The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the official notification for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Examination. The test determines eligibility for Indian nationals for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to Ph.D. programmes in Indian universities and colleges. Online registration is open from 7 October 2026 to 5 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM), with late application submission permitted up to 9 November 2026. The Computer-Based Test (CBT) will be conducted on 19, 22, and 27 December 2026.
Important Dates
| Notification Release Date | 7 October 2026 |
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| Online Application Start Date | 7 October 2026 |
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| Last Date for Regular Application | 5 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
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| Regular Fee Payment Deadline | 5 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
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| Late Application Window (with Rs. 500/- late fee) | 6 to 09 November 2026 |
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| Late Fee Payment Deadline | 9 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
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| Application Correction Window | 10 to 12 November 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
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| Examination Dates | 19, 22 & 27 December 2026 |
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Application Fee
| General Category | Rs. 1,150/- |
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| General-EWS / OBC (NCL) | Rs. 600/- |
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| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender | Rs. 325/- |
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| Late Fee (if applying between 06-09 Nov) | Additional Rs. 500/- |
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| Payment Mode | Online via Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI |
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Age Limit
| Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) | Maximum 30 Years |
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| Assistant Professor / Lectureship / Ph.D Admission | No Upper Age Limit |
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| Age Relaxation | Up to 5 years for SC, ST, PwD, Third Gender, and Women applicants; up to 3 years for OBC (NCL) candidates. |
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Eligibility Criteria
- M.Sc. or equivalent degree / Integrated BS-MS / BS-4 years / BE / B.Tech / B.Pharma / MBBS with minimum 55% marks for General, General-EWS, and OBC (NCL) candidates (50% marks for SC, ST, and PwD candidates).
- Candidates enrolled in M.Sc. or who have completed 10+2+3 years of the qualifying examination are also eligible to apply under the Result Awaited (RA) category.
- B.Sc. (Hons) or equivalent degree holders are eligible to apply for JRF only.
Exam Pattern & Scheme
| Mode of Examination | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
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| Exam Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
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| Question Paper Type | Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) |
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| Language Medium | Bilingual (English and Hindi) |
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CSIR UGC NET December 2026: Exam Subjects
| Subject Name | Exam Mode | Eligibility Scope |
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| Chemical Sciences | Computer Based Test (CBT) | JRF, Assistant Professor & Ph.D |
| Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences | Computer Based Test (CBT) | JRF, Assistant Professor & Ph.D |
| Life Sciences | Computer Based Test (CBT) | JRF, Assistant Professor & Ph.D |
| Mathematical Sciences | Computer Based Test (CBT) | JRF, Assistant Professor & Ph.D |
| Physical Sciences | Computer Based Test (CBT) | JRF, Assistant Professor & Ph.D |
How to Apply for CSIR NET December 2026
- Visit the official portal of CSIR NET: csirnet.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the link for “Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Online Registration”.
- Register with your active email address and mobile number to generate application credentials.
- Log in and complete the application form with personal, educational, and exam city choice details.
- Upload required scanned documents including passport photograph, signature, and category/PwD certificate as per NTA specifications.
- Pay the applicable examination fee online through Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI.
- Review all filled information thoroughly before final submission.
- Submit the online application on or before 05 November 2026 (or with late fee by 09 November 2026).
- Download and print the Confirmation Page for future reference.
Important Links
Before Applying
Please verify the official notification for complete eligibility, age limits, education qualification, fee rules, and other terms before submitting the online application.
Always confirm dates and fees on the official website before you apply.
