The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released dates of the CSIR UGC NET December 2025 Examination and started the online entry of the applicants who wish to enter the field of research or higher education. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research University Grants Commission (CSIR-UGC NET) is a very prestigious national examination that qualifies a person to have a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and also Assistant Professor in Indian universities, learning institutions and colleges.
This test is mandatory to the postgraduates of the science stream who wish to pursue research jobs or even get some teaching post.
Key Highlights & Important Dates
- Starting Date of the application: 25 September 2025.
- Application Deadline using the Online System: 24 October 2025.
- Deadline for fee payment: 25 October 2025.
- Correction Window: 27 October 2025 -29 October 2025.
- Examination Date: 18 December 2025
- Investigative Procedure: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Authority Conducting National Tests Agency (NTA)
These dates should be remembered properly so that there are no cases of missing deadlines because no submissions or applications done late or halfway will be considered.
Purpose of the CSIR UGC NET Exam
CSIR UGC NET examination is actually taken to determine the eligibility of the candidates in the science domain. Subjects include:
- Life Sciences
- Chemical Sciences
- The Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean, and Planetary Sciences.
- Mathematical Sciences
- Physical Sciences
By passing the exam, candidates can be eligible to:
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Grants for PhD or advanced research.
- Assistant Professorship: Qualifications to apply to the teaching positions in the Indian universities and colleges.
NTA CSIR UGC NET Exam Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must review the eligibility norms before submitting their online forms.
Educational Qualification
- The candidates should possess a Master Degree or equivalent in a science subject with the necessary marks.
- General/Unreserved candidates must have a minimum of 55 percent postgraduate marks.
- Applicants of the SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), and PwBD are permitted with a percentage of 50 marks.
- The applicants must also be holders of four-year Bachelor’s degrees in related sciences according to the rules of the notification.
Age Limit
- In JRF, the age limit is fixed (55 years), though reserved categories like SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD are relieved.
- In the case of Assistant Professor / Lectureship, no maximum age is required.
Attempts
Candidates can appear multiple times as long as they meet the eligibility requirements at the time of application.
Application Process for CSIR UGC NET December 2025
The entire process is online. Interested candidates are expected to follow the following steps:
- Go to the official CSIR NET portal.
- Select CSIR UGC NET December 2025 and then select the link Apply Online.
- Create an account with minimum information like name, date of birth, mobile number, and email ID.
- Record the number of the application generated by the system and generate a password.
- Create an account and fill in the form that has detailed application information such as academic qualifications, personal details, and communication address.
- Select the topic that you would like to appear. They can only be subjected to one subject.
- Give preferences for exam cities out of the list.
- Submit a scanned version of the papers required, e.g.
- Recent passport-sized photograph.
- Signature
- Category certificate (where necessary)
- PwBD certificate (when available)
- Make payment in examination payment through debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.
- Send and print the acknowledgement page to be used later.
There will be a correction period between 27 October and 29 October 2025 to allow the candidates to correct the errors in the restricted areas.
Examination Pattern for NTA CSIR UGC NET
The CSIR UGC NET is conducted in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) form and is a question-and-answer-based test.
- Formatting: The test is further split into three sections:
- Part A: General aptitude, logical reasoning, and numerical ability.
- Part B: Moderate level subject matter questions.
- Part C: Advanced questions evaluating the scientific concepts and knowledge application.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Type of question: Multiple Choice Question (MCQs).
- Marking Scheme: + 2 correct answers, -1 incorrect responses in certain questions.
NTA CSIR UGC NET Exam Fee Details
The application fee is different according to the category:
- General / Unreserved: Around ₹1,150
- OBC / EWS: Around ₹600
- SC / ST / PwBD / Transgender: Around ₹325.
The payment of fees is to be done online by 25 October 2025. There are no other forms of offline payment.
NTA CSIR UGC NET Admit Card & Result Process
- Admit Cards: To be published on the internet before the examination date. The candidates are required to bring the admit card and a valid ID to the test center.
- Answer Keys: There will be a provisional answer key in which candidates will be given a period to raise objections.
- Final Result: Reported after the analysis of the difficulties, with subject-specific cut-offs and eligibility for the position.
- Certificate: Depending on the results, eligible candidates are given an e-certificate of JRF or Assistant Professor, and in valid terms as per the UGC/CSIR requirements.
Preparation Tips for Aspirants
- Know the syllabus in detail and emphasize the strengths and weaknesses.
- Pay attention to the books of NCERT in science subjects and standard reference materials.
- Attend past question papers to have an idea of how questions are set.
- Have a practice of speed and accuracy in the CBT format by trying online mock tests.
- Frequent rework of formulae, concepts, and schemas will assist in prompt recall.
- Keep track of the official announcements so as not to miss any updates and deadlines.
Summary Table
| Particular | Details |
| Exam Name | CSIR UGC NET December 2025 |
| Application Dates | 25 September to 24 October 2025 |
| Correction Window | 27 October to 29 October 2025 |
| Exam Date | 18 December 2025 |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Eligibility | Master’s in Science with required marks |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
NTA CSIR UGC NET Important Links
| Online Form | Click here |
| Official Website | Click here |
| Homepage | Click here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When is the CSIR UGC NET December 2025 application?
The applications start on 25 September 2025 and end on 24 October 2025.
Q2. What is the date of the CSIR NET December 2025 exam?
The test will be conducted on 18 December 2025.
Q3. Would you allow me to take more than one subject?
No, applicants are only allowed to apply in a single subject at a time.
Q4. Is there an age restriction for Assistant Professorship?
No, there is no age limit for candidates who want to apply for Lectureship/Assistant Professor.
Q5. What will be the declaration of the results?
The results will be published online by assessing the answer key challenges, and the qualified applicants will be awarded with eligibility certificates.
