Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 registration begins: apply by November 5

The National Testing Agency (NTA) initiated the online registration process for the Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 session on October 8, 2026. Aspiring candidates can submit their applications through the official website, csirnet.nta.nic.in. This examination is conducted to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the position of Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes in Indian universities and colleges.

The official schedule for the examination was released on October 7, 2026. The CSIR NET exam is conducted twice a year, typically in June and December sessions, with the registration for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026 having gone live on May 27, 2026.

Application and Fee Payment Deadlines

The deadline for candidates to submit their CSIR UGC NET December 2026 application form, along with the required fee payment, is November 5, 2026, up to 11:50 pm. Following this, a late application window will be activated for candidates who miss the initial deadline.

This late application window will be open from November 6 to November 9, 2026. Candidates applying during this period will be required to pay a late fee of Rs 500. The final deadline for payment of the examination fee through the late application window is November 9, 2026, up to 11:50 pm. The NTA will also provide a form correction window from November 10 to November 12, 2026, up to 11:50 pm, for candidates to make necessary amendments to their submitted forms.

Examination Schedule and Format

The Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 examination will be conducted by NTA in computer-based test (CBT) mode. The examination dates are set for December 19, 22, and 27, 2026. The examination will be held in two shifts each day, with the first shift from 9 am to 12 pm and the second shift from 3 pm to 6 pm. The duration of the examination is 180 minutes, or three hours.

The examination covers five subjects: Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. The question paper will be available in both Hindi and English mediums. Details regarding the city intimation slip and admit card release date will be announced on the official website.

Context and Previous Schedules

The NTA advance examination calendar, released on September 16, 2026, provided tentative examination schedules for major NTA exams. According to this calendar, the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 examination was previously scheduled for December 20 and 21, 2026. The UGC NET December 2026 examination is proposed from December 14 to 19, 2026, with December 20 and 21, 2026, as buffer dates.

For the December 2025 session, NTA issued the online application notice on September 25, 2025, with an extended deadline of October 27, 2025. Candidates applying for the current exam are advised to regularly visit the official portal, csirnet.nta.nic.in, for the latest updates regarding the city intimation slip and admit card release dates.

Further reading

• UGC NET June 2026 e-certificates released; download now
• AP EdCET registration: dates and steps to apply
• UGC NET: complete exam guide

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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