CSIR UGC NET December 2026: Application, Fees, Eligibility and Exam Dates

Last verified: 27 October 2026. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is accepting applications for the Joint CSIR–UGC NET December 2026 examination. According to the official information bulletin dated 7 October 2026, the regular application window closes on 5 November 2026 at 11:50 p.m. Candidates who miss that deadline have a separate late-fee window from 6 to 9 November 2026, also ending at 11:50 p.m. on the final day.

The examination is scheduled for 19, 22 and 27 December 2026. The test is a computer-based examination (CBT) of 180 minutes. The city-intimation slip and admit-card release dates have not yet been announced in the bulletin, so candidates should not rely on unofficial dates or download links.

This guide summarizes the official schedule, application fee, eligibility, subjects, exam format and form-submission steps. Always read the current NTA information bulletin before submitting the application.

CSIR UGC NET December 2026: important dates

The late-submission charge is ₹500 in addition to the applicable examination fee. The correction facility is scheduled after the late-fee window. It is a limited online facility, not permission to change every field; NTA will specify the fields that can be edited when the correction window opens.

What is the Joint CSIR–UGC NET?

The Joint CSIR–UGC NET is a national examination used to determine eligibility for research and academic pathways in Indian universities and colleges. The December 2026 bulletin identifies three qualification categories:

1. Category 1: Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and appointment as Assistant Professor.
2. Category 2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to a PhD programme, but not JRF.
3. Category 3: Admission to a PhD programme only.

The result category matters. A candidate qualifying under Category 2 or Category 3 is not automatically eligible for the JRF award. Candidates should understand the distinction before choosing their preparation and career plan.

Subjects offered in CSIR NET December 2026

The bulletin lists five subject areas:

• Chemical Sciences
• Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
• Life Sciences and Biotechnology
• Mathematical Sciences
• Physical Sciences

Choose the subject that matches the eligibility rules and the academic area in which you intend to qualify. The subject-specific syllabus and question scheme are provided in Annexure II of the information bulletin. Do not assume that the question count, attempt limit or negative-marking rule is identical across all five subjects.

CSIR NET 2026 eligibility criteria

Master's degree route

Candidates in the General/Unreserved and General-EWS categories need at least 55% aggregate marks in a Master's degree or an equivalent recognized qualification. Candidates belonging to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender categories need at least 50%.

Candidates who are pursuing the qualifying Master's degree, have appeared in the final examination, or are awaiting results may also apply provisionally. They must later complete the degree within the period and with the minimum marks specified in the bulletin. A provisional application does not remove the obligation to meet the final eligibility requirement.

Four-year bachelor's degree route

The bulletin also permits candidates with a four-year/eight-semester bachelor's degree to apply, subject to the prescribed aggregate marks: 75%, with a 5% relaxation for the listed categories. Candidates qualifying through this route can be considered for JRF and PhD admission, but the bulletin specifically states that they are not eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor on the basis of the four-year bachelor's degree route.

Age limit

For the JRF category, the upper age limit is 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the examination concludes, which is December 2026. The bulletin provides relaxations of up to five years for specified categories, women applicants and certain other eligible grounds, subject to the detailed conditions.

There is no upper age limit for applying under the Assistant Professor category or the PhD-admission-only category. Candidates should check the exact age and relaxation clauses in Chapter 2 of the bulletin rather than relying on a general summary.

Application fee for CSIR UGC NET December 2026

A late fee of ₹500 is added when the form is submitted during the late-fee window. Bank or payment-gateway service charges and applicable taxes may be additional. The category selected in the form must match the applicable certificate and the Central OBC-NCL list where relevant.

Before making payment, review the amount shown by the official application portal. Save the transaction details and download the confirmation page after successful payment. A bank debit alone is not proof that the application has been successfully submitted.

How to fill the CSIR NET December 2026 application form

The application is online only through the official CSIR-NET portal. Keep your own or an accessible parent/guardian email address and mobile number ready because NTA uses the registered contact details for important communication.

1. Open the official CSIR-NET website and read the December 2026 information bulletin.
2. Start the online registration process through the MeriPehchaan single-sign-on service, following the portal instructions.
3. Enter personal details carefully and note the system-generated application number.
4. Complete the application with the correct subject, educational qualification, category and examination-city preferences.
5. Upload the live photograph and the required scanned photograph, signature and applicable certificates in the prescribed formats and file sizes.
6. Preview the full application. Check the spelling of your name, date of birth, category, subject, contact details and qualification information.
7. Pay the examination fee through an available online method such as debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.
8. Confirm that the payment status is successful and download the confirmation page. Keep a digital copy and a printout for your records.

The bulletin says that only one application should be submitted. Multiple application numbers can create complications and may be treated under the examination's rules. Do not send a paper copy of the application or confirmation page to NTA; the application process is online.

Photograph, signature and document checks

The bulletin specifies a live photograph during form filling and a recent scanned colour passport-size photograph. The scanned photograph should be a JPG/JPEG file between 10 KB and 200 KB, with the face clearly visible against a light background. The signature should be a clear JPG/JPEG file between 10 KB and 50 KB. Applicable disability/UDID, category or result-awaited documents must follow the bulletin's PDF size and format requirements.

Prepare files before starting the form. Use the candidate's own photograph and signature, and do not upload altered or unrelated documents. Keep the application number and password private. If a payment is debited but the confirmation page is missing, follow the payment-support instructions in the bulletin and contact the official helpdesk rather than making repeated payments without checking the transaction status.

Exam pattern and preparation pointers

The examination is a three-hour CBT with objective-type multiple-choice questions divided into Parts A, B and C. The exact number of questions, maximum attempts, marks and negative marking vary by subject. For that reason, candidates should download the subject-specific scheme from Annexure II and plan practice around the correct paper rather than using a generic CSIR NET pattern copied from an older session.

A practical preparation plan is to:

• Map every topic in the current subject syllabus against your existing notes.
• Separate Part A aptitude practice from subject-specific Part B and Part C preparation.
• Solve timed previous-paper questions and review why each incorrect option is wrong.
• Track accuracy as well as attempted questions, especially where negative marking applies.
• Reserve time for revision of formulae, concepts, diagrams and high-frequency topics.
• Recheck the official website for the city slip, admit card, instructions and any schedule change.

The official bulletin lists two examination shifts: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The candidate's actual date, shift and centre will be shown on the admit card. Do not book non-refundable travel based only on a preferred shift or an unofficial city prediction.

What happens after the application closes?

NTA has scheduled the correction window for 10–12 November 2026. The city-intimation slip and admit-card dates are still to be announced. Candidates should monitor the CSIR-NET portal and the main NTA website, use only official login links, and check the admit card for the final centre, date and shift.

After the examination, NTA will publish the recorded responses and provisional answer-key process according to a later notice. The bulletin does not give a confirmed result date for the December 2026 cycle. Treat any unverified result or answer-key date circulating on social media as unofficial until NTA publishes it.

Official sources and useful links

• CSIR-NET official portal
• NTA public notice: Joint CSIR–UGC NET December 2026 application schedule (PDF)
• Joint CSIR–UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin (PDF)
• NTA official website