CSIR UGC NET June 2026

The CSIR UGC NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) is a national-level examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of CSIR and UGC. This examination is held to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Lectureship/Assistant Professor positions in Indian universities and colleges in Science and Technology subjects. The June 2026 session is an All India competitive examination open to candidates across the country. Successful candidates become eligible for research fellowships funded by CSIR as well as for direct recruitment as Assistant Professors in universities and colleges. The exam assesses candidates' aptitude for research and teaching in specific scientific disciplines including Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences.

Important Dates (Indicative)

Note: Exact dates will be announced in the official notification

Fellowship Positions (Typical / Indicative)

Note: Actual JRF fellowships awarded depend on merit and budget allocation. All qualified candidates are eligible for Lectureship.

Educational Qualification

For JRF and Lectureship (LS):

• M.Sc. or equivalent degree/Integrated BS-MS/BS-4 years/BE/BTech/BPharma/MBBS with minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD) in relevant subject
• Candidates appearing in final year of qualifying degree may also apply provisionally

Subjects: Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences

Age Limit

Age Relaxation Table:

Age calculated as on last date of application submission

Nationality

• Indian citizens only
• OCI/PIO candidates not eligible for JRF but may apply for LS

How to Apply

1. Visit the official NTA CSIR UGC NET portal at csirnet.nta.nic.in
2. Click on "CSIR UGC NET June 2026" registration link
3. Complete new candidate registration using valid email ID and mobile number
4. Login using generated Application Number and Password
5. Fill the online application form with personal, educational, and subject choice details
6. Upload scanned documents (photograph, signature, category certificate if applicable)
7. Pay the application fee through online mode (Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/UPI)
8. Submit the application form and save confirmation page
9. Download and print the completed application form for future reference

Note: No offline/postal applications accepted. Only online mode available.

Application Fee

Payment modes: Online only (Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI)

1. Single Paper Computer-Based Test (CBT): Candidates appear for a computer-based examination of 3 hours duration consisting of three parts - Part A (General Aptitude), Part B (Subject-related conventional/traditional questions), and Part C (Higher value analytical questions)

1. Merit List Preparation: Based on performance in the examination, candidates are ranked separately for JRF and Lectureship eligibility. For JRF, marks from all three parts are considered. For LS, only Part B and Part C marks are considered

1. Cut-off Application: Category-wise cut-off percentages are applied. Candidates scoring above cut-off in respective categories qualify for JRF/LS

1. Result Declaration: Qualified candidates receive digital certificates. JRF qualifiers are ranked and offered fellowships based on available positions and merit

1. Fellowship Award: Top-ranked JRF qualifiers (within fellowship quota) receive offer letters for fellowship to pursue Ph.D. in CSIR laboratories or recognized universities

1. Document Verification: At the time of fellowship joining or university appointment, candidates must produce original documents for verification including educational certificates, category certificate, age proof, and identity proof

Examination Pattern - Single Paper (CBT Mode)

Negative Marking:

• Part A: 0.5 marks deducted for each wrong answer
• Part B: 0.5 marks deducted for each wrong answer
• Part C: 0.75 marks deducted for each wrong answer
• No negative marking for unattempted questions

Qualifying Criteria:

• For JRF: Performance in Parts A+B+C (aggregate minimum 33% for General/EWS, 25% for OBC, 25% for SC/ST/PwD)
• For Lectureship: Performance in Parts B+C only (aggregate minimum 33% for General/EWS, 25% for OBC, 25% for SC/ST/PwD)

Part A - General Aptitude (Common for all subjects)

• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Graphical analysis and interpretation of data
• Quantitative reasoning and numerical ability
• Mathematical concepts (basic algebra, calculus, statistics)
• Understanding of scientific methodology
• Research aptitude and comprehension

Chemical Sciences

• Inorganic Chemistry: periodic table, chemical bonding, coordination chemistry, organometallics, bioinorganic chemistry
• Physical Chemistry: thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, electrochemistry, quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, reaction kinetics
• Organic Chemistry: stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, aromatic compounds, biomolecules, synthetic methods
• Interdisciplinary topics: materials chemistry, catalysis, supramolecular chemistry, green chemistry

Earth Sciences

• Geophysics: gravity, magnetic, seismic, and electrical methods, plate tectonics
• Geology: mineralogy, petrology, stratigraphy, paleontology, structural geology
• Geochemistry: isotope geochemistry, environmental geochemistry
• Oceanography and meteorology: ocean dynamics, atmospheric physics
• Remote sensing and GIS applications

Life Sciences

• Molecules and their interaction: biomolecules, enzymology, metabolism, molecular biology
• Cellular organization: cell structure, cell cycle, cell signaling
• Fundamental processes: genetics, evolution, plant and animal physiology
• System physiology: nervous system, immune system, endocrine system
• Developmental biology and ecology
• Applied biology: biotechnology, microbiology, bioinformatics

Mathematical Sciences

• Analysis: real analysis, complex analysis, functional analysis
• Linear Algebra: vector spaces, matrices, eigenvalues
• Abstract Algebra: groups, rings, fields
• Topology: metric spaces, topological spaces
• Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
• Numerical Analysis and Computer Programming
• Probability and Statistics
• Discrete Mathematics and Graph Theory

Physical Sciences

• Classical Mechanics: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation
• Quantum Mechanics: wave mechanics, Schrödinger equation, quantum systems
• Electromagnetic Theory: Maxwell's equations, wave propagation
• Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics: laws of thermodynamics, partition functions
• Solid State Physics: crystal structure, band theory, superconductivity
• Nuclear and Particle Physics: nuclear models, elementary particles
• Atomic and Molecular Physics: spectroscopy, molecular structure
• Electronics and Experimental Methods

JRF Fellowship Amount (Typical / Indicative)

Additional Benefits:

• Annual contingency grant for research expenses, books, conference travel
• Accidental insurance coverage
• Medical facilities as per host institute
• Paid leave as per fellowship guidelines

Lectureship Salary (University/College Assistant Professor - 7th CPC)

Salary subject to applicable deductions (GPF, NPS, Income Tax, Professional Tax)

For JRF holders, the fellowship supports 5 years of Ph.D. research (2 years initial + 3 years after upgradation based on performance evaluation). After completing Ph.D., candidates can apply for CSIR research positions, university faculty posts, or pursue postdoctoral research. For those qualifying for Lectureship, career progression in universities follows: Assistant Professor (Level 10) → Assistant Professor (Level 11 after 4 years) → Assistant Professor (Level 12 after AGP) → Associate Professor (Level 13A) → Professor (Level 14). Academic career advancement depends on research publications, teaching performance, and completion of mandatory requirements like Ph.D. and API scores.

Admit cards for CSIR UGC NET June 2026 are typically released 2-3 weeks before the examination date on the official NTA portal (csirnet.nta.nic.in). Candidates must login using their Application Number and Date of Birth/Password to download the admit card. The admit card contains important details including candidate's name, photograph, examination centre address, date and time of examination, and important instructions. No postal dispatch of admit cards is done; candidates must download and print it themselves. Carry the admit card along with a valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN/Driving License/Passport) to the examination centre.

CSIR UGC NET results are typically declared 4-6 weeks after the examination on the official NTA website. The result announcement follows the release of the provisional answer key and consideration of challenges received from candidates. Results include qualifying status for JRF and/or Lectureship with category-wise cut-off marks. Qualified candidates can download their e-certificates/scorecards from the NTA portal using their login credentials. Separate merit lists are prepared for JRF and LS categories. The result is final and no re-evaluation or re-checking of answer sheets is permitted as the examination is computer-based with objective questions.

CSIR UGC NET cut-off marks vary by subject and category, typically ranging between 33-50% of total marks for General category candidates. For JRF qualification in competitive subjects like Life Sciences and Chemical Sciences, General category candidates usually need to score 50-55% or above, while OBC candidates need around 45-50%, and SC/ST candidates need approximately 40-45%. The cut-off percentage is generally lower (33-40% for General) for Lectureship-only qualification. Cut-offs depend on factors like total number of candidates, difficulty level of the paper, and available fellowship positions. Actual cut-offs are declared subject-wise and category-wise along with the result.

Examination Centres Across India

North: Delhi NCR (Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad), Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Dehradun, Jammu, Patiala, Shimla, Roorkee, Aligarh, Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut

South: Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Coimbatore, Mysuru, Madurai, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Mangaluru, Vellore

East: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Cuttack, Durgapur, Asansol, Dhanbad, Rourkela

West: Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Nagpur, Nashik, Vadodara, Rajkot, Indore, Bhopal, Aurangabad, Thane

Northeast: Guwahati, Shillong, Imphal, Agartala, Dibrugarh, Silchar, Aizawl, Itanagar

Candidates can select preferred examination cities during application. Allocation subject to availability and administrative feasibility.