Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Registration Opening: Check Last Date, Exam Dates, Eligibility and Application Details
New Delhi : The Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 registration window is now open, providing science and research aspirants with a fresh opportunity to qualify for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor eligibility and PhD admission. The National Testing Agency (NTA) opened the online application process on October 7, 2026, and candidates can apply until November 5, 2026, up to 11:50 PM.
The examination will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode on December 19, 22 and 27, 2026. Candidates planning to appear should check the eligibility requirements, fee structure and subject-wise examination pattern before submitting the form.
CSIR-UGC NET December 2026: Important Dates
|
Event |
Date / Details |
|---|---|
|
Registration Begins |
October 7, 2026 |
|
Last Date to Apply |
November 5, 2026, up to 11:50 PM |
|
Application with Late Fee |
November 6–9, 2026 |
|
Last Date for Late-Fee Payment |
November 9, 2026 |
|
Correction Window |
November 10–12, 2026 |
|
Examination Dates |
December 19, 22 and 27, 2026 |
|
Exam Mode |
Computer Based Test (CBT) |
|
Duration |
3 hours |
|
Shift 1 |
9:00 AM–12:00 Noon |
|
Shift 2 |
3:00 PM–6:00 PM |
The advance city intimation slip and admit card release dates will be announced separately by NTA.
Who Can Apply for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026?
Candidates with a Master's degree or equivalent qualification from a recognised institution can apply. General, Unreserved and General-EWS candidates need at least 55% marks, while OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender candidates need at least 50% marks. Candidates currently pursuing their Master's degree or awaiting their final-year results may also apply provisionally, subject to fulfilling the prescribed qualification requirements within the specified period.
A significant provision is available for candidates holding a four-year/eight-semester bachelor's degree. Such candidates require at least 75% aggregate marks, with applicable relaxation for eligible categories. However, candidates qualifying through the four-year bachelor's route can be considered for JRF and PhD admission, but not Assistant Professor appointment. For JRF, the upper age limit is 30 years as of December 1, 2026, with applicable relaxations. There is no upper age limit for the Assistant Professor and PhD-only categories.
CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee
The prescribed application fee is:
- General: ₹1,150
- General-EWS/OBC-NCL: ₹600
- SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/Third Gender: ₹325
- Late fee: ₹500 in addition to the applicable examination fee
Payment can be made through debit card, credit card, UPI or internet banking, with applicable processing charges.
Five Subjects Covered in CSIR-UGC NET
The December 2026 examination will be conducted for five science subjects:
- Chemical Sciences
- Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
- Life Sciences and Bio-Technology (LS-BT)
- Mathematical Sciences
- Physical Sciences
The paper has three sections. Part A tests general aptitude, including logical reasoning, numerical ability, graphical analysis and analytical skills. Part B focuses on conventional subject-based questions, while Part C tests higher-order scientific understanding and application.
The examination carries a maximum of 200 marks, although the number of questions and negative-marking rules vary by subject. Candidates should therefore check the subject-specific scheme rather than assuming that one marking pattern applies to all five papers.
What Does a CSIR-UGC NET Qualification Offer?
The December 2026 examination determines eligibility across three categories:
- Category 1: JRF + Assistant Professor + PhD admission
- Category 2: Assistant Professor + PhD admission
- Category 3: PhD admission only
For Category 2 and Category 3 candidates, CSIR-UGC NET scores can be used for PhD admissions in place of university-level entrance tests, subject to institutional rules. The written examination carries 70% weightage, while the university/HEI interview carries 30% weightage.
For JRF-qualified candidates, the bulletin states a fellowship stipend of ₹37,000 per month for the first two years, along with an annual contingent grant of ₹20,000, subject to the applicable fellowship terms.
How to Apply for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026
Candidates must complete the application process online through the official CSIR-UGC NET website. The process includes registration, filling in personal and academic details, selecting examination cities, uploading the required documents, paying the examination fee and downloading the confirmation page.
Candidates can select four examination cities while submitting the application. NTA will make efforts to allot a city according to the candidate's preferences, although administrative or logistical considerations may result in a different allotment.
Official Website
Candidates should use only the official NTA CSIR-UGC NET portal for registration and subsequent updates: csirnet.nta.nic.in With the application deadline set for November 5, candidates should not wait until the final hours to submit the form. The correction facility will be available from November 10 to 12, but applicants should still verify their personal, category and academic details carefully before final submission.=
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