CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Registration Extended To Nov 9: About 2.23 Lakh Applications Submitted
New Delhi: Applications for the Joint Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (Joint CSIR-UGC NET) December 2026 cycle have been extended and will now be accepted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) till 11:50 pm on November 9, 2026. In a public notice dated November 5, 2026, the NTA extended the deadline for applications and stated that the extension was being offered to give candidates an opportunity to submit their applications in case they were unable to do so in the first window.
The NTA has also released the latest application figures showing that over two lakh applications have already been submitted. According to data released by the NTA, 2,23,395 applications have been submitted and 1,76,616 applications have been processed for payment of the examination fee. The remaining 46,779 applications are yet to complete the process.
CSIR-UGC NET December 2026: Revised Application Schedule
The revised deadline gives candidates more time to complete the application process. Here are the important dates and examination details:
|
Event |
Revised schedule |
|
Application deadline |
9 November 2026 |
|
Last date and time |
11:50 PM |
|
Late fee |
No late fee, as per the latest extension notice |
|
Application fee payment |
By 9 November 2026, 11:50 PM |
|
Application correction window |
10–12 November 2026 |
|
Examination dates |
19, 22 and 27 December 2026 |
|
Examination mode |
Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
|
Examination duration |
3 hours |
The December 2026 examination bulletin originally listed November 5 as the regular application deadline and November 6–9 as the late-fee application period. Candidates should follow the subsequent NTA extension notice for the revised deadline and fee conditions.
CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Registration Statistics
The December examination cycle is drawing a lot of candidates according to the latest registration stats.
- Application status Number of candidates
- Total registrations submitted 2,23,395
- Successful fee payments 1,76,616
- Registrations without completed fee payment 46,779
The difference between total registrations submitted and successful fee payments, reveals the reason why candidates should not consider form submission as the last step. An application is successfully submitted when the required examination fee is paid and a confirmation page is generated.
Candidates are required to register and complete payment as soon as possible to increase their chances of participating in the examination.
What is the rationale for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET Examination?
The National Testing Agency, on behalf of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, conducts the Joint CSIR-UGC NET examination.
The examination is designed to assess the aspirations of the candidates for opportunities in higher academic and research positions in various scientific disciplines. The results of this examination shall determine the eligibility of the candidates for the awards/fellowships/scholarships for:
- Junior Research Fellowships in Council of Scientific & Industrial Research laboratories/units/institutions.
- Assistant Professor in College/University.
- Admission to the Ph.D. (Full-Time) programmes of the universities and research institutions.
The examination is of 180 minutes and is conducted in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
Five Subjects Covered Under CSIR-UGC NET December 2026
Candidates are requested to select their examination subject according to their post graduate/ research studies and the eligibility mentioned in the Information Bulletin. The examination covers the following subject areas:
- Chemical Sciences
- Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
- Life Sciences and Biotechnology
- Mathematical Sciences
- Physical Sciences
A noteworthy change for the December 2026 cycle is the incorporation of DBT-BET Biotechnology examination with CSIR-UGC NET Life Sciences. Candidates interested in Biotechnology and related research areas should evaluate the revised Life Sciences and Biotechnology syllabus and apply accordingly.
How to Apply for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026?
Candidates can complete their registration through the official NTA examination portal as their registration is not complete yet. Follow the steps mentioned below:
- Visit the official website: csirnet.nta.nic.in
- Open Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 application link.
- Register by filling the required details.
- Login and select the Paper/ Research Area they are eligible for based on their educational qualifications and specialization.
- Fill in the required details, upload the required documents and pay the application fee.
- Check the payment status.
- Download the confirm page for future reference.
Registration is not complete unless a confirmation page is generated. Keep a printed and digital copy for future references.
What should applicants do before the extended deadline?
Candidates should use the additional time given to complete steps in their application, if there are any. Candidates should not wait to complete their application until the last minute. Candidates can and should check if their application details are correct. Candidates can and should check their payment confirmation. Candidates should and can save the documents they uploaded to their application.
The extension to the deadline will not affect the date of the exam. Other conditions for the exam will be based on the information posted by NTA and other official notices. For candidates who wish to pursue an academic career and research, completing the application is of prime importance. The extended deadline provides more time to complete the application process but only a completed application process will allow candidates to take the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Has the deadline for registration for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 been extended?
Yes. The application deadline has been extended to November 9, 2026 at 11:50 pm.
2. Up to when can applicants register for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 without a late fee?
The applicants can register without a late fee by November 9, 2026, at 11:50 pm.
3. What is the total number of registrations received for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026
According to the application figures shared with the extension of the deadline, a total of 2,23,395 registrations have been received.
4. What is the total count of applicants who have paid the application fee for CSIR NET December 2026?
The total count of applicants who have paid the application fee is 1,76,616.
Q5. What is the CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 examination date?
The examination is scheduled for December 19, 22 and 27, 2026. It will be conducted in Computer-Based Test mode.
Q6. When will the CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 correction window open?
The application correction window is scheduled from November 10 to November 12, 2026, up to 11:50 PM.
Click Here for More Latest News