and Institutions in various fields of Science and interdisciplinary areas of research. Joint
CSIR-UGC NET Fellowships are accepted in Universities/IITs/Post Graduate
Colleges/Govt. Research Establishments including those of the CSIR, Research &
Development establishments of recognized public or private sector industrial firms and
other recognized institutions. Only bonafide Indian Citizens are eligible for the test. Joint
CSIR-UGC NET Fellowships are accepted in India.
There is no end period for the validity of the qualifying certificate of Assistant
Professor.
The award of Joint CSIR-UGC NET Fellowship is for a fixed tenure and does not imply
any assurance or guarantee for subsequent employment by CSIR-UGC NET to the
beneficiary.
➢ The candidates qualifying under the ‘appointment as Assistant Professor and
admission to Ph.D.’ category will be eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor
and admission to Ph.D. but not for the award of JRF.
➢ The candidates qualifying under the ‘admission to Ph.D. only’ category will be
eligible for admission to Ph.D. only but not for the award of JRF and/or appointment
as Assistant Professor.
➢ The eligibility will be determined in the following manner:
➢ The JRF-qualified candidates are admitted into the Ph.D. programme based on an interview
as per the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree)
Regulations, 2022.
➢ Joint CSIR-UGC NET under category-2 and category-3 can be used as an entrance test for
Ph.D. admission in place of entrance tests conducted by the different
universities/HEIs for admission to Ph.D.
➢ For admission to Ph.D., the marks obtained in the Joint CSIR-UGC NET by the candidates
in category-2 and category-3 will be valid for a period of one year from the date of declaration
of the result of Joint CSIR-UGC NET.
➢ For candidates qualified under the category-2 and category-3, the marks obtained in the
Joint CSIR-UGC NET written examination will have 70% weightage at the time of admission
and 30% weightage will be based on the performance in the interview/viva voce
conducted by the concerned University/HEI concerned.
➢ The number of candidates who will be qualified for JRF-NET, Assistant Professor and
‘admission to the Ph.D. only’ will be decided by the results committee.
1.3. About Junior Research Fellowship Stipend
The stipend of a JRF selected through CSIR- National Eligibility Test (NET) will be
Rs. 37,000/- per month for the first two years. In addition, annual contingent grant of
Rs. 20,000/- is reimbursed directly to the fellow. The Fellowship will be governed by
terms and conditions of CSIR, UGC or Research Scheme, as applicable.
On Completion of two years as JRF and if the Fellow is registered for Ph.D., the Fellowship
will be upgraded to SRF (NET) and the stipend will be increased to Rs. 42,000/-
per month for the 3
rd and subsequent years, on the basis of assessment of Fellows’
research progress/ achievements through interview by an Expert Committee consisting of
the Guide, Head of the Department and External Member from outside the University/
Institution (who is an expert in the relevant field, not below the rank of Professor/ Associate
Professor). As far as possible, the External Member should be the chairman of three
members Committee. Where the guide happens to be the Head of the Department, the
Dean, Faculty of Science or any senior member of the Department may be associated as
the third member of the Committee. In the event of the Committee not recommending upgradation or the fellow has not registered for Ph.D., the candidate will continue to receive
JRF with a stipend of Rs. 37,000/- per month for the 3
rd year or his/her fellowship may be
terminated depending upon the recommendation of the Committee and the decision of
CSIR in this regard will be final.
The number of fellowship for each subject is limited and may vary from exam cycle to
exam cycle.
1.4 Joint CSIR-UGC NET Examination June, 2026
National Fellowships/Schemes (NFOBC, NFSC and NFPwD/NFPwBD)
Candidates aspiring for the NFOBC, NFSC or NFPwD/NFPwBD shall also have to apply
for Joint CSIR UGC NET June, 2026. However, the result of NFOBC, NFSC and
NFPwD/NFPwBD will be compiled/declared by the respective nodal agency on their
websites. Candidates must provide correct information in online application form
(wherever asked for) to be eligible for these fellowships. These fellowships/schemes are
governed by the guidelines available on official websites of implementing
agencies/ministries.
1.5 The data of UGC-NET candidates can be shared by the UGC/NTA with Higher
Educational Institutions (HEIs) for admission to Ph.D. programmes and with
Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) & other organizations for their recruitment
processes.
CHAPTER – 2: ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
2.1 Joint CSIR- UGC NET June, 2026 Eligibility Criteria
2.1.1.
a) General/ Unreserved/ General-EWS candidates who have secured at least 55%
marks (without rounding off) in Master’s Degree or equivalent examination from
recognized universities/ institutions are eligible for appearing in this examination. The
Other Backward Classes (OBC) belonging to Non-Creamy Layer/Scheduled Caste (SC)/
Scheduled Tribe (ST)/ Persons with Disability (PwD/PwBD)/ Third gender category
candidates who have secured at least 50% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s
degree or equivalent examination are eligible for this Test.
b) Candidates who are pursuing their Master’s degree or equivalent course or
candidates who have appeared for their qualifying Master’s degree (final year)
examination and whose result is still awaited, or candidates whose qualifying
examinations have been delayed may also apply for this test. However, such candidates
will be admitted provisionally and shall be considered eligible for Joint CSIR-UGC
NET, only after they have passed their Master’s Degree or equivalent examination
with at least 55% marks (50% marks in case of OBC-NCL/ SC/ ST/ PwD/ PwBD/ Third
gender category candidates). Such candidates must complete their Master’s degree or
equivalent examination within two years from the date of Joint CSIR-UGC NET result
with required percentage of marks, failing which they shall be treated as disqualified.
However, those candidates who qualify for ‘Admission to Ph.D. Only’ must complete
their Master’s degree or equivalent examination within one year from the date of Joint
CSIR- UGC NET result with required percentage of marks, failing which they shall be
treated as disqualified.
c) Candidates belonging to the Third gender category are eligible to draw the same
relaxation in fee, age and Eligibility Criteria for Joint CSIR-UGC NET as are available
to SC/ ST/ PwD/ PwBD categories. The subject-wise qualifying cut-offs for this category
would be the lowest among those for SC/ ST/ PwD/ PwBD/ OBC–NCL/ General-EWS
categories in the corresponding subject.
d) The Ph.D. degree holders whose Master’s level examination have been completed by
19 September 1991 (irrespective of date of declaration of result) shall be eligible for a
relaxation of 5% in aggregate marks (i.e. from 55% to 50%) for appearing in Joint
CSIR- UGC NET.
e) Candidates are neither required to send any certificates/documents in support of their
eligibility nor submit printout of their Application Form or Confirmation Page to NTA.
However, the candidates, in their own interest, must ensure their eligibility for appearing
in the examination. In the event of any ineligibility being detected by the CSIR/UGC/NTA
at any stage, their candidature will be cancelled, and they shall be liable for legal action.
NTA does not verify the information provided by the candidates during online registration
and hence candidature will be purely provisional subject to the fulfillment of eligibility
criteria.
f) Candidates holding a foreign qualification are advised, in their own interest, to
obtain equivalence of their qualification from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The Candidates with Post-Graduate diploma awarded by an Indian Institute should in
their own interest, ascertain the equivalence of their diploma with Master's degree of
recognized Indian Universities from Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
g) The candidates having passed a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme
should have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point
scale wherever the grading system is followed. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent
grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ ST/ OBC (non-creamy layer)/
Differently-Abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of
candidates as per the decision of the Commission from time to time (refer to University
Grants Commission.
(Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022
https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/0909572_Minimum-Standards-and-Procedure-forAward-of-PhD Degree.pdf)
The candidates qualifying in the Joint CSIR-UGC NET exam, based on a four-year
undergraduate degree, will be eligible for the award of the Junior Research Fellowship
(JRF) and for admission to the Ph.D. The candidates qualifying in the Joint CSIRUGC NET, based on a four-year undergraduate degree, will not be eligible for
appointment as Assistant Professor.
h) The candidates who are pursuing Four Year/8 Semester Bachelor’s Degree Programme
and are in their last semester/year may also apply for the test. However, such candidates
will be admitted provisionally and shall be considered eligible for the award of
JRF/admission to Ph.D. only after fulfilling the requirements contained in the University
Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree)
Regulations, 2022 within two years (if qualified for award of JRF)/within one year (if
qualified for admission to Ph.D. only) from the date of declaration of the Joint CSIR-UGC
NET result, failing which they shall be treated as disqualified.
i) The candidates with a Four-Year Bachelor’s Degree Programme are allowed to appear
in a subject (the List of Subjects and their Codes for Joint CSIR-UGC NET June-2026
are given at (Annexure-I) in which they want to pursue a Ph.D. irrespective of the
discipline in which they have obtained the four-year bachelor’s degree.
2.1.2 Upper Age limit:
a) JRF: Not more than 30 years as on the 1
st day of the month in which the examination
is concluded i.e. July, 2026.
A relaxation of upto 5 years is provided to the candidates belonging to OBC-NCL (as
per the Central list of OBC available on website: www.ncbc.nic.in) /SC/ST/PwD /PwBD
/Third gender categories and to women applicants.
Relaxation will also be provided to the candidates with research experience, limited to
the period spent on research in the relevant / related subject of post-graduation degree,
subject to a maximum of 5 years, on production of a certificate from appropriate authority,
which should be a recognized Indian university / Institute of National Importance / foreign
university which is duly approved / recognized / accredited in its own Country / Public
Sector Undertaking of Government of India / State Government in India. The research
should not have been carried out towards completion of graduation or post-graduation
degree(s).
A relaxation of upto 5 years is provided to the candidates who have served in the armed
forces subject to the length of service in the armed forces upto the first day of the month
in which the concerned Joint CSIR-UGC-NET is, conducted, i.e., July, 2026 Total age
relaxation on the above ground(s) shall not exceed five years under any circumstances.
b) Assistant Professor: There is no upper age limit in applying for Joint CSIR UGCNET for Assistant Professor.
c) Admission to PhD: There is no upper age limit in applying for Joint CSIR-UGCNET for Admission to PhD.
2.1.3 Declaration
In the event of any ineligibility being detected by CSIR / UGC / NTA at any stage, their
candidature will be cancelled and they shall be liable for legal action. NTA does not verify
the information provided by the candidates during online registration and hence
candidature will be purely provisional subject to the fulfillment of eligibility criteria.
[Note: The information provided in this chapter (from point 2.1. onwards) has been received from CSIR]
CHAPTER – 3: Details of Examinations
3.1 Mode of Examinations
The Examinations will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.
3.2 Pattern of Question Papers
The Test will consist of three parts. All the parts will consist of objective type, multiple choice
questions. There will be no break between papers. The subject-wise scheme of
examination is as per details below:
Chemical Sciences: The candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15, 35 and 25
questions from Part-A, Part-B and Part-C respectively. If more than required number of
questions are answered, only first 15, 35 and 25 questions in Part A, Part B and Part
C respectively will be taken up for evaluation. Below each question in Part A, Part B
and Part C, four alternatives or responses are given. Only one of these alternatives is the
"correct" option to the question. The candidate has to find, for each question, the correct or
the best answer.
Earth Sciences: The candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15, 35 and 25 questions
from Part-A, Part-B and Part-C respectively. If more than required number of questions
are answered, only first 15, 35 and 25 questions in Part A, Part B and Part C
respectively will be taken up for evaluation. Below each question in Part A, Part B and
Part C, four alternatives or responses are given. Only one of these alternatives is the "correct"
option to the question. The candidate has to find, for each question, the correct or the best
answer.
Life Sciences: The candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15, 35 and 25questions
from Part-A, Part-B and Part-C respectively. If more than required number of questions
are answered, only first 15, 35 and 25 questions in Part A, Part B and Part C
respectively will be taken up for evaluation. Below each question in Part A, Part B and
Part C, four alternatives or responses are given. Only one of these alternatives is the "correct"
option to the question. The candidate has to find, for each question, the correct or the best
answer.
Mathematical Sciences: The candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15, 25 and
20 questions from Part-A, Part-B and Part-C respectively. If more than required number
of questions are answered, only first 15, 25 and 20 questions in Part A, Part B and
Part C respectively will be taken up for evaluation. Below each question in Part A, Part
B, four alternatives or responses are given. Only one of these alternatives is the "correct"
option to the question. The candidate has to find, for each question, the correct or the
best answer. In Part C each question may have "ONE" or "MORE" correct options.
Credit in a question shall be given only on identification of "ALL" the correct options
in Part C.
Physical Sciences: The candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15, 20 and 20
questions from Part-A, Part-B and Part-C respectively. If more than required number
of questions are answered, only first 15, 20 and 20 questions in Part A, Part B and
Part C respectively will be taken up for evaluation. Below each question in Part A,
Part B and Part C, four alternatives or responses are given. Only one of these alternatives
is the "correct" option to the question. The candidate has to find, for each question, the
correct or the best answer.
Part 'A' shall be common to all subjects. This part shall contain questions pertaining
to General Aptitude with emphasis on logical reasoning, graphical analysis,
analytical and numerical ability, quantitative comparison, series formation,
puzzles etc.
Part 'B' shall contain subject-related conventional Multiple-Choice questions
(MCQs), generally covering the topics given in the syllabus.
Part 'C' shall contain higher order questions that may test the candidate's
knowledge of scientific concepts and/or application of the scientific concepts.
The questions shall be of analytical nature where a candidate is expected to
apply scientific knowledge to arrive at the solution to the given scientific
problem.
3.3 Medium of Examination
The Paper will be in bilingual i.e. Hindi and English. Candidates are required to answer in
the medium as per option exercised in the Application Form. In case of any ambiguity
between Hindi and English version due to translation, English version would be treated as
final.
3.4 Marking Scheme of Examinations
Please refer to point no. 3.2.
3.5 Subjects of the Test
The Test will be held in the subjects mentioned below:
Subject Code Subjects of the Test
701 Chemical Sciences
702 Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
703 Life Sciences
704 Mathematical Sciences
705 Physical Sciences
3.6 Syllabus of the Test
Syllabus & Scheme of Examination of the MCQ Paper may be seen at CSIR HRDG
website: www.csirhrdg.res.in .
3.7 The score card will be published with total percentile score and marks.
[Note: The information provided in this chapter (from point 3.1. onwards) has been received from CSIR]
More Info: https://csirnet.nta.nic.in/
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