National Testing Agency specifies the CSIR UGC NET eligibility criteria 2026 for June session in the official notification. The CSIR UGC NET 2026 notification can be downloaded at csirnet.nta.nic.in. The CSIR NET eligibility criteria provides information about the conditions candidates must meet to become a Lecturer or to receive a Junior Research Fellowship. Only those candidates who fulfil the eligibility criteria can apply for the CSIR NET exam.

Before filling out the application form, candidates must confirm that they are eligible by going through the CSIR NET eligibility criteria. The CSIR UGC NET 2026 eligibility criteria are released for all fields of the exam. The CSIR NET 2026 eligibility Criteria have conditions based on nationality, educational qualifications & age of the candidates.

CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Determining Factors

There are certain parameters on which the authorities will decide the CSIR NET 2026 eligibility criteria. The factors that determine the CSIR NET eligibility criteria are given below:

• Nationality

• Age

• Educational Qualification

CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Nationality

A candidate must be an Indian citizen to be eligible to appear in the CSIR NET 2026 exam.

CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria 2026 Age Limit

The age limit for JRF from 28 to 30 years. However, age relaxation is provided to the reserved category candidates. For the position of Assistant Professor or for applying for PhD programs, there is no upper age limit. Check the category-wise age relaxation for JRF as per the eligibility criteria of CSIR NET 2026.

Relaxation in age limit for CSIR NET 2026

Note: There is no upper age limit as per the CSIR NET eligibility criteria for Joint CSIR UGC-NET for Assistant Professor/ Joint CSIR-UGC-NET for Admission to PhD.

Quick Links

• CSIR NET 2026 exam pattern

• CSIR NET 2026 exam centres

CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Education Qualification

• Candidates from general (UR) / general-EWS and OBC must hold an M.Sc. or equivalent degree / Integrated BS-MS with at least 55% marks and BS-4 years / BE / B.Tech / B. Pharma / MBBS with at least 75% marks in order to be eligible for CSIR UGC NET.

• Candidates who are currently enrolled in an M.Sc. course or have completed their graduation are also eligible for CSIR UGC NET 2026 under Result Awaited (RA) category given that they complete their degree with the required scores within two years.

• Candidates from SC/ST and persons with disability (PwD) category are required to attain a minimum of 50% marks in M.Sc. or equivalent degree / Integrated BS-MS / BS-4 years / BE / B. Tech / B. Pharma / MBBS.

• Candidates who hold a B.Sc (Hons) or equivalent degree or are currently enrolled in an Integrated MS-Ph.D program scoring a minimum of 55% marks for General candidates (50% marks for SC/ST/PWD) are also eligible for the exam.

• Bachelor’s degree holders are eligible for the fellowship given that they get registered/enrolled for Ph.D/Integrated PhD program within two years.

• Candidates who have completed their Master’s degree before September 19, 1992, will have a relaxation of 5% in their aggregate marks for appearing in NET.

• Candidates belonging to the Third gender category are eligible to enjoy the similar relaxation in fee, age and Eligibility Criteria for NET (i.e. JRF and Assistant Professor) as given to SC/ST categories. The subject-wise qualifying cut-offs for this category would be the lowest among those for SC/ ST/ PwD/ OBC–NCL / General-EWS categories in the particular subject.

Note:

• Candidates who hold only a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree must score a minimum of 75% to be eligible for the CSIR NET exam. Candidates who have an undergraduate degree and have qualified the CSIR NET exam will be eligible for the JRF award and to the admission to the Ph.D.

CSIR NET Subject-wise Educational Qualification 2026

Selection for Junior Research Fellowship and Lectureship

Candidates are required to specify the positions they are applying for at the time of filling out the CSIR UGC NET 2026 December application form. On the basis of eligibility, aspirants are required to give their preference in JRF and/ or LS.

• Candidates who are applying for JRF but also fulfil the CSIR NET eligibility criteria for Lectureship will be considered for both JRF & LS.

• In case a candidate is found to be over-aged for JRF (NET), he/she will only be considered for Lectureship (NET).

• Once a candidate enters their Option/preference in their CSIR NET application form, it will be considered final and no request for change will be entertained later.

• Candidates with M.Sc qualification or under the M.Sc Result Awaited (RA) category shall be eligible for a Lectureship (LS) subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria as laid down by the UGC.

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