About Joint CSIR-UGC – NET Examination (CSIR-UGC - NET)
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has been entrusted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) with the task of conducting Joint CSIR UGC NET which is a test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for ‘award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and appointment as ‘Assistant Professor’, ‘appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D.’ and ‘admission to Ph.D. only’ in Indian universities and colleges.
UGC-NET Categories
| Category | JRF | Assistant Professor | Ph.D. admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category-1: Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Category-2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D. | No | Yes | Yes |
| Category-3: Admission to Ph.D. only | No | No | Yes |
Examination Pattern of Joint CSIR-UGC – NET
The Test will consist of three parts. All the parts will consist of objective type, multiple choice questions. There will be no break between papers. The subject-wise scheme of examination is as per details below:
CHEMICAL SCIENCES (701)
| CHEMICAL SCIENCES (701) | PART A | PART B | PART C | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 20 | 40 | 60 | 120 |
| Max No of Questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Marks for each correct answer | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
| Marks for each incorrect answer (Negative marking for part A, B & C is @ 25%) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | - |
EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC, OCEAN AND PLANETARY SCIENCES (702)
| EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC, OCEAN AND PLANETARY SCIENCES (702) | PART A | PART B | PART C | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 20 | 50 | 80 | 150 |
| Max No of Questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Marks for each correct answer | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
| Marks for each incorrect answer (Negative marking for part A & B is @ 25% and part C is @ 33%) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.32 | - |
LIFE SCIENCES (703)
| LIFE SCIENCES (703) | PART A | PART B | PART C | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 20 | 50 | 75 | 145 |
| Max No of Questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Marks for each correct answer | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
| Marks for each incorrect answer (Negative marking for part A, B & C is 25%) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | - |
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES (704)
| MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES (704) | PART A | PART B | PART C | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 20 | 40 | 60 | 120 |
| Max No of Questions to attempt | 15 | 25 | 20 | 60 |
| Marks for each correct answer | 2 | 3 | 4.75 | 200 |
| Marks for each incorrect answer (Negative marking in Part A & B is 25%; no negative marking in Part C) | 0.5 | 0.75 | 0 | - |
PHYSICAL SCIENCES (705)
| PHYSICAL SCIENCES (705) | PART A | PART B | PART C | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 20 | 25 | 30 | 75 |
| Max No of Questions to attempt | 15 | 20 | 20 | 55 |
| Marks for each correct answer | 2 | 3.5 | 5 | 200 |
| Marks for each incorrect answer (Negative marking for part A, B & C is 25%) | 0.5 | 0.875 | 1.25 | - |
Chemical Sciences:
The candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15, 35 and 25 questions from Part-A, Part-B and Part-C respectively. If more than required number of questions are answered, only first 15, 35 and 25 questions in Part A, Part B and Part C respectively will be taken up for evaluation. Below each question in Part A, Part B and Part C, four alternatives or responses are given. Only one of these alternatives is the "correct" option to the question. The candidate has to find, for each question, the correct or the best answer.
Earth Sciences:
The candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15, 35 and 25 questions from Part-A, Part-B and Part-C respectively. If more than required number of questions are answered, only first 15, 35 and 25 questions in Part A, Part B and Part C respectively will be taken up for evaluation. Below each question in Part A, Part B and Part C, four alternatives or responses are given. Only one of these alternatives is the "correct" option to the question. The candidate has to find, for each question, the correct or the best answer.
Life Sciences:
The candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15, 35 and 25 questions from Part-A, Part-B and Part-C respectively. If more than required number of questions are answered, only first 15, 35 and 25 questions in Part A, Part B and Part C respectively will be taken up for evaluation. Below each question in Part A, Part B and Part C, four alternatives or responses are given. Only one of these alternatives is the "correct" option to the question. The candidate has to find, for each question, the correct or the best answer.
Mathematical Sciences:
The candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15, 25 and 20 questions from Part-A, Part-B and Part-C respectively. If more than required number of questions are answered, only first 15, 25 and 20 questions in Part A, Part B and Part C respectively will be taken up for evaluation. Below each question in Part A, Part B, four alternatives or responses are given. Only one of these alternatives is the "correct" option to the question. The candidate has to find, for each question, the correct or the best answer. In Part C each question may have "ONE" or "MORE" correct options. Credit in a question shall be given only on identification of "ALL" the correct options in Part C.
Physical Sciences:
The candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15, 20 and 20 questions from Part-A, Part-B and Part-C respectively. If more than required number of questions are answered, only first 15, 20 and 20 questions in Part A, Part B and Part C respectively will be taken up for evaluation. Below each question in Part A, Part B and Part C, four alternatives or responses are given. Only one of these alternatives is the "correct" option to the question. The candidate has to find, for each question, the correct or the best answer.
Part 'A' shall be common to all subjects. This part shall contain questions pertaining to General Aptitude with emphasis on logical reasoning, graphical analysis, analytical and numerical ability, quantitative comparison, series formation, puzzles etc.
Part 'B' shall contain subject-related conventional Multiple-Choice questions (MCQs), generally covering the topics given in the syllabus.
Part 'C' shall contain higher order questions that may test the candidate's knowledge of scientific concepts and/or application of the scientific concepts. The questions shall be of analytical nature where a candidate is expected to apply scientific knowledge to arrive at the solution to the given scientific problem.
Exam Shift and Time
- Shift I: 09:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon
- Shift II: 03:00 P.M. to 06:00 P.M.
Mode of Examination
Computer Based Test (CBT) mode only
The medium of Question Paper
English & Hindi
Total Time Duration
- For Non-PwD Candidates: 3 Hours
- For PwD Candidates: 4 Hours
Note: - Compensatory time for PwD Candidates of 20 minutes per hour of examination.
Number of Subject
05
Eligibility Criteria for UGC-NET
Educational Qualification
- General/EWS Candidates: Must have at least 55% marks in a Master's degree or equivalent.
- OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: Must have at least 50% marks in a Master's degree or equivalent.
- Final Year Students: If you are currently in your final year or
awaiting results, you can apply provisionally.
- Condition: You must complete your degree with the required marks within two (2) years of the NET result declaration.
- Ph.D. Admission only: You must complete your degree within one year of the result.
- 4-Year Bachelor's Degree Holders:
- Must have a minimum of 75% marks (70% for reserved categories).
- Eligible for JRF and Ph.D. admission only; they are not eligible for Assistant Professor roles.
Age Limit
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Maximum 30 years.
- 5-year relaxation (up to 35 years) for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, Third Gender, and women applicants.
- 3-year relaxation for LL.M. degree holders.
- Up to 5 years relaxation for candidates with research experience or those who served in the armed forces.
- Assistant Professor: There is no upper age limit.
- Ph.D. Admission: There is no upper age limit.
Key Rules to Remember
Subject Selection: You should ideally appear for the subject of your Post-Graduation. If your specific subject is not listed, you can choose a related subject.
Exemptions: If you cleared the SET (State Eligibility Test) before June 1, 2002, you are exempt from NET and can apply for Assistant Professor roles across India. For SET cleared after this date, you are eligible only in the state where you passed.
No Documents Required: You do not need to send any physical certificates or application printouts to the NTA.
List of Subjects & Syllabus
The Test will be held in the subjects mentioned below:
| Subject Code | Subjects of the Test |
|---|---|
| 701 | Chemical Sciences |
| 702 | Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences |
| 703 | Life Sciences |
| 704 | Mathematical Sciences |
| 705 | Physical Sciences |
Syllabus download Link: https://csirhrdg.res.in/Home/Index/1/Default/3485/78
Useful Joint CSIR-UGC-NET & JRF Related Links
NTA Main Website
Application Link
Result & Certificate Download Link
Joint CSIR-UGC-NET website
JRF through Joint CSIR-UGC-NET
Our CSIR-NET Exam Program
Expert Faculty
PhD holders and CSIR-NET/JRF qualified professors with 10+ years of teaching experience
Complete Study Material
Comprehensive notes covering Part A, Part B & Part C for all 5 science subjects
Mock Test Series
50+ full-length mock tests with detailed performance analysis and solutions
Doubt Clearing Sessions
Daily doubt clearing sessions and one-on-one mentoring
Online & Offline Classes
Flexible learning options with recorded lectures and live online classes
Performance Tracking
Regular progress reports and personalized improvement plans
Batch Details
Regular Batch
6 Months- Complete syllabus coverage
- Weekly mock tests
- Study material included
- Online & Offline options
Crash Course
3 Months- Focused revision
- Daily mock tests
- Dedicated doubt sessions
- Strategy sessions
Weekend Batch
4 Months- Saturday & Sunday classes
- Working professionals friendly
- Flexible timings
- Online live classes
Start Your CSIR-NET Journey Today!
Join India's Most Comprehensive CSIR-NET Exam Program
Expert Faculty
Complete Study Material
High Success Rate
Scholarship Available
Special Offer: Free Demo Class + Scholarship Test on Admission