The National Testing Agency (NTA) will officially conclude the online registration and application submission process for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 examination today, Thursday, November 5, 2026. Aspirants seeking eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission into Ph.D. programs across Indian universities must submit their applications on the official portal at csirnet.nta.ac.in before the window closes at 11:50 PM tonight.
The Joint CSIR-UGC NET is India's premier national-level qualifying examination for postgraduate science scholars, conducted across five core scientific disciplines under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
CSIR UGC NET December 2026: Important Dates & Overview
- Conducting Organization: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Mandating Authority: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
- Examination Name: Joint CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (December 2026)
- Online Application Deadline: November 5, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
- Last Date for Successful Fee Transaction: November 6, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
- Application Form Correction Window: November 7, 2026 to November 9, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
- Mode of Examination: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Official Portal: csirnet.nta.ac.in / nta.ac.in
Academic Disciplines Covered Under CSIR UGC NET
The national test is administered for candidates specializing in five core scientific streams:
- Chemical Sciences
- Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Mathematical Sciences
- Physical Sciences
Eligibility Criteria & Three-Tier Admission Categories
As per the revised University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, candidates qualify under one of three distinct categories based on their merit score:
- Category 1: Award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Appointment as Assistant Professor.
- Category 2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and Admission to Ph.D. programs.
- Category 3: Admission to Ph.D. programs only (valid for one year for university Ph.D. admissions).
- Educational Qualification: M.Sc. or equivalent degree / Integrated BS-MS / BS (4-Year) / B.E. / B.Tech / B.Pharma / MBBS with at least 55% marks for General/General-EWS candidates, and 50% marks for OBC (NCL), SC, ST, PwD, and Third Gender candidates.
- Candidates in Final Year: Candidates currently enrolled in the final year of their master's degree or awaiting results are also eligible to apply under the Result Awaited (RA) category.
- Age Limits:
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Not more than 30 years as on the first day of the examination month. Relaxable up to 5 years for SC, ST, PwD, Third Gender, and female candidates, and up to 3 years for OBC (NCL) candidates.
- Assistant Professor & Ph.D. Admission: No upper age limit.
Category-Wise Application Fees & Payment Channels
Candidates must complete the transaction before 11:50 PM on November 6, 2026:
- General Category: Rs. 1,150
- General-EWS / OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): Rs. 600
- SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender: Rs. 325
- Payment Modes: Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI via SBI, ICICI Bank, or HDFC payment gateways.
Step-by-Step Procedure to Complete Registration at csirnet.nta.ac.in
- Visit the official NTA CSIR-NET web portal at csirnet.nta.ac.in.
- Click on the banner link titled "Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Registration / Application".
- Click on "New Candidate Register Here" and generate login credentials by providing your Aadhaar number, passport, or ABC ID.
- Record the system-generated Application Number and Password.
- Log in to fill out the comprehensive application form, specifying personal details, contact address, educational qualifications, subject choice, and preferred exam cities.
- Upload scanned images of your recent passport photograph (10 kb to 200 kb) and signature (4 kb to 30 kb) in JPG/JPEG format.
- Pay the examination fee online through the payment gateway.
- Verify that the payment status reflects "Successful" and download the Confirmation Page for future reference.
Application Form Correction Facility (Nov 7 – Nov 9)
NTA will activate a 3-day online correction window from November 7 to November 9, 2026, allowing candidates to rectify errors in their submitted forms:
- Editable Fields: Minor discrepancies in candidate name spelling, parent's name, category, educational details, photo/signature re-upload, and choice of exam city.
- Non-Editable Fields: Registered email address, mobile number, permanent address, and basic identity proof cannot be altered.
Examination Architecture & Structure
- Total Duration: 180 Minutes (3 Hours) without any sectional break.
- Question Paper Format: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) divided into three parts:
- Part A: Common to all subjects; evaluates general science, quantitative reasoning & analysis, and research aptitude (20 questions, candidates attempt 15).
- Part B: Conventional domain-specific MCQs assessing foundational subject knowledge.
- Part C: Higher-order analytical questions evaluating scientific concepts and practical problem-solving skills.
- Negative Marking: Negative marking applies across all parts, typically at 25% (0.5 marks or 1 mark depending on question value) for incorrect answers.
Helpdesk Assistance
In case of transaction failures or registration queries, applicants can reach the NTA Helpdesk at 011-40759000 / 011-69227700 or email csirnet@nta.ac.in during working hours.