Higher Education

CSIR-NET

CSIR–UGC National Eligibility Test

A national eligibility examination for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor eligibility in selected science subjects.

Official Information Information reviewed for 2026

Conducting Body

National Testing Agency (NTA) for the CSIR-UGC NET examination

Level

National

Mode

Computer Based Test

Duration

Subject-specific as per the current information bulletin

Overview

Understanding CSIR-NET

Eligibility for JRF and Assistant Professor roles in the science subjects covered by the examination, subject to the applicable rules.

Life SciencesChemical SciencesEarth SciencesMathematical SciencesPhysical Sciences

Who Can Apply

Eligibility

Candidates generally need a relevant postgraduate degree or qualifying integrated programme, subject to the current bulletin.

The exact qualifying degree, percentage and category rules are year-specific.

Candidates should verify the latest NTA/CSIR information bulletin before applying.

What You Study

Subjects

Life Sciences

Prepare the prescribed subject syllabus with concept clarity, application-based practice and examination-oriented questions.

Chemical Sciences

Prepare the prescribed subject syllabus with concept clarity, application-based practice and examination-oriented questions.

Earth Sciences

Prepare the prescribed subject syllabus with concept clarity, application-based practice and examination-oriented questions.

Mathematical Sciences

Prepare the prescribed subject syllabus with concept clarity, application-based practice and examination-oriented questions.

Physical Sciences

Prepare the prescribed subject syllabus with concept clarity, application-based practice and examination-oriented questions.

Structure

Exam Pattern

Sections
Part A, Part B and Part CStructure varies by subject
Mode
Computer Based Test
Subjects
One selected science subject from the notified list
Duration
Follow the current subject-specific bulletin

Scoring

Marking Scheme

Scheme

Subject-specific

Negative marking

Applicable according to question/part rules in the current bulletin

What to Prepare

Important Topics

Part A

  • General Aptitude
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Quantitative Ability
  • Data Interpretation

These are preparation categories, not a substitute for the latest official syllabus.

Part B

  • Core subject concepts

These are preparation categories, not a substitute for the latest official syllabus.

Part C

  • Higher-order analytical and application-based subject questions

These are preparation categories, not a substitute for the latest official syllabus.

Student Guide

How to Prepare

01

Master the subject syllabus

Map postgraduate-level concepts to the official subject syllabus and identify high-frequency areas.

02

Practise Part C deeply

Work on multi-step, analytical questions rather than relying only on factual recall.

03

Maintain an error log

Track conceptual gaps and recurring calculation or interpretation mistakes.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does CSIR-NET cover?+

The examination covers Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Mathematical Sciences and Physical Sciences.

What is Part C?+

Part C focuses more heavily on higher-order analytical and application-based questions within the selected subject.

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