What is CSIR-NET?

• Full form & purpose
  CSIR NET stands for Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – National Eligibility Test.
  It is a national level exam in India designed to determine eligibility of candidates for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Lectureship / Assistant Professor positions (in scientific disciplines) in universities and research institutions.
  The exam is jointly conducted under CSIR and UGC (through NTA) for science & technology subjects.
• Subjects & frequency
  The CSIR-NET is held typically twice a year (June and December sessions)
  The exam is offered in several scientific subjects such as
  • Chemical Sciences
  • Life Sciences
  • Earth / Environmental Sciences
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Physical Sciences
• Mode & administration
  The exam is conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) / online mode.
  The administering body is the National Testing Agency (NTA).

How to Apply for CSIR-NET (Step-by-Step)

Here is a general procedure (based on recent cycles). Always check the latest official notification before applying.

1. Wait for notification
   The NTA releases an information bulletin / notification (on the CSIR-NET website) announcing opening of registration, last dates, eligibility, etc.
2. Online registration & form filling
   • Visit the official CSIR-NET portal (e.g. csirnet.nta.ac.in)
   • Do registration (sign up) using valid email, mobile, etc.
   • Fill in personal details, academic qualifications, and select subject / exam centre preferences.
   • Upload scanned documents (photograph, signature, educational certificates, category certificate if applicable) as per prescribed formats.
3. Pay application fee
   After filling the form, pay the application fee via online mode (credit card / debit card / net banking / other modes allowed).
4. Form correction window (if allowed)
   After the application window closes, there is sometimes a correction window during which limited corrections to the form are allowed.
5. Admit card & exam appearance
   Once the application is accepted, admit card (hall ticket) will be issued. Candidates must appear for the exam at their allotted exam centre & shift.
6. Result, JRF / Lectureship eligibility
   After evaluation, results are declared. Those who score above minimum cut-offs qualify either for JRF / Lectureship (or both) depending on performance and eligibility rules.

Last Date & Important Dates (Typical / Recent)

The last date for applying changes each session (June / December). To illustrate, here are recent timelines:

• For CSIR-UGC NET December 2025:
  • The schedule has been announced: Application till 24 October 2025.
  • Exam date: 18 December 2025 (CBT).

Exam Pattern of CSIR-NET

Here is an overview of the exam structure, marking scheme and pattern (based on the latest updates):

• Total marks & duration
  The CSIR-NET exam is generally a 3-hour paper (180 minutes) The paper is for 200 marks (in many subjects)
• Sections / Parts
  The question paper is divided into three parts: Part A, Part B, Part C.
  • Part A: Common to all, often testing general aptitude / common science / reasoning etc.
  • Part B: Subject-related standard topics.
  • Part C: Higher difficulty / advanced / specialized questions in the subject chosen.
• Number of questions & marks
  Each subject has its own distribution of questions among the three parts. For many subjects, the candidate must attempt a fixed number of questions (not all).

For example, for Life Sciences in June 2025:

• Total questions: about 145, but candidate needs to attempt 75 questions.
• Marks:
  • Questions in Part A & B carry 2 marks each.
  • Questions in Part C carry 4 marks each.
• Negative marking:
  • For Parts A & B: –0.5 marks (i.e. 25% penalty) for a wrong answer.
  • For Part C: –1.0 mark (i.e. 25% of 4) for a wrong answer .

Other subjects (like Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences) follow similar scheme: Part A & B with 2 marks per correct response, Part C with 4 marks, negative marking of 25% in many cases.

• Special cases / variations
  • In Mathematical Sciences, Part C may have questions with multiple correct options; also, there may be no negative marking in Part C in some versions.
  • Some sections may have slightly different negative marking (e.g. 33%) for certain parts in some subjects.
• No break between parts
  The three parts (A, B, C) are given in one continuous paper, with no separate break.
• Medium
  The exam is offered in English and Hindi (depending on subject, but many parts are bilingual).