Overview
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened online registration for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026. This test decides who qualifies for a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), who becomes eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor, and who can be considered for Ph.D. admission in five science subject areas. Registration started on 7 October 2026 and the regular last date is 5 November 2026. The computer-based test is scheduled for 19, 22 and 27 December 2026.
All figures below are taken from the Information Bulletin published on the official CSIR NET portal of NTA. Please read the bulletin yourself before you pay the fee, because the eligibility rules for four-year bachelor’s degree holders and for final-year students are slightly different from the standard Master’s route.
Age limit: JRF: not more than 30 years as on 1 December 2026 (relaxation as per bulletin); no upper age limit for Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission
Check your age →Also read
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | 07 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply (regular fee) | 05 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM |
| Late submission with late fee of ₹500 | 06 November to 09 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM |
| Correction window | 10 November to 12 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM |
| Advance city intimation slip | To be announced later |
| Admit card | To be announced later |
| Exam dates | 19, 22 and 27 December 2026 |
| Shift timings | 09:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
Subjects
- 701 – Chemical Sciences
- 702 – Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
- 703 – Life Sciences and Bio-Technology
- 704 – Mathematical Sciences
- 705 – Physical Sciences
Eligibility
The main route is a Master’s degree or equivalent. General/UR and General-EWS candidates need at least 55% marks, while OBC (NCL), SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and third gender candidates need at least 50%. The bulletin clearly says the percentage is taken without rounding off, so a score of 54.9% does not count as 55%.
Students in the final year of their Master’s, or those whose result is awaited, may apply provisionally, but they must later show that they met the required percentage. Candidates with a four-year bachelor’s degree need a minimum of 75% aggregate (with a 5% relaxation for certain categories). They can qualify for JRF and Ph.D. admission only, not for Assistant Professor.
Age Limit
- JRF: not more than 30 years as on 1 December 2026.
- Up to 5 years of relaxation for OBC (NCL), SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, third gender and women candidates. Relaxation is also available for research experience and armed forces service, but the bulletin caps total relaxation at five years.
- Assistant Professor: no upper age limit.
- Ph.D. admission only: no upper age limit.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General | ₹1,150 |
| General-EWS / OBC (NCL) | ₹600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender | ₹325 |
| Late fee (06–09 November 2026 window) | ₹500 |
Payment can be made through debit card, credit card, UPI or internet banking.
Exam Pattern in Brief
The test is a 180-minute objective paper with three parts and no break in between. Part A covers general aptitude such as reasoning and numerical ability, Part B has subject questions, and Part C tests deeper application of scientific concepts. Each subject paper carries 200 marks in total. Negative marking rules differ slightly between subjects – for example, Mathematical Sciences has no negative marking in Part C – so check your own subject’s scheme in the bulletin. The paper is available in Hindi and English.
How to Apply
- Open the official CSIR NET portal of NTA (link below) and select the online application for December 2026.
- Register with your own mobile number and email ID, and note the application number.
- Fill in personal, academic and category details carefully, and choose your subject code and exam city preferences.
- Capture the live photograph and upload a recent colour photo and your signature in the required format.
- Upload category, disability or result-awaited forms only if they apply to you.
- Pay the fee online and download the confirmation page for your records.
Documents and Upload Sizes
- Photograph: JPG/JPEG, 10 KB to 200 KB, white background, face clearly visible without a mask.
- Signature: JPG/JPEG, 10 KB to 50 KB.
- PwD/UDID certificate, category certificate or result-awaited attestation form (where applicable): PDF, 50 KB to 300 KB.
- Identity proof (only if not verified through Aadhaar or DigiLocker): JPG/JPEG, 10 KB to 200 KB.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting more than one form. NTA allows only one application per candidate, and multiple forms can lead to cancellation of all of them.
- Choosing Assistant Professor while holding only a four-year bachelor’s degree – that route is not open to you.
- Rounding off your Master’s percentage to meet the 55% or 50% cut-off.
- Waiting for the late window and paying ₹500 extra when the regular window was enough.
- Ignoring the correction window: after 12 November 2026, changes will not be possible.
What Happens Next
After registration closes, NTA will release the advance city intimation slip and then the admit card; the bulletin says both dates will be announced later. Answer keys and the result will also be posted on the official website. We will cover the admit card and result in separate updates once they are officially released.
Official Links
- CSIR NET portal (NTA): csirnet.nta.nic.in
- Information Bulletin (PDF): Download from the official portal
- Public notice (PDF): nta.ac.in notice
- NTA main website: nta.ac.in
This is a private information website and is not connected with any government body. Always confirm details on the official website.