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 twice a year to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Lectureship/Assistant Professor positions in Indian universities and colleges. The June 2026 exam is conducted jointly by CSIR and UGC for candidates in Science & Technology subjects. Qualifying this exam makes candidates eligible for JRF with monthly stipend for pursuing PhD, and also qualifies them for Assistant Professor positions in universities across India. The exam is conducted in five subjects: Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. This is one of the most competitive exams for research and academic careers in science streams, attracting lakhs of candidates across India annually.

Important Dates

Note: Exact dates will be announced in the official notification. These are indicative based on previous exam cycles.

Vacancy Details

Typical / Indicative: CSIR UGC NET does not have fixed vacancies as it is an eligibility test. The number of JRF positions awarded depends on CSIR's annual budget allocation and research requirements.

Note: All qualified candidates receive Lectureship/NET qualification regardless of JRF cutoff. JRF is awarded to top performers only.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

For JRF:

• M.Sc. or equivalent degree in relevant subject with minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD candidates)
• OR B.Sc. (Hons) / B.Tech / BE / BPharma / MBBS with minimum 55% marks and enrolled/completed integrated PhD program
• Candidates in final year of qualifying degree can also apply

For Lectureship (LS) Only:

• M.Sc. or equivalent degree holders with minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD)
• No upper age limit for Lectureship only category

Subject Areas: Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences

Age Limit

Age calculated as on the closing date of online application. No age limit for Lectureship-only candidates.

Nationality

• Indian Nationals only
• OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders are also eligible

How to Apply

1. Visit the official CSIR UGC NET website: csirhrdg.res.in or csirnet.nta.nic.in
2. Click on 'CSIR UGC NET June 2026' registration link
3. Complete Part-I registration by providing basic details (name, email, mobile number)
4. Verify email and mobile through OTP
5. Login with generated Application Number and Password
6. Fill Part-II application form with personal, educational, and category details
7. Upload scanned documents: photograph (10-50KB), signature (4-30KB), category certificate if applicable
8. Select exam city preferences (minimum 3 cities)
9. Pay application fee through Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI
10. Submit the application form and take printout of confirmation page for future reference

Application Fees

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

Selection Process

1. Single Paper MCQ Examination: Candidates appear for a computer-based test (CBT) consisting of 120 multiple choice questions divided into three parts. The exam duration is 3 hours conducted in single session.

1. Merit List Preparation: Based on total marks obtained, separate merit lists are prepared for JRF and Lectureship (LS). Candidates scoring above JRF cutoff get JRF award, while those above LS cutoff but below JRF cutoff qualify for Lectureship only.

1. Category-wise Selection: Reservations are applied as per Government of India norms (OBC 27%, SC 15%, ST 7.5%, EWS 10%, PwD 5% horizontal reservation).

1. Award of JRF: Shortlisted JRF candidates receive offer letters to join research programs at CSIR labs or avail fellowship for PhD in universities. They must join within stipulated time and maintain academic requirements.

1. Certificate Issuance: All qualified candidates (JRF + LS) receive eligibility certificates valid for 3 years for appointment as Assistant Professor/Lecturer in universities and colleges.

Note: No interview is conducted. Selection is purely based on written exam performance.

Exam Pattern - Single Paper Computer Based Test

Paper Structure (Total 120 Questions, 200 Marks, 3 Hours)

Note: Part C has 60 questions but candidates need to attempt only first 25 questions. Remaining 35 are extra. Only first 25 answers are evaluated.

Section-wise Details

Part A - General Science: Core concepts across physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, environment, reasoning

Part B - Subject Specific: Direct MCQs from chosen subject (Chemical/Earth/Life/Mathematical/Physical Sciences)

Part C - Advanced Subject Questions: Application-based and analytical questions from chosen subject

Important Notes

• Medium: English only
• Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
• Marking Scheme: Positive marks as per table; negative marking applicable on all wrong answers
• Qualifying Marks: JRF cutoff ~50-60%, Lectureship cutoff ~40-45% (varies by subject and category)

Detailed Syllabus

Part A - General Science (Common for all subjects)

• General topics from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences
• Quantitative reasoning and analysis
• Graphical analysis and data interpretation
• Logical and analytical reasoning
• Scientific temper and current scientific developments
• Environmental science and ecology basics

Chemical Sciences

• Inorganic Chemistry: Atomic structure, periodic table, chemical bonding, coordination chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, organometallics
• Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, electrochemistry, quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, surface chemistry, solid state
• Organic Chemistry: Structure and reactivity, stereochemistry, organic reaction mechanisms, pericyclic reactions, photochemistry, heterocyclic chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry: Classical and instrumental methods, separation techniques, chromatography, spectroscopy

Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences

• Geology: Mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, geomorphology, economic geology, stratigraphy, paleontology
• Geophysics: Seismology, geomagnetism, gravity, heat flow, remote sensing
• Atmospheric Sciences: Weather systems, climate, atmospheric chemistry and radiation
• Oceanography: Physical, chemical, biological, and geological oceanography
• Planetary Sciences: Solar system, planetary geology and atmospheres

Life Sciences

• Cell Biology: Cell structure, cell cycle, cell signaling, membrane biology
• Molecular Biology: DNA replication, transcription, translation, gene regulation
• Genetics: Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance, population genetics, molecular genetics
• Biochemistry: Biomolecules, enzymology, metabolism, bioenergetics
• Microbiology: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, immunology
• Ecology: Population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem, biodiversity
• Plant Sciences: Physiology, anatomy, taxonomy, plant breeding
• Animal Sciences: Physiology, developmental biology, endocrinology

Mathematical Sciences

• Algebra: Groups, rings, fields, vector spaces, linear algebra
• Analysis: Real analysis, complex analysis, functional analysis, measure theory
• Topology: General topology, metric spaces
• Differential Equations: ODE, PDE, numerical methods
• Calculus: Differential and integral calculus, multivariable calculus
• Numerical Analysis: Interpolation, approximation, numerical integration
• Statistics and Probability: Probability theory, distributions, hypothesis testing, regression

Physical Sciences

• Classical Mechanics: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation, central forces, rigid body dynamics
• Quantum Mechanics: Wave mechanics, operators, angular momentum, perturbation theory
• Electromagnetic Theory: Electrostatics, magnetostatics, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves
• Thermodynamics & Statistical Physics: Laws of thermodynamics, kinetic theory, statistical ensembles
• Atomic & Molecular Physics: Atomic structure, spectroscopy, molecular structure
• Nuclear & Particle Physics: Nuclear properties, radioactivity, elementary particles
• Solid State Physics: Crystal structure, band theory, semiconductors, superconductivity
• Electronics: Circuits, transistors, operational amplifiers, digital electronics

JRF Fellowship & Lectureship Salary (Typical / Indicative)

JRF Fellowship Package

*HRA varies based on city classification

Lectureship/Assistant Professor Salary (UGC 7th CPC)

Additional Benefits (for Assistant Professors): Medical facilities, LTC, pension/NPS, accommodation (if provided), research grants, children education allowance

JRF holders can upgrade to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) after 2 years based on performance evaluation, with fellowship increasing to ₹35,000/month. After PhD completion, candidates can apply for positions like Scientist in CSIR labs, Research Associates, or pursue academic positions. Assistant Professors qualifying through NET can progress from Level 10 (₹57,700) to Level 11 (₹68,900 as Assistant Professor Stage-2), then to Associate Professor Level 12 (₹1,01,500) and Professor Level 13/14 (₹1,31,400 to ₹1,44,200 and beyond) based on career advancement scheme (CAS) and API score requirements, with each promotion typically taking 5-7 years.

Admit cards for CSIR UGC NET June 2026 will be released approximately 2-3 weeks before the examination date on the official website. Candidates must login to their application account using Application Number and Date of Birth/Password to download the admit card. The admit card contains examination center details, exam date and timing, candidate's photograph and signature, and important instructions. No postal dispatch of admit cards is done; download from website is the only mode.

Results are typically declared 4-6 weeks after the examination date. The answer key is first released for candidate objections, followed by final answer key and result. Results are published on the official website where candidates can check their scores, subject-wise marks, and All India Rank. Separate merit lists are prepared for JRF and Lectureship categories with category-wise cutoffs. Score cards and eligibility certificates are available for download from the candidate login portal.

Typical cutoff marks vary by subject and category. For JRF, General category cutoff ranges from 50-60% (100-120 marks out of 200), OBC cutoff is around 45-55% (90-110 marks), and SC/ST cutoff ranges from 40-50% (80-100 marks). Lectureship cutoff is typically 5-10% lower than JRF. Life Sciences and Chemical Sciences generally have higher cutoffs (55-60% for JRF General) while Physical Sciences and Mathematical Sciences have slightly lower cutoffs (50-55% for JRF General). Exact cutoffs fluctuate based on exam difficulty, number of candidates, and subject-wise performance distribution.

Examination Centers

North: Delhi NCR (Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram), Chandigarh, Jammu, Lucknow, Dehradun, Jaipur, Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Rohtak, Karnal

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

East: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi, Rourkela, Jamshedpur, Siliguri, Durgapur, Bhagalpur

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

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

Central: Raipur, Bilaspur, Jabalpur

Candidates can choose up to 3 city preferences. Final center allotment is subject to availability.