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. Assistant Professor (Lectureship): Eligibility for appointment as faculty in Indian universities and colleges
3. Admission to Ph.D.: Eligibility for doctoral admissions per UGC guidelines

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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 Session
Purpose	JRF (Research Fellowship) + Assistant Professor (Lectureship) + Ph.D. Admission
Mode of Exam	Computer Based Test (CBT) — Online
Official Website	csirnet.nta.ac.in
Frequency	Twice yearly — June and December sessions
Current Status	Result & Scorecards Declared

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CSIR NET June 2026 — Important Dates

Event	Date	Status
Official Notification & Registration Start	May 27, 2026	✅ Released
Online Application Last Date	June 19, 2026 (11:59 PM)	🔴 Closed
Last Date for Fee Payment	June 20, 2026 (11:59 PM)	🔴 Closed
Application Correction Window	June 22 – June 23, 2026	🔴 Closed
Advance Exam City Intimation	July 8, 2026	✅ Released
Admit Card Download	July 13, 2026	✅ Released
CSIR NET Examination Dates	July 17 – July 18, 2026	✅ Concluded
Provisional Answer Key Release	August 16, 2026	✅ Released
Result Declaration & Scorecards	August 29, 2026	✅ Declared
Final Scorecards Access	Available at csirnet.nta.ac.in	🟢 Active

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CSIR NET 2026 — Subjects Covered

CSIR NET is conducted for 5 science subjects only (non-science subjects are covered under UGC NET):

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

Life Sciences is the largest subject by registration volume, traditionally representing more than half of all CSIR NET examinees.

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CSIR NET 2026 — Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification: Degree Routes & Award Eligibility

The Joint CSIR-UGC NET defines three distinct qualification pathways:

Route 1: Master's / Post-Graduate Degree Route

• Qualifying Degree: M.Sc. or equivalent degree, or Integrated BS-MS from a recognized university/institution.
• Minimum Marks: At least 55% marks in aggregate (without rounding off) for General / General-EWS candidates.
• Reserved Relaxation: At least 50% marks for OBC (NCL), SC, ST, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD), and Third Gender candidates.
• Result Awaited (RA): Final year Master's students may apply provisionally, provided they complete the degree with requisite marks within the prescribed period.
• Eligibility Scope: Fully eligible for JRF (Junior Research Fellowship), Assistant Professor (Lectureship), and Ph.D. admission.

Route 2: Professional Bachelor's Degree Route (B.E. / B.Tech / B.Pharma / MBBS)

• Qualifying Degree: Candidates holding a professional graduate degree (B.E., B.Tech, B.Pharma, MBBS) from a recognized university.
• Minimum Marks: At least 55% marks for General/EWS candidates, and 50% marks for OBC (NCL), SC, ST, PwD, and Third Gender candidates.
• CRITICAL RESTRICTION: Candidates holding only a professional bachelor's degree are eligible ONLY for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and admission to Ph.D.; they are strictly NOT eligible for Assistant Professor (Lectureship) unless they subsequently acquire a recognized Master's degree.

Route 3: Four-Year / Eight-Semester Bachelor's Degree Route (BS 4-Year)

• Qualifying Degree: Candidates enrolled in or who have completed a 4-year/8-semester undergraduate bachelor's degree program (such as BS-4 years).
• Minimum Marks: At least 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale.
• Reserved Relaxation: A relaxation of 5% marks (or equivalent grade), requiring at least 70% marks in aggregate, is granted to SC, ST, OBC (NCL), PwD, and EWS candidates.
• CRITICAL RESTRICTION: Four-year bachelor's degree holders are eligible ONLY for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and admission to Ph.D.; they are NOT eligible for Assistant Professor (Lectureship).

Age Limit & Category Relaxations

Category	JRF (Research Fellowship)	Assistant Professor / AP	Ph.D. Admission
General / EWS (Male)	Max 30 years	No upper limit	No upper limit
OBC-NCL	Max 35 years (+5 yrs)	No upper limit	No upper limit
SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender	Max 35 years (+5 yrs)	No upper limit	No upper limit
Women (All categories)	Max 35 years (+5 yrs)	No upper limit	No upper limit

Cut-off Date for JRF Age: Upper age is reckoned as on 1st July 2026 (the first day of the month in which the examination is concluded). Additional relaxation may apply to candidates with relevant research or armed forces experience per official guidelines.

Nationality

• Candidates must be Indian Nationals.

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CSIR NET 2026 — Exam Pattern & Subject-Wise Scheme

The examination is conducted as a single-paper Computer-Based Test (CBT) of 3 hours duration with a maximum score of 200 marks. The paper consists of three parts:

• Part A (Common to all 5 subjects): 20 Multiple Choice Questions on General Aptitude (logical reasoning, numerical ability, graphical analysis, quantitative comparison). Candidates must attempt a maximum of 15 questions. Each correct answer carries 2 marks, with a penalty of -0.5 marks (25%) for each incorrect answer. Total: 30 marks.
• Part B: Subject-specific conventional MCQs covering core conceptual knowledge.
• Part C: Higher-order analytical and scientific application questions.

Official Subject-Wise Question Counts, Attempt Limits & Negative Marking Table

Subject	Part	Total Questions	Max to Attempt	Marks per Question	Total Part Marks	Negative Marking per Wrong Answer
Chemical Sciences	Part A	20	15	2.0	30	-0.5 (25%)
	Part B	40	35	2.0	70	-0.5 (25%)
	Part C	60	25	4.0	100	-1.0 (25%)
	Subject Total	120	75	-	200	-
Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Sciences	Part A	20	15	2.0	30	-0.5 (25%)
	Part B	50	35	2.0	70	-0.5 (25%)
	Part C	80	25	4.0	100	-1.32 (33%)
	Subject Total	150	75	-	200	-
Life Sciences	Part A	20	15	2.0	30	-0.5 (25%)
	Part B	50	35	2.0	70	-0.5 (25%)
	Part C	75	25	4.0	100	-1.0 (25%)
	Subject Total	145	75	-	200	-
Mathematical Sciences	Part A	20	15	2.0	30	-0.5 (25%)
	Part B	40	25	3.0	75	-0.75 (25%)
	Part C	60	20	4.75	95	No negative marking (multi-select)
	Subject Total	120	60	-	200	-
Physical Sciences	Part A	20	15	2.0	30	-0.5 (25%)
	Part B	25	20	3.5	70	-0.875 (25%)
	Part C	30	20	5.0	100	-1.25 (25%)
	Subject Total	75	55	-	200	-

Key Rule for Mathematical Sciences Part C: Questions in Part C of Mathematical Sciences may have one or more correct options. Credit is given only if all correct options are selected without any incorrect selection. No partial marks are awarded, and there is no negative marking for this section.

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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: September 11, 2026 | Source: National Testing Agency (NTA), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India