Overview
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the examination dates for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 session. The computer-based examination will be conducted on December 20 and 21, 2026 for candidates seeking Junior Research Fellowship, Assistant Professor eligibility and admission to PhD programmes. As CSIR NET is an eligibility examination rather than a direct recruitment drive, no fixed number of vacancies or posts has been notified.
Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|
| Organization | National Testing Agency on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research |
| Post Name | Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor Eligibility/PhD Admission |
| Total Vacancies | Not applicable; this is an eligibility test |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | csirnet.nta.nic.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|
| Application Start | TBA |
| Last Date | TBA |
| Exam Date | December 20 and 21, 2026 |
| Result Date | TBA |
Candidates should wait for the detailed information bulletin for the application schedule, correction window, advance city intimation and admit card dates. The examination will be held in computer-based test mode at centres allotted by NTA.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Candidates should generally hold a Master's degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant science subject from a recognised university or institution.
- General and General-EWS candidates are normally required to have at least 55% marks, while OBC-NCL, SC, ST, persons with disabilities and third-gender candidates require at least 50% marks.
- Applicants appearing in the final year of their qualifying postgraduate course may apply provisionally, subject to fulfilling the prescribed conditions within the period specified by NTA.
- Candidates possessing a four-year bachelor's degree may be considered under the applicable UGC rules for JRF and PhD admission, subject to the minimum marks and other conditions stated in the detailed bulletin. Such candidates may not automatically qualify for Assistant Professor eligibility.
- The qualifying degree and subject combination must correspond to the CSIR NET subject selected in the application form.
Age Limit
- For Junior Research Fellowship, the upper age limit is generally 30 years as on the cutoff date specified in the information bulletin.
- Age relaxation is normally available for SC, ST, PwD, women and third-gender candidates, as permitted under the rules.
- OBC-NCL candidates are generally eligible for relaxation of up to three years.
- There is usually no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility or admission to PhD programmes.
- Candidates must verify the exact cutoff date and relaxation conditions after the December 2026 bulletin is released.
Fees
- General category: ā¹1,150
- General-EWS/OBC-NCL: ā¹600
- SC/ST/PwD/Third gender: ā¹325
- Applicable bank, payment gateway or processing charges may be collected separately.
- The final category-wise fee must be confirmed from the December 2026 information bulletin before payment.
Selection Process
- Computer-Based Examination: Registered candidates will appear for the objective-type CSIR NET examination in their selected subject. The paper will assess subject knowledge, scientific aptitude, reasoning and analytical ability.
- Result and Merit Determination: NTA will process the responses and prepare results using the prescribed minimum qualifying criteria and subject-wise cut-offs.
- Eligibility Certificate or JRF Award: Successful candidates will be declared eligible for JRF, Assistant Professor, PhD admission, or the applicable combination based on their score, category and eligibility conditions.
How to Apply
- Visit the official CSIR NET portal at csirnet.nta.nic.in after the application window opens.
- Select the link for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 application form.
- Complete new candidate registration using an active email address and mobile number. Save the system-generated application number securely.
- Sign in and enter personal information, category, educational qualifications, examination subject and preferred test cities.
- Upload a recent photograph, signature and category or disability certificate, wherever applicable, in the prescribed format and file size.
- Review all entries carefully before submitting the form. Incorrect subject, category or qualification details may affect candidature.
- Pay the application fee through the available online payment method and verify that the payment status shows as successful.
- Download the confirmation page and retain a copy of the completed form and payment receipt for future reference.
Important Links
FAQs
When will the CSIR NET December 2026 exam be conducted?
The examination is scheduled for December 20 and 21, 2026, in computer-based test mode.
Has the CSIR NET December 2026 application process started?
The application start and closing dates are yet to be announced. Candidates should monitor the official portal for the detailed bulletin.
Is there any upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility?
There is generally no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility. The age ceiling applies pri
