Overview
Introduction
This exam named as CSIR NET is conducted by CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) with the objective to determine the eligibility of the candidates of India, which is awarded with Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) /NET (National Eligibility Test) and also to determine eligibility for the appointment of Lecturers (NET) in a number of subjects that fall under the stream of Science & Technology. Exams conducted by CSIR are in the following areas:-
Chemical Sciences
Earth Sciences
Atmospheric Sciences
Ocean Sciences
Planetary Sciences
Life Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Physical Sciences
Educational Qualification
M.sc or equivalent degree/B.E./B.Tech/MBBS/B.Pharma/BS-4years/Integrated BS-MS with 55% marks for general and OBC-Non Creamy layer candidates and 50% of SC/ST, Persons with disability (PwD) candidates.
Candidates who enrolled for M.Sc or having completed 10+2+3 years of the above qualifying examination, candidates whose result are awaited (RA) are also eligible to apply to the condition that they complete their degree with the requisite percentage of marks within the validity period of two years to avail the fellowship from the effective date of the award.
These types of candidates will have to submit the attestation format (Given on reverse of the application form) duly certified by the Head of the Department/Institute from where the candidate appears or has appeared.
B. SC (Hons) or equivalent degree holders or students enrolled in Integrated MS-PhD program with at least 55 % marks for general and OBC (Non Creamy Layer) candidates; 50% marks for Sc/ST, persons with disability (PwD) are also eligible. The candidates who acquired only a bachelor’s degree will be eligible for the fellowship only after getting enrolled/registered for PhD/ Integrated PhD program within the validity period i.e. 2 years.
The eligibility for lectureship of NET qualified candidates depends on the subject to fulfilling the criteria laid down by UGC. PhD degree holders who have passed Master Degree with minimum 50% marks eligible to apply for Lectureship only.
Examination Centers
The exam will be conducted in more than 27 cities which are spread all over the India. Name of the centres is defined below
| Bhopal | Bangalore | Bhavnagar | Bhubaneshwar | Chennai | Chandigarh | Cochin | Guntur | Delhi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyderabad | Guwahati | Imphal | Jamshedpur | Jammu | Jorhat | Kolkata | Nagpur | Lucknow |
| Karaikudi | Pilani | Raipur | Srinagar | Udaipur | Pune | Roorkee | Thiruvananthapuram | Varanasi |
Any candidate may opt any of the above describe centers. No request for the change of the center would be granted, however, request in writing may entertain on the merits. If at any center the numbers of appearing candidates are not sufficient, then that particular center may be deleted or any other nearest center will be allotted to the candidate at the discretion of CSIR. No TA/ DA will be allotted to any candidate for attending the exam in any manner.
Age Limit
| Exam Name | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| JRF (NET) | Maximum 28 years at the time of appearing in the exam (This limit may be relaxed up to 5 years in case of SC/ST/OBC(non Creamy Layer)/ Persons with Disability and female applicants) |
| LS (NET) | No Upper Age Limit |
Examination Structure
There are three parts in the CSIR Question Paper named as (A, B & C) as per syllabus & Scheme of Exam
Part A: This is common to all subjects. This part contains questions related to General Aptitude with emphasis on logical reasoning, graphical analysis, numerical ability, quantitative comparison, puzzles, series formation and analytics etc.
Part B: This part contains Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) covering all the topics in the syllabus
Part C: This is the trickiest part of paper which contains the High Value Question which is designed to test the knowledge on Scientific Concept of the candidates. The questions are analytical in nature where it is necessary for the candidate to apply their scientific logic to reach the solution of the given Scientific Problem.
Note: The revised exam scheme and model Question paper may be seen at CSIR HRDG website https://csirnet.nta.nic.in/
MARKING SCHEME
Negative marking for wrong answers, wherever required, shall be applicable as per subject wise scheme of the exam. If in any case, question found to be wrong, benefit of marks will be given to only those candidates who attempt the question. No representation of Answer key after declaration of result will be entertained.
Syllabus
CSIR NET Syllabus -Part A
Part A consists of questions related to General Science, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analysis and Research Aptitude. It contains 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), and candidates are required to answer any 15 of them. Each question carries two marks.
| Section | Topics |
| Reasoning |
|
| Quantitative Aptitude |
|
| Data Interpretation & Graphical Analysis |
|
CSIR NET Syllabus - Part B & C
Candidates can find the subject-wise CSIR NET Syllabus 2025 in this article. The CSIR NET Syllabus for Parts B and C is important for candidates, as this section plays an important role in the CSIR NET Exam.
Life Science
- Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology
- Cellular Organization
- Fundamental Processes
- Cell Communication and Cell Signaling
- Developmental Biology
- System Physiology – Plant
- System Physiology – Animal
- Inheritance Biology
- Diversity of Life Forms
- Ecological Principles
- Evolution and Behavior
- Applied Biology
- Methods in Biology
Physical Science
- Mathematical Methods of Physics
- Classical Mechanics
- Electromagnetic Theory
- Quantum Mechanics
- Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics
- Electronics and Experimental Methods
Mathematical Science
- Analysis
- Linear Algebra
- Complex Analysis
- Algebra
- Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs)
- Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
- Numerical Analysis
- Calculus of Variations
- Linear Integral Equations
- Classical Mechanics
- Descriptive Statistics, Exploratory Data Analysis
Earth Science
- The Earth and the Solar System
- Earth Materials, Surface Features and Processes
- Interior of the Earth, Deformation and Tectonics
- Oceans and Atmosphere
- Environmental Earth Sciences
Exam Pattern
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) conducts the National Eligibility Test (NET) every year for various subjects, including Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. CSIR NET determines the eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Lectureship position. To prepare well, it is important for the candidates to have a clear idea of the syllabus and CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025. Read the article to know the exam pattern for all five subjects.
CSIR NET Exam Pattern
Candidates appearing for the CSIR Exam must understand the CSIR NET Exam Pattern and will consist of multiple-choice questions carrying a total of 200 marks, divided into three sections: Part A, Part B, and Part C. Part A is common to all subjects and tests the general aptitude of the candidates. Part B and C are subject disciplines, and the number of questions differs as per the selected subjects. In this article, the complete exam pattern for every subject has been given in a well-structured format.
CSIR NET Exam Pattern Subject-Wise
Before starting preparation for the National Eligibility Test (NET), candidates must be familiar with the CSIR NET Exam Pattern. The exam pattern for NET depends on the subject chosen by the candidates. Each subject has its own exam format, with varying numbers of questions. CSIR exam is conducted for 5 subjects:
- Chemical science,
- Earth science,
- Life science,
- Mathematical Science
- Physical Science.
CSIR NET Exam Pattern for Chemical Science
Students who want to start a career in chemistry as a Professor or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) must check the exam pattern for Chemical science. Candidates have to prepare each for all parts. The major subjects covered in the exam are organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, etc. This exam needs a detailed understanding of the subject to score good marks. The exam pattern for Chemical science is as follows.
- A total of 120 questions will be asked
- Part A and B- Each question carries 2 marks.
- Part C- Each question carries 4 marks
- ¼ marks will be deducted for each incorrect attempt
- 3 hours will be given to complete the paper
CSIR NET Exam Pattern for Earth Science
Candidates who are preparing for the CSIR Earth Science must focus on important topics like, Sedimentology, Geochemistry, The Earth and the solar system, Earth’s interior, tectonic plates, deformation, Oceans and atmosphere, etc. Also, the understanding of exam patterns is important and it is explained below.
- A total of 150 questions will be asked
- Part A and B- Each question carries 2 marks.
- Part C- Each question carries 4 marks
- 25% marks will be deducted for each incorrect attempt and 33% deducted in Part C.
- 3 hours will be given to complete the paper
CSIR NET Exam Pattern for Life Science
The CSIR NET Life Science exam pattern and marking scheme helps candidates to prepare the study plan for the exam. Topics in the Life Sciences syllabus include Photosynthesis, Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology, Developmental Biology, System Physiology Plant, System Physiology Animal, Inheritance Biology, Diversity of Life Forms, Cellular Organization, Fundamental Processes, Cell Communication and Cell Signaling etc. The table below provides more details on the exam pattern for better clarity.
- A total of 145 questions will be asked
- Part A and B- Each question carries 2 marks.
- Part C- Each question carries 4 marks
- 25% marks will be deducted in all parts for each incorrect attempt
- 3 hours will be given to complete the paper
CSIR NET Exam Pattern for Mathematical Science
Candidates who opted the Mathematical science must know the exam pattern and syllabus for the CSIR NET exam which consists of the following topics Analysis, Linear Algebra, Complex Analysis, Calculus of Variations, Linear Integral Equations, Classical Mechanics, Algebra, Numerical Analysis, Topology, Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs), etc.
- A total of 120 questions will be asked
- Part A gives 2 marks for each question, Part B gives 3 marks for each question, and Part C gives 4.75 marks for each question.
- 25% marks will be deducted in Part A and B and no negative marking in Part C.
- 3 hours will be given to complete the paper
CISR NET Exam Pattern for Physical Science
The exam pattern and marking scheme of the CSIR Physical Sciences paper help candidates to know the overview of the exam structure. This subject includes the core topics like Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Quantum Theory, Condensed Matter Physics, Nuclear and Particle Physics, and Atomic and Molecular Physics etc. To know important points on the exam pattern, the table below is provided.
- A total of 75 questions will be asked
- Part A gives 2 marks for each question, Part B gives 3.5 marks for each question, and Part C gives 5 marks for each question.
- 25% marks will be deducted in Part A, B and C
- 3 hours will be given to complete the paper
Eligibility Criteria
CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must fulfill the following criteria to apply for CSIR NET Session. Candidates applying for JRF must be 30 years or younger, while there is no age limit for those applying for Assistant Professor or Ph.D. admission through CSIR December NET.
| Parameters | Eligibility |
| Nationality | Indian citizen |
| Upper Age Limit (As of 1/10/2025) | JRF- 30 years Assistant Professor & Ph.D. Admission- No age limit |
| Education Qualification |
|
CSIR NET Application Fee
The applicants have to pay the CSIR NET application fee in online mode via debit card/credit card/internet banking. The category-wise application fee is as follows.
| Category | CSIR NET Application Fee |
| General | Rs. 1150/- |
| EWS/ OBC – Non-creamy layer | Rs. 600/- |
| SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender | Rs. 325/- |
| PwD | NIL |
Steps to Apply for CSIR NET
Candidates can apply for the CSIR Eligibility test for the session by following these simple steps.
PART I: Registration
- Register on the official website to get your Application Number.
- Enter basic details as per your Class 10 certificate:
- Full Name (No prefixes like Mr./Ms..), Mother’s and Father’s Name, Date of Birth (Format: dd/mm/yyyy), Use your own mobile number and email ID (only one per application).
- Email and phone number can’t be changed later, so be careful.
PART II: Fill the Complete Application Form
- You can edit your form before final submission.
- The form can be filled in multiple steps, you can save it as a draft and complete it later before the last date.
- Upload documents, pay the fee, and print the Confirmation Page.
- Form is considered submitted only after fee payment is successful.
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) should refer to the central list on www.ncbc.nic.in
- Enter gender, address with PIN Code, subject of the exam, and preferred exam cities carefully these cannot be changed later.
PART III: Upload Documents
Make sure all files are clear, scanned, and in correct specifications
Photograph
- Clear face, no cap/goggles, white background, 80% face visible.
- JPG/JPEG format only, 10 kb to 200 kb.
- Spectacles allowed if worn regularly.
- No computer-generated or altered photos.
Signature
- Full signature in running handwriting.
- Use blue/black pen on white paper.
- JPG/JPEG format, 10 kb to 50 kb.
PART IV: Pay Exam Fee
- Pay via Net Banking / Credit Card / Debit Card / UPI.
- Save a copy of the payment receipt for future reference.
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