CSIR NET Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Eligibility

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CSIR NET, formally the Joint CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test, is the national exam that decides eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programs in the sciences. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts it on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, usually twice a year in June and December sessions.

The test is offered in five subjects: Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences and Physical Sciences. Each is a 3-hour computer-based paper worth 200 marks, divided into Part A (general aptitude), Part B and Part C (subject). This guide explains eligibility, age limits, the pattern, the marking scheme, results and preparation.

CSIR NET at a glance

Full name	Joint CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test
Conducted by	National Testing Agency (NTA) for CSIR
Exam level	National
Held	Twice a year, usually June and December sessions
Mode	Computer-based test
Duration	3 hours
Subjects	Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences; Mathematical Sciences; Physical Sciences
Total marks	200
Negative marking	Yes, in most parts; none in Mathematical Sciences Part C
Languages	English and Hindi
Leads to	JRF, Assistant Professor eligibility and PhD admission
Official website	csirnet.nta.nic.in

CSIR NET important dates

These dates update automatically from Kosuki’s exam calendar. “Announced” dates come from the official notice; “Expected” months are based on past years.

Registration opensExpected September 2026 Expected
Last date to applyExpected October 2026 Expected
Exam20 Dec – 21 Dec 2026 Announcedin 82 days
Admit cardExpected December 2026 Expected
ResultExpected February 2027 Expected

Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). Official website. Always confirm dates on the official website. Report a wrong date.

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What is CSIR NET?

CSIR NET is the science counterpart of UGC NET. Clearing it is the most common way for M.Sc students to secure a research fellowship for a PhD in India. The result places qualified candidates in one of three categories, which decide what they are eligible for.

Category 1 candidates qualify for JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD admission. Category 2 candidates qualify for Assistant Professor and PhD admission. Category 3 candidates qualify for PhD admission only. PhD-only eligibility is usually valid for a limited period, one year in recent bulletins.

CSIR NET eligibility and age limit

The rules below are from the December 2025 information bulletin. Check the bulletin for your session, as details can change.

M.Sc or equivalent, integrated BS-MS, BS-4 years, BE, B.Tech, B.Pharma or MBBS, with at least 55% marks for General and EWS candidates and 50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates.
Candidates enrolled in M.Sc, or whose qualifying degree result is awaited, can apply under the conditions stated in the bulletin.
Holders of a four-year Bachelor’s degree, or those enrolled in an integrated BS-MS program, may be eligible in specified subjects with a higher minimum of 75% aggregate in recent bulletins (relaxations as per the bulletin), and some such candidates are eligible for JRF or PhD admission only.
JRF age limit: not more than 30 years, with relaxation of up to five years for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD, third gender and women candidates.
Assistant Professor and PhD admission: no upper age limit.

CSIR NET exam pattern

Every subject has three parts in one 3-hour paper. Part A tests general aptitude and is common in structure across subjects. Part B has subject-related conventional multiple-choice questions, and Part C tests higher-level problem solving and application. You answer only a set number of questions in each part; if you answer more, only the first ones up to the limit are evaluated.

The table shows the number of questions given and to be attempted, as per the December 2025 bulletin.

Subject	Part A (given / attempt)	Part B (given / attempt)	Part C (given / attempt)
Chemical Sciences	20 / 15	40 / 35	60 / 25
Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences	20 / 15	50 / 35	80 / 25
Life Sciences	20 / 15	50 / 35	75 / 25
Mathematical Sciences	20 / 15	40 / 25	60 / 20
Physical Sciences	20 / 15	25 / 20	30 / 20

CSIR NET marking scheme

Each part carries different marks per question, and the total is 200 in every subject. Negative marking applies, and the deduction is usually a quarter of the marks for that question.

Part A (all subjects): 2 marks per question, 0.5 deducted per wrong answer.
Chemical Sciences and Life Sciences: Part B 2 marks each, Part C 4 marks each, with 25% negative marking.
Earth Sciences: Part B 2 marks each, Part C 4 marks each, with negative marking in all parts.
Mathematical Sciences: Part B 3 marks each with negative marking; Part C 4.75 marks each with no negative marking.
Physical Sciences: Part B 3.5 marks each and Part C 5 marks each, with 25% negative marking.
There is no separate cut-off for each part; cumulative marks count.

CSIR NET syllabus

Part A is common in scope and covers general aptitude. Parts B and C follow a detailed subject syllabus at M.Sc level, published on the official website.

Part A: numerical ability, graphical analysis, data interpretation, logical reasoning, puzzles and basic scientific awareness.
Chemical Sciences: inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, spectroscopy and interdisciplinary topics.
Life Sciences: molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, physiology, ecology, evolution and applied biology.
Mathematical Sciences: analysis, linear algebra, complex analysis, algebra, ODE and PDE, numerical analysis, statistics.
Physical Sciences: mathematical methods, classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, statistical physics, electronics and experimental methods.
Earth Sciences: geology, physical geography, meteorology, oceanography and planetary science.

CSIR NET result and cut-off rules

NTA releases provisional answer keys for challenges before the result. The result lists who has qualified in which category, subject-wise and category-wise.

In recent bulletins, candidates must reach a minimum aggregate of 33% (General, EWS and OBC-NCL) or 25% (SC, ST, PwD and third gender) to be considered, and final qualification is limited to a top slice of candidates based on subject and category merit. JRF awardees receive a fellowship letter valid for a fixed period, and must join a PhD program to activate it.

How to prepare for CSIR NET

The paper rewards selection. You attempt fewer questions than are given, so time spent choosing the right questions matters as much as knowledge.

Treat Part A as easy marks: 30 marks for 15 questions of aptitude and reasoning. Practice it daily for 20 minutes.
In Part C, which carries the most marks, attempt only what you can solve with confidence. The negative marks there are large.
Map the official syllabus to your M.Sc notes and use standard textbooks for high-weight units in your subject.
Solve at least the last five years of CSIR NET papers for your subject; many concepts are asked repeatedly.
Take full 3-hour mocks and practice the order: Part A first, then Part B, then selective Part C.
Keep a Kosuki log of mock scores by part to see where the negative marks are coming from.

How to apply for CSIR NET

Visit the official CSIR NET website run by NTA when the session notification is released.
Register and log in with your application number.
Fill in personal and academic details and choose your subject and category (JRF, Assistant Professor or PhD).
Choose exam cities and your preferred paper language.
Upload your photograph, signature and required certificates.
Pay the fee online, submit and download the confirmation page.

CSIR NET FAQs

Is there negative marking in CSIR NET?

Yes, in most parts of every subject. The exception in recent sessions is Mathematical Sciences Part C, which has no negative marking.

What is the age limit for CSIR NET JRF?

In recent bulletins, 30 years for JRF, with up to five years’ relaxation for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD, third gender and women. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD admission.

How many times a year is CSIR NET held?

Usually twice a year, in June and December sessions.

Can final-year M.Sc students apply for CSIR NET?

Yes. Candidates enrolled in M.Sc or awaiting their result can apply under the conditions in the bulletin.

Is there a sectional cut-off in CSIR NET?

No. Qualification is based on cumulative marks across Parts A, B and C.

Can I write CSIR NET in Hindi?

Yes. The paper is bilingual in English and Hindi.

Related exam guides

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026 against the official National Testing Agency (NTA) notice and information brochure. Exam rules can change from year to year, so always confirm details on the official website before you apply. Kosuki is independent and is not connected with any exam body. Spotted something out of date? Write to contact@kosuki.com.

CSIR NET: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility and Preparation