CSIR NET December 2026: Apply when registration opens; exam Dec 20-21

The National Testing Agency (NTA), in collaboration with the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), has announced the examination dates for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 session. The national-level examination is set to take place on December 20 and 21, 2026, across India.

Despite the announcement of exam dates, the application process for the CSIR NET December 2026 session has not yet opened. The NTA has not released specific dates for the application start, last date, fee payment deadline, or correction window, with a detailed information bulletin expected soon.

Examination Structure and Purpose

The Joint CSIR-UGC NET is conducted twice a year, in June and December, to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor positions, and admission to Ph.D. programmes in Indian universities and colleges. The examination is an online Computer-Based Test (CBT) with a single paper carrying 200 marks, divided into Parts A, B, and C.

Part A is common to all subjects and consists of up to 20 objective-type questions on General Aptitude, of which candidates must answer 15, each carrying 2 marks, for a total of 30 marks. The exam duration is 3 hours (180 minutes), and it is available in both English and Hindi. The test covers five science subjects: Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences.

Eligibility Criteria for Applicants

Candidates aspiring for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) must not exceed 28 years of age as on the cut-off date specified in the 2026 notification. Age relaxation provisions apply, with up to 5 years for SC, ST, Third Gender, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and female applicants, and up to 3 years for Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates (Non-Creamy Layer). There is no age restriction for those applying solely for the Lectureship (LS) / Assistant Professor role.

Academically, applicants must hold a degree in BTech, BE, BPharma, MBBS, a four-year BS programme, Integrated BS–MS, or MSc. A minimum aggregate score of 55% is required for General (UR), General-EWS, and OBC categories, while SC, ST, PwD, and Third Gender categories must have secured at least 50%.

Application Process and Fee Structure

While the application window for December 2026 is not yet open, the NTA typically opens registration for the December session around September. For the December 2025 session, the online application notice was issued on September 25, 2025, with an extended deadline of October 27, 2025. The CSIR NET June 2026 registration was live on May 27, 2026.

The application fee for General category candidates is ₹1,150, for OBC/EWS it is ₹600, and for SC/ST/PwD candidates, it is ₹325. Candidates are advised to prepare academic details, an active mobile number, email ID, ID-related information, and scanned photograph/signature for when registration opens. The official website, csirnet.nta.nic.in, remains the primary source for all updates.

Further reading

• Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 registration begins: apply by November 5
• IIT Delhi AI in Healthcare Executive Programme registration opens, apply by 9 December 2026
• IIT Delhi opens registration for Executive Programme for AI in Healthcare; apply by 10 December 2026
• AIEED 2027 registration opens October 1; apply by December 10 for design courses
• India Space Lab winter internship 2026-27 registration open: apply by 18 December

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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