CSIR UGC NET December 2026 Online Form – Apply Online, Eligibility, Exam Date

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened the online application process for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 examination. Eligible candidates can submit their application forms from 7 October to 5 November 2026 through the official website. The examination is conducted to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor positions, and Ph.D. admission in eligible institutions.

Candidates interested in the CSIR UGC NET December 2026 examination should check the eligibility criteria, application fee, age limit, examination schedule, and application instructions before registering. The examination will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode across five science subject areas. Applicants should read the official information bulletin carefully before submitting their forms.

CSIR UGC NET December 2026 Recruitment Overview

Important: CSIR UGC NET is an eligibility examination, not a conventional vacancy-based recruitment drive. The notification does not announce a fixed number of job vacancies.

Important Dates

Candidates should check the official NTA website regularly for any changes to the examination schedule.

Vacancy Details

The CSIR UGC NET December 2026 notification is intended to determine eligibility for research fellowships, Assistant Professor appointments, and Ph.D. admissions. It does not specify a fixed number of posts.

Subject-Wise Examination Details

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must satisfy the educational qualification requirements specified in the official CSIR UGC NET December 2026 information bulletin.

Applicants belonging to the General, Unreserved and General-EWS categories must have secured at least 55% marks in a Master’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university or institution. Candidates belonging to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender categories must have secured at least 50% marks.

Candidates currently pursuing their Master’s degree, awaiting final-year results, or whose qualifying examinations have been delayed may also apply provisionally, subject to the conditions mentioned in the official notification.

Candidates with a four-year or eight-semester bachelor’s degree may also be eligible under the specified rules. Generally, they must have at least 75% aggregate marks or an equivalent grade, with applicable relaxation for eligible categories. Candidates qualifying through a four-year bachelor’s degree can be considered for JRF and Ph.D. admission, but not for appointment as an Assistant Professor on that basis.

Applicants with foreign qualifications should check the applicable equivalence requirements. All candidates are responsible for verifying their eligibility before submitting the application.

Age Limit

The age limit depends on the eligibility category for which a candidate applies.

Age Relaxation

• Up to 5 years of age relaxation is available for eligible OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, Third Gender and women applicants for JRF.
• Candidates with eligible research experience may receive relaxation for the relevant research period, subject to the prescribed conditions and maximum limit.
• Eligible candidates who have served in the armed forces may receive relaxation based on their service, subject to the rules.
• The total age relaxation under the specified grounds must not exceed 5 years.

The applicable age is assessed with reference to the examination’s prescribed date in December 2026. Candidates should consult the official information bulletin for the precise conditions.

Application Fee

Candidates must pay the applicable examination fee online. The fee varies by category.

The late fee is charged in addition to the applicable category fee. Payment can be made through permitted online methods, including debit card, credit card, net banking and UPI. Applicable payment gateway charges and taxes may be additional.

Candidates should retain proof of payment and download the application confirmation page after successful submission.

Salary / Pay Scale

CSIR UGC NET does not offer a single fixed salary because it is an eligibility examination rather than a direct recruitment process. Candidates who qualify may become eligible for different academic or research opportunities, subject to the applicable rules and selection procedures.

Junior Research Fellowship Stipend

According to the information bulletin:

The SRF-NET upgrade depends on the prescribed conditions, including Ph.D. registration and assessment of research progress. Fellowship awards are subject to the applicable terms and conditions.

For Assistant Professor positions, salary depends on the recruiting institution, applicable pay rules and appointment terms. Ph.D. admission itself does not guarantee a salary or fellowship.

Selection Process

The CSIR UGC NET December 2026 examination process involves the following stages:

1. Online Registration: Candidates register on the official NTA portal and enter their details.
2. Application Submission: Applicants complete the form, select their subject and examination cities, and upload the required information.
3. Examination Fee Payment: Candidates pay the prescribed fee and save the confirmation page.
4. Computer-Based Examination: Eligible applicants appear for the examination on their allotted date and shift.
5. Answer Key and Evaluation: NTA publishes answer-key information and processes the examination results according to the prescribed procedure.
6. Result and Eligibility Determination: The result determines eligibility for the applicable category, subject to the official rules.

Qualifying the examination does not guarantee employment, a fellowship award in every case, or admission to a particular university. Final opportunities depend on the applicable eligibility conditions, selection procedures and institutional requirements.

How to Apply Online

Follow these steps to complete the CSIR UGC NET December 2026 application form.

1. Visit the official website: https://csirnet.nta.nic.in/
2. Open the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 application link.
3. Read the official information bulletin and confirm your eligibility.
4. Register using your own email address and mobile number.
5. Create your login credentials and save the generated application number.
6. Log in and enter your personal details, educational qualifications, subject preference and examination city choices.
7. Upload your live photograph and the required scanned photograph, signature and applicable certificates.
8. Review all details carefully before proceeding.
9. Pay the applicable examination fee through an authorised online payment method.
10. Submit the form and download the confirmation page.
11. Keep a printed or digital copy of the submitted application for future reference.

The application is accepted online only. Candidates should not send their application forms or confirmation pages to NTA by post, fax, email or other offline methods.

Documents Required

Keep the following information and documents ready before applying:

• Valid email address and mobile number.
• Personal details and educational qualification information.
• Recent passport-size photograph in the prescribed format.
• Live photograph captured during the application process.
• Scanned signature.
• Valid identity proof, where required by the chosen verification method.
• Category certificate, if applicable.
• PwD/PwBD or UDID certificate, where applicable.
• Result-awaited attestation form, if applicable.
• Payment details for the examination fee.

The official bulletin specifies file formats and size limits for uploaded documents. Check those requirements before uploading any file.

Important Instructions

• Submit only one application form and avoid duplicate registrations.
• Use your own accessible email address and mobile number.
• Enter your name, date of birth, category and educational details accurately.
• Upload your own photograph, signature and relevant certificates.
• Keep your application number and password secure.
• Save the fee receipt and confirmation page after successful payment.
• Use the official correction window for changes to eligible fields.
• Check the official website and registered email regularly for updates.
• Download the admit card when it becomes available and follow the examination-day instructions.
• Do not carry prohibited electronic devices, calculators or unauthorised materials into the examination hall.
• Verify all dates, eligibility conditions and document requirements using the official information bulletin.

Important Links

Note: The official portal is the source for the live application form and notification. Check it for the latest announcements, downloadable documents and updates.

FAQs – CSIR UGC NET December 2026

1. When did the CSIR UGC NET December 2026 application process begin?

The online application process began on 7 October 2026.

2. What is the last date to apply for CSIR UGC NET December 2026?

The last date to submit the online application without a late fee is 5 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM.

3. What are the CSIR UGC NET December 2026 examination dates?

The examination is scheduled for 19, 22 and 27 December 2026.

4. What is the application fee for General category candidates?

The application fee for General category candidates is ₹1,150. Applicable payment charges may be additional.

5. What is the maximum age limit for JRF?

The maximum age limit for JRF is 30 years, with applicable relaxation for eligible categories and circumstances.

6. Is there an upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility?

No. The information bulletin specifies no upper age limit for applying under the Assistant Professor category.

7. Where can candidates apply for CSIR UGC NET December 2026?

Candidates can apply online through the official NTA portal at https://csirnet.nta.nic.in/.

Official Source & Disclaimer

This article is prepared using the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin issued by the National Testing Agency. Candidates should refer to the official notification for complete eligibility rules, examination instructions, fee conditions and subsequent updates.

SarkariResult.live is an independent educational and informational website. It is not affiliated with or operated by NTA, CSIR, UGC or any government department. The information provided here is for guidance only. Candidates should verify all details through the official website before applying.