CSIR NET December 2026: exam date, pattern, syllabus and how to apply
The Joint CSIR-UGC NET decides eligibility for a Junior Research Fellowship, for appointment as Assistant Professor, and for Ph.D. admission in the sciences. The National Testing Agency (NTA) holds it for CSIR and the UGC, in five subjects. CSIR NET December 2026 is on 19, 22 and 27 December 2026, and online applications close on 5 November 2026 (checked 20 October 2026 in the December 2026 information bulletin on csirnet.nta.nic.in).
CSIR NET at a glance
| Conducting body | National Testing Agency, for CSIR and the UGC |
| What it is for | JRF and Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission, or Ph.D. admission only |
| Subjects | Chemical; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary; Life Sciences and Bio-Technology; Mathematical; Physical Sciences |
| Mode | Computer-based test at a centre |
| Questions | Parts A, B and C; you answer only some of the questions set |
| Time | 3 hours, no break |
| Marking | Marks and negative marking differ by subject and part |
| Languages | English and Hindi |
| How often | Twice a year (June and December cycles) |
| Official website | csirnet.nta.nic.in |
CSIR NET December 2026 exam date
From the December 2026 information bulletin, as of 20 October 2026:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application | 7 October to 5 November 2026 (11:50 p.m.) |
| Late application with ₹500 late fee | 6 to 9 November 2026 |
| Correction window | 10 to 12 November 2026 |
| City intimation slip and admit card | To be announced |
| Exam | 19, 22 and 27 December 2026 |
| Shifts | 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Result | To be announced |
Your subject's date and shift will be on the admit card.
How to apply for CSIR NET December 2026
- Go to csirnet.nta.nic.in and open the December 2026 online application.
- Register and fill in your details, master's degree and marks, the subject (one only) and the category you are applying for.
- Choose exam cities.
- Upload your photograph, signature and any category or PwD certificate.
- Pay by 5 November 2026. The bulletin gives ₹1,150 (General), ₹600 (General-EWS and OBC-NCL) and ₹325 (SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and third gender), plus bank charges.
- Download the confirmation page. Only one application is allowed.
Eligibility: a master's degree or equivalent with at least 55% (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and third gender), without rounding off; students in the final year may apply provisionally. For JRF the upper age limit is 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the exam ends, with relaxations; there is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or Ph.D. admission. Check the bulletin for the full list of accepted degrees.
CSIR NET exam pattern
Every paper has three parts on one 180-minute clock. Part A (general aptitude) is the same for all subjects; Part B is subject questions; Part C is harder analytical questions worth more. The key rule: you answer only a set number of questions in each part, and if you answer more, only the first ones count.
| Subject | Questions evaluated (A, B, C) | Marks each (A, B, C) | Deducted for a wrong answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Sciences | 15, 35, 25 (of 20, 40, 60 set) | 2, 2, 4 | 0.5, 0.5, 1 |
| Life Sciences and Bio-Technology | 15, 35, 25 (of 20, 50, 75 set) | 2, 2, 4 | 0.5, 0.5, 1 |
| Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary | 15, 35, 25 | 2, 2, 4 | 0.5, 0.5, 1.32 |
| Mathematical Sciences | 15, 25, 20 | 2, 3, 4.75 | Part C: none, but all correct options needed |
| Physical Sciences | 15, 20, 20 | 2, 3.5, 5 | 0.5, 0.875, 1.25 |
In Chemical and Life Sciences that is 30 + 70 + 100 = 200 marks. A calculator is not allowed. There is no cut-off for a single part; the merit list uses the total. The bulletin's minimum benchmark is 33% for General, EWS and OBC and 25% for SC, ST and PwD/PwBD, and the results committee then decides how many qualify. The scorecard shows marks and a percentile.
CSIR NET syllabus
- Part A, general aptitude: logical reasoning, graphical analysis, numerical ability, series and puzzles.
- Parts B and C, Chemical Sciences: inorganic, organic, physical and analytical chemistry.
- Parts B and C, Life Sciences: biochemistry, cell biology and genetics, physiology, and ecology, evolution and diversity.
The bulletin itself names only specialisations and points to the full syllabus at csirhrdg.res.in. Our CSIR NET syllabus page gives the outline for Chemical and Life Sciences.
A nine-week plan to the exam
Week 1. Apply before 5 November. Sit one full CSIR NET mock test (Chemical Sciences) to find your level.
Weeks 2–5. Go through the syllabus unit by unit. Spend 20 minutes a day on Part A puzzles and data questions; 30 easy marks are there for everyone. Practise choosing questions: in Part C you pick 25 out of 60, so learning to skip quickly is a skill.
Weeks 6–8. One full mock a week in your shift's hours. Decide in advance how many questions you will attempt in each part and in what order. Track how many wrong answers you make: each one in Part C costs 1 mark (more in some subjects).
Week 9. Revise, download the admit card, check the centre. Never answer more than the allowed number in a part.
Useful links
- CSIR NET December 2026 application and notices (NTA)
- CSIR NET December 2026 information bulletin
- Free CSIR NET mock tests
- CSIR NET syllabus
- CSIR NET exam dates
- UGC NET December 2026: exam date, pattern and how to apply
- Negative marking: when to guess
Frequently asked questions
When is CSIR NET December 2026?
On 19, 22 and 27 December 2026, in two shifts (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.), according to the NTA bulletin (checked 20 October 2026).
What is the last date to apply for CSIR NET December 2026?
5 November 2026. With a ₹500 late fee you can apply from 6 to 9 November, and corrections are open from 10 to 12 November.
Is there negative marking in CSIR NET?
Yes, 25% of the question's marks in most parts (0.5 for a 2-mark question, 1 for a 4-mark one). Mathematical Sciences Part C has no negative marking, and Earth Sciences Part C deducts 1.32.
How many questions do I need to attempt in CSIR NET?
In Chemical, Life and Earth Sciences, 15 in Part A, 35 in Part B and 25 in Part C. If you answer more, only the first ones in each part are evaluated.
What is the CSIR NET qualifying mark?
The bulletin sets a minimum of 33% for General, EWS and OBC and 25% for SC, ST and PwD/PwBD. Above that, the number who qualify is decided by the results committee, so the actual cut-off varies by subject and session.
Can I take CSIR NET in more than one subject?
No. A candidate applies in one subject only.