National Testing Agency (NTA) has invited Online Applications for the Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2025. Computer-Based Test (CBT) to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for ‘Award of Junior Research Fellowship and appointment as Assistant Professor’ (Category 1), ‘Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD.’ (Category 2) and ‘Admission to PhD only’ (Category 3) in Indian universities and colleges.
Examination will be held in (i) Chemical Sciences, (ii) Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, (iii) Life Sciences,(iv) Mathematical Sciences and (v) Physical Sciences.
Eligibility: Applicant should hold a Master’s Degree/equivalent with at least 55% marks (without rounding off) [50% marks for OBC NCL/SC/ST/PwD/ Third gender category]. PhD degree holders whose Master’s level examination has been completed by 19 September 1991 (irrespective of date of declaration of result) need only 50% marks.
Those pursuing A Master’s degree/equivalent or those awaiting results of their qualifying Master’s degree or those whose qualifying examinations have been delayed may also apply provisionally. They will be considered eligible for NET only after they have passed their Master’s Degree/equivalent examination with the prescribed marks.
Such candidates must complete their Master’s degree/equivalent examination within two years from the date of the NET result with the required percentage of marks. However, those who qualify for ‘Admission to PhD. Only those’ must complete their Master’s degree or equivalent examination within one year from the date of the NET result.
Those with a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree can also apply. They should have a minimum 75% marks [70% marks for SC/ ST/ OBC (NCL)/ EWS/ Differently-Abled, and other categories]/equivalent grade. Such candidates qualifying in NET will be eligible for the award of JRF and for admission to PhD, but will not be eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor.
Those pursuing Four Year/8 eight-semester bachelor’s Degree Programme and are in their last semester/year may also apply provisionally. They shall be considered eligible for the award of JRF/admission to PhD only after fulfilling the requirements within two years (if qualified for the award of JRF)/within one year (if qualified for admission to PhD only) from the date of declaration of the NET result.
Those with a Four-Year Bachelor’s Degree Programme are allowed to appear in a subject in which they want to pursue a PhD, irrespective of the discipline in which they have obtained the four-year bachelor’s degree.
Upper Age limit: (a) JRF: Not more than 30 years as on 1.12.2025. A relaxation of up to 5 years is provided to candidates belonging to OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third gender categories and to women applicants. Relaxation will also be provided to certain other categories, details of which are given in the Information Bulletin (b). Assistant Professor/Admission to PhD: There is no upper age limit for applying.
Application can be submitted online at https://csirnet.nta.nic.in/, latest by 11.50 pm on 24 October 2025. Application Fee is Rs. 1150/- (Rs. 600/- for General-EWS/OBC(NCL) and Rs. 325/- for SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender). Application fee can be paid through Credit/Debit Card/Net Banking/UPI up to 11.50 pm on 25 October 2025.
Correction in Particulars of Application Form can be done online from 27 October 2025 to 11.50 pm on 29 October 2025. Intimations regarding the Announcement of the City of Examination and downloading of Admit Cards from the NTA website will be intimated later on the website.
The stipend of a JRF selected through CSIR- NET will be Rs. 37,000/- per month for the first two years. In addition, an annual contingent grant of Rs. 20,000/- is reimbursed directly to the fellow. On Completion of two years as JRF and if the Fellow is registered for PhD, the Fellowship will be upgraded to SRF (NET) and the stipend will be increased to Rs. 42,000/- per month for the 3rd and subsequent years, based on assessment of Fellows’ research progress/ achievement. For any queries or /clarifications, candidates can call the NTA Help Desk at 011-40759000 or write to NTA at [email protected].
