CSIR UGC NET June 2026 — Complete Guide for JRF & Lectureship

The Joint CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) is one of India's most important science research fellowships and faculty eligibility examinations. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) and UGC (University Grants Commission), it determines eligibility for:

1. Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Receive a monthly fellowship to pursue PhD research in India's top institutes and universities
2. Lectureship (LS) / Assistant Professor: Become eligible to teach as a permanent faculty member at Indian universities and colleges

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CSIR NET June 2026 — At a Glance

Parameter	Details
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of CSIR and UGC
Exam Name	Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026
Purpose	JRF (Research Fellowship) + Lectureship (Assistant Professor)
Mode of Exam	Computer Based Test (CBT) — Online
Official Website	csirnet.nta.ac.in
Frequency	Twice yearly — June and December sessions

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CSIR NET June 2026 — Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Release	April 10, 2026 (approx.)
Online Application Start	April 10, 2026
Application Last Date	May 10, 2026
Fee Payment Deadline	May 10, 2026
Application Correction Window	May 2026
Admit Card Download	June 2026
CSIR NET Exam Date	June 25–30, 2026
Result Declaration	August–September 2026
JRF Award Notification	October 2026 (approx.)

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CSIR NET 2026 — Subjects Covered

CSIR NET is conducted for 5 science subjects only (not social sciences — those are covered by UGC NET):

Subject Code	Subject	Typical Applicants
CS	Chemical Sciences	Chemistry graduates — Organic, Inorganic, Physical, Analytical
EA	Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Sciences	Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography graduates
LS	Life Sciences	Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Zoology, Botany graduates
MS	Mathematical Sciences	Mathematics, Statistics, Applied Mathematics graduates
PS	Physical Sciences	Physics graduates — Condensed Matter, Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics

Life Sciences is the most popular subject — typically 50%+ of all CSIR NET applicants appear for Life Sciences.

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CSIR NET 2026 — Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Qualification	Minimum Marks Required
M.Sc. or equivalent degree	55% (General/OBC)
M.Sc. or equivalent (SC/ST/PwBD/Transgender)	50%
Integrated BS-MS / BS-4 years	55% (aggregated)
BE / B.Tech / B.Pharma / MBBS	55%
Final year M.Sc. students	Eligible conditionally — must complete degree by cutoff date if selected

Age Limit

Category	JRF (Research Fellowship)	Lectureship / AP
General / EWS	Max 28 years	No upper limit
OBC-NCL	Max 31 years (+3)	No upper limit
SC / ST / PwBD / Transgender	Max 33 years (+5)	No upper limit
Female candidates	Also eligible for age relaxation per CSIR rules	No upper limit

Age is calculated as on the closing date of the online application for June 2026 session.

Nationality

• Indian Nationals only (JRF/Lectureship both require Indian citizenship)

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CSIR NET 2026 — Exam Pattern

All 5 subjects follow the same general 3-part structure:

Paper Structure (Single Paper — 3 Hours)

Part	Content	Questions	Marks	Negative Marking
Part A	General Aptitude (common to all subjects): Science, Quantitative Reasoning, Graphical Analysis, Research Methodology	20 MCQs (attempt 15)	30	−0.5 per wrong answer
Part B	Domain knowledge — subject-specific, MCQ-based (covering most of the syllabus)	40–50 MCQs (attempt 25–35 depending on subject)	70	−0.5 per wrong answer
Part C	Higher-order analytical/application-based questions — no negative marking on these	60 MCQs (attempt 20)	100	No negative marking
Total			200

Important: Questions are optional to attempt — you choose which questions to attempt from each section. This makes smart question selection critical.

Scoring System (Different for JRF vs. Lectureship)

• JRF: Top ~6% scorers who qualify the NET are awarded JRF (approximately 1,200–1,500 students per session across all 5 subjects)
• Lectureship: Higher percentage (top ~15–20%) are awarded LS eligibility — but NO fellowship; they become eligible to apply for faculty positions

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CSIR NET 2026 — Subject-Wise Syllabus Overview

Life Sciences (LS) — Most Popular Subject

Unit 1 — Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology:

• Cellular macromolecules: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids
• Structure and function of biomolecules
• Enzyme kinetics and regulation
• Vitamins and cofactors; Hormones and their action

Unit 2 — Cellular Organization:

• Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic cells
• Cell organelles: structure and function (Mitochondria, Chloroplast, ER, Ribosomes)
• Cell division: Mitosis, Meiosis — regulation and checkpoints
• Cell cycle; Apoptosis; Cellular communication

Unit 3 — Fundamental Processes (Molecular Biology):

• DNA replication (prokaryotic and eukaryotic mechanisms)
• Transcription (RNA synthesis, processing, modifications)
• Translation (genetic code, ribosomes, protein synthesis)
• Gene regulation: operons (Lac, Trp), Eukaryotic gene regulation, Chromatin remodeling
• DNA repair mechanisms (NER, BER, MMR, NHEJ, HR)

Unit 4 — Cell Communication and Cell Signaling:

• Signal transduction pathways: Ras, MAPK, cAMP, PI3K-Akt, JAK-STAT
• Receptor types: G-protein coupled, tyrosine kinase, nuclear receptors
• Hormones and growth factors

Unit 5 — Developmental Biology:

• Gametogenesis; fertilization; early embryonic development
• Fate mapping; morphogens; pattern formation
• Stem cells; differentiation; regeneration

Unit 6 — System Physiology:

• Plant physiology: photosynthesis (light and dark reactions), mineral nutrition, water relations
• Animal physiology: nervous system, endocrine system, reproductive system, excretory system, immune system

Unit 7 — Inheritance Biology (Genetics):

• Mendelian genetics; extensions (epistasis, linkage)
• Population genetics: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
• Molecular markers: RFLP, RAPD, microsatellites
• Epigenetics: DNA methylation, histone modification, genomic imprinting

Unit 8 — Diversity of Life Forms:

• Prokaryotes: classification, structure, metabolism
• Fungi, Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Angiosperms
• Animal kingdom: Phyla classification and characteristics

Unit 9 — Ecological Principles:

• Levels of organization: Individual, population, community, ecosystem
• Population dynamics: growth models (logistic, exponential)
• Community ecology: food chains, ecological succession, biodiversity
• Global environmental issues: climate change, pollution

Unit 10 — Evolution and Behaviour:

• Origin of life theories
• Mechanisms of evolution: Natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, mutation
• Evidence for evolution: fossil record, comparative anatomy, molecular phylogenetics
• Animal behaviour: instinct, learning, communication

Unit 11 — Applied Biology:

• Recombinant DNA technology: Restriction enzymes, PCR, cloning vectors, expression systems
• Gene editing: CRISPR-Cas9 mechanism and applications
• Transgenics in agriculture; Bioethics
• Immunology basics: Antibodies, MHC, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies

Unit 12 — Methods in Biology:

• Microscopy: Light, Electron, Fluorescence microscopy
• Centrifugation techniques: Differential, Density-gradient
• Chromatography: Types and applications (column, TLC, HPLC, gel filtration)
• Electrophoresis: SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, Southern/Northern Blot
• Spectrophotometry; Enzyme assays; Flow cytometry

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Mathematical Sciences (MS)

• Analysis: Real analysis, Complex analysis, Functional analysis
• Algebra: Linear algebra, Abstract algebra (groups, rings, fields), Number theory
• Topology: Metric spaces, Topological spaces
• Differential Equations: ODE, PDE, Numerical analysis
• Probability & Statistics: Classical probability, random variables, distributions, hypothesis testing, regression
• Discrete Mathematics: Graph theory, combinatorics, algorithms

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Physical Sciences (PS)

• Classical Mechanics: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations, rigid body dynamics, oscillations
• Quantum Mechanics: Schrödinger equation, operators, perturbation theory, hydrogen atom
• Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics: Laws of thermodynamics, partition functions, ensembles
• Electromagnetism: Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, boundary conditions
• Condensed Matter Physics: Crystal structure, band theory, superconductivity, magnetic materials
• Nuclear & Particle Physics: Radioactivity, nuclear models, particle classification
• Electronics & Atomic Physics: Semiconductor devices, spectroscopy

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Chemical Sciences (CS)

• Inorganic Chemistry: Atomic structure, periodic table, coordination compounds, bioinorganic chemistry
• Organic Chemistry: Reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, functional group transformations, natural products
• Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, quantum chemistry, spectroscopy (UV-Vis, IR, NMR, Mass)
• Analytical Chemistry: Separation techniques, electroanalytical methods, titrimetry

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CSIR NET — Previous Year Cut-Offs

Life Sciences (LS) — JRF & Lectureship Cut-Offs (Out of 200)

Exam Session	JRF Cut-Off (Gen)	LS Cut-Off (Gen)	JRF Cut-Off (OBC)	JRF Cut-Off (SC)
CSIR NET Dec 2023	72.75	54.50	65.50	59.00
CSIR NET June 2023	75.25	56.25	67.75	60.50
CSIR NET Dec 2022	62.25	46.75	56.00	50.75
CSIR NET June 2022	69.00	51.75	62.25	56.00

Mathematical Sciences (MS) — JRF Cut-Offs

Session	JRF (Gen)	LS (Gen)	JRF (OBC)	JRF (SC)
Dec 2023	64.75	48.50	58.25	52.00
June 2023	65.50	49.00	59.00	52.50

Scores are raw scores (not normalized). Cut-offs shift based on the difficulty level of each session.

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CSIR JRF Fellowship — Stipend Details

Fellowship Stage	Stipend Per Month	Duration
JRF (Year 1–2)	₹37,000	First 2 years
SRF (Year 3–5) — Upgraded after assessment	₹42,000	Year 3–5
HRA	20–30% of stipend	As per institute's location
Contingency Grant	₹20,000–₹70,000 per year	For research expenses

JRF is funded by CSIR and placed at IIT, NIH, CSIR laboratories, and recognized universities. JRF holders also receive contingency grants for research materials.

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Preparation Strategy for CSIR NET June 2026

For Life Sciences (Most Common)

3-Month Study Plan:

Month 1 — Core Molecular Biology & Cell Biology:

• Complete Units 1, 2, 3 (Biomolecules, Cell, Molecular Biology)
• Read: Stryer's Biochemistry (Chapters on proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates); Lodish Cell Biology (Cell division, signaling)
• Practice: 20 Part C-type questions daily on molecular biology

Month 2 — Genetics, Ecology, Physiology:

• Complete Units 6, 7, 9, 10 (Physiology, Genetics, Ecology, Evolution)
• Read: Alberts' Molecular Biology of the Cell (Genetics sections); Campbell's Biology (Ecology chapters)
• Practice: Previous year Part B questions — genetics and ecology section

Month 3 — Applications + Full Mock Tests:

• Complete Units 11, 12 (Applied Biology, Methods)
• Revise Part A (General Aptitude — focus on research methodology, data interpretation)
• 2 full 3-hour mock tests per week
• Review all incorrect answers and re-read the underlying concept

Best Books for CSIR NET 2026

Subject	Recommended References
Life Sciences	Stryer's Biochemistry; Lodish Cell & Molecular Biology; Alberts' Molecular Biology of the Cell; Lewin's GENES
Physical Sciences	Irodov Problems in General Physics; Griffiths — Introduction to Quantum Mechanics; Pathria Statistical Mechanics
Chemical Sciences	P. Atkins Physical Chemistry; J.D. Lee Concise Inorganic Chemistry; Morrison & Boyd Organic Chemistry
Mathematical Sciences	Rudin — Principles of Mathematical Analysis; Artin — Algebra; Apostol — Calculus
Part A (General)	CSIR NET Part A guide by Arihant; CSIR NET general paper solved papers

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Official Resources for CSIR NET 2026

Resource	Link
CSIR NET Official Portal	csirnet.nta.ac.in
Syllabus PDF	CSIR HRDG Syllabus
Previous Year Papers	NTA Official Downloads
CSIR Labs & Fellowship Info	hrdg.csir.res.in
Apply Online	csirnet.nta.ac.in

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Last Updated: April 2026 | Source: National Testing Agency (NTA), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India