CSIR NET December 2026 Registration: Apply Online, Fees, Eligibility & Exam Dates

CSIR NET 2026 Latest Update (November 3): The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to close the regular application window for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 examination on November 5, 2026, at 11:50 PM. Candidates who have not yet registered can submit their application forms through the official website.

Applicants who miss the regular deadline will have an additional opportunity to register between November 6 and November 9, 2026, by paying an extra late fee of Rs.500.

The examination is scheduled for December 19, 22 and 27, 2026. This session also introduces an important change for Life Sciences and Biotechnology candidates.

Here is everything applicants need to know about the registration deadline, application fees, eligibility criteria, examination pattern and official links.

CSIR NET December 2026: Important Highlights

CSIR NET 2026 Last Date: When Does Registration Close?

According to the official notification issued by NTA on October 7, 2026, the registration process for the December examination will close on November 5 at 11:50 PM.

Candidates must complete both the application form and the required fee payment within the prescribed deadline.

The examination authority has also provided a separate late-application facility.

CSIR NET 2026 Application Schedule

Important: The additional Rs.500 fee applies only to candidates submitting their applications during the late-registration period. Candidates applying by November 5 can avoid this charge.

The dates above are based on the published NTA schedule and may be revised through subsequent official notices.

Top universities through UGC NETBy NIRF 2025 rank

All 57

NAAC A++NIRF #2 (2025)Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1969View detailsNAAC A++NIRF #4 (2025)Jamia Millia IslamiaNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1920 · 239 acresView detailsNAAC A++NIRF #5 (2025)University of DelhiNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, JEE MainEst. 1922View detailsNAAC ANIRF #6 (2025)Banaras Hindu UniversityVaranasi, Uttar PradeshAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1916View detailsNAAC A+NIRF #10 (2025)Aligarh Muslim UniversityAligarh, Uttar PradeshAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1920View detailsUOHNAAC A++NIRF #18 (2025)University of HyderabadHyderabad, TelanganaAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1974View detailsNAAC ANIRF #37 (2025)Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar UniversityLucknow, Uttar PradeshAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1996View detailsCUPNAAC ANIRF #77 (2025)Central University of PunjabBathinda, PunjabAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 2009View detailsTUNAAC ANIRF #79 (2025)Tezpur UniversityTezpur, AssamAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1994View detailsMZUNAAC ANIRF #82 (2025)Mizoram UniversityAizawl, MizoramAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 2000View details

CSIR NET December 2026 Application Fees

The examination fee varies according to the candidate’s category.

Candidates applying between November 6 and November 9 must pay an additional Rs.500 over the applicable examination fee.

Payment can be made through debit cards, credit cards, net banking or UPI. Applicable bank or payment-gateway service charges may be collected separately.

Applicants claiming OBC-NCL benefits must ensure their category meets the applicable Central Government criteria.

How to Apply Online for CSIR NET December 2026

Candidates can complete the CSIR NET 2026 application process through the official NTA website.

1. Visit the official portal at https://csirnet.nta.nic.in/.
2. Find and open the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Online Application link.
3. Complete new candidate registration using your personal details, mobile number and email address.
4. Log in using the generated application number and password.
5. Enter the required academic qualifications, category details, examination subject and preferred examination cities.
6. Upload the prescribed photograph, signature and other applicable documents.
7. Pay the examination fee, submit the form and download the confirmation page.

Candidates should keep their application number and login credentials secure because they will be required for subsequent activities, including downloading the admit card.

Application tip: NTA requires a live photograph during registration, along with the prescribed scanned photograph and signature. Applicants should prepare these documents in advance and follow the file-size instructions displayed in the official bulletin.

A submitted application is considered successfully completed only after the prescribed examination fee has been received.

CSIR NET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates planning to apply for the December examination must satisfy the qualification and age requirements prescribed in the official information bulletin.

Educational Qualification

For candidates applying on the basis of a Master’s degree:

• General and General-EWS: At least 55% marks in a recognized Master’s degree or equivalent qualification.
• OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender: At least 50% marks.
• Candidates pursuing a Master’s degree or awaiting their final results may also apply provisionally, subject to completing the qualification within the specified period.

Can Four-Year Bachelor’s Degree Candidates Apply?

Yes. Candidates who have completed a recognized four-year/eight-semester bachelor’s degree programme can apply under the applicable rules.

They must generally have at least 75% aggregate marks or equivalent grade, with a relaxation of five percentage points for eligible categories.

However, there is an important distinction:

Candidates qualifying through the four-year undergraduate degree route may become eligible for JRF and PhD admission, but not for appointment as Assistant Professor solely on that basis.

Final-year students in eligible four-year undergraduate programmes may also apply provisionally, subject to the conditions prescribed by NTA.

CSIR NET 2026 Age Limit

For Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the upper age limit is 30 years as of December 1, 2026, subject to applicable relaxations.

The information bulletin provides age relaxation of up to five years for eligible categories, including women candidates and specified reserved categories, subject to its conditions.

There is no upper age limit for candidates seeking eligibility as Assistant Professor or for PhD admission only.

CSIR NET December 2026: Major Change for Life Sciences and Biotechnology

One of the most significant developments in the December 2026 examination cycle concerns Life Sciences and Biotechnology candidates.

The previously separate CSIR NET Life Sciences examination and DBT Biotechnology Eligibility Test (DBT-BET) are being integrated into a unified examination framework.

The combined subject is called Life Sciences and Bio-Technology (LS-BT) and carries subject code 703.

This change is particularly relevant to students from Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Botany, Zoology, Genetics and other related disciplines.

Candidates preparing with older Life Sciences or DBT-BET question papers should review the updated LS-BT syllabus rather than assuming the previous syllabus remains unchanged.

The initiative is intended to bring related biological science disciplines into a common examination framework while supporting research fellowship opportunities administered through the relevant agencies.

CSIR NET December 2026 Subjects and Codes

The December 2026 examination covers five science disciplines.

Candidates must select the appropriate examination subject while completing their application form.

The official subject-wise syllabus is available through the CSIR Human Resource Development Group website.

CSIR NET 2026 Exam Dates and Paper Pattern

According to NTA’s examination schedule, Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 will be conducted on December 19, 22 and 27.

The examination will be held in Computer-Based Test mode.

The exact date, examination centre and shift allotted to each candidate will be mentioned on their admit card.

Understanding Parts A, B and C

Part A: General Aptitude

This section evaluates general aptitude, including logical reasoning, numerical ability, graphical analysis and analytical thinking.

Part B: Subject Knowledge

This section contains subject-related questions based on the prescribed academic syllabus.

Part C: Analytical and Application-Based Questions

This section tests candidates’ ability to apply scientific concepts and solve higher-order problems.

The number of questions, permissible attempts and negative-marking rules differ across subjects. Candidates should therefore review the pattern applicable to their chosen paper in the official information bulletin.

CSIR NET JRF: Fellowship and Research Opportunities

CSIR NET is an important examination for postgraduate science students aspiring to pursue research or academic careers in Indian universities, research laboratories and other eligible institutions.

The examination determines eligibility in three categories:

According to the December 2026 information bulletin, the CSIR JRF stipend is Rs.37,000 per month for the first two years, subject to the fellowship rules.

Eligible fellows may subsequently receive Rs.42,000 per month under the Senior Research Fellowship stage, subject to the required assessment and other conditions.

Qualifying the examination does not automatically guarantee employment, admission or an award of fellowship.

CSIR NET 2026 Application Correction Window

Candidates who submit their application forms will have an opportunity to correct permitted details from November 10 to November 12, 2026, until 11:50 PM.

Applicants should carefully review their name, date of birth, category, academic details, subject selection and uploaded documents before submission.

The availability of corrections for individual fields will depend on NTA’s official correction instructions.

Candidates should not assume that every application detail can be modified after submission.

CSIR NET December 2026 Admit Card and Result

As of November 3, 2026, NTA has not specified the release dates for the December examination’s city intimation slip or admit card in the published schedule.

These details will be announced separately through the official examination portal.

The city intimation slip will provide advance information about the allotted examination city, while the admit card will contain the candidate’s examination centre, reporting instructions and other essential details.

The answer key and result dates are also yet to be announced.

Candidates are advised to avoid unofficial websites claiming confirmed admit card or result release dates without an NTA notification.

CSIR NET 2026: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last date for CSIR NET December 2026 registration?

The regular registration deadline is November 5, 2026, at 11:50 PM. Candidates may apply with an additional Rs.500 late fee until November 9, 2026.

What is the CSIR NET 2026 official website?

The official website is https://csirnet.nta.nic.in/. Candidates can use it for registration, examination notices and subsequent candidate activities.

What is the full form of CSIR NET?

CSIR NET stands for Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test, commonly referred to as Joint CSIR-UGC NET.

Can I apply for CSIR NET 2026 after November 5?

Yes. According to the announced schedule, late applications will be accepted from November 6 to November 9, 2026, with an additional fee of Rs.500.

When will CSIR NET December 2026 be conducted?

The examination is scheduled for December 19, 22 and 27, 2026. Individual subject dates and shifts should be verified from subsequent NTA announcements and the admit card.

Can Master’s final-year students apply?

Yes. Students awaiting their qualifying Master’s results may apply provisionally, provided they satisfy the prescribed eligibility conditions within the applicable time limit.

Is CSIR NET Life Sciences changing in December 2026?

Yes. The December 2026 cycle introduces the combined Life Sciences and Bio-Technology paper under subject code 703, following the integration of the previous Life Sciences and DBT-BET examination frameworks.

CSIR NET 2026 Important Official Links

For application-related assistance, candidates may contact the NTA helpdesk at 011-40759000 / 011-69227700, or email csirnet@nta.ac.in.

Final Reminder for Candidates

Candidates planning to appear in the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 examination should complete their applications by November 5, 2026, to avoid the additional late fee.

Applicants should pay particular attention to the updated Life Sciences and Bio-Technology syllabus, verify their eligibility, and retain a copy of their application confirmation page.

For verified examination updates, candidates should regularly visit the official NTA portal.

Source: National Testing Agency’s notification dated October 7, 2026, and Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin. Information checked on November 3, 2026. Any subsequent changes will be governed by official NTA announcements.