CSIR will select the eligible candidates for the research fellowship award on the basis of their performance in the CSIR NET 2021. The test will be conducted at a national level and the candidates interested to pursue their research from top University/ Department/ National Laboratories can apply for the same. The eligibility test will be conducted twice a year- in June and December and the candidates can apply as per their convenience. Interested and eligible candidates can fill and submit their application in online mode as per the specified schedule.
CSIR NET 2021: Major Highlights
- The award of CSIR/ UGC Fellowship is for a fixed tenure and does not imply any guarantee for subsequent employment to the qualified candidates.
- The award of JRF (NET) to the successful candidates will depend on their finding admission/ placement in a university/ national laboratory/ institution of higher learning and research.
- If a successful candidate is found to be over-aged for JRF (NET) he/she will be automatically considered for Lectureship (NET) only.
- Choice for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or Lectureship (LS) can be provided by the candidates at the time of online application.
- In case a candidate submits more than one application form, only the last submitted application will be considered.
- The actual number of questions in each part and section will vary from subject to subject.
CSIR NET 2021 Important Dates
The tentative dates related to CSIR NET 2021 are provided in the table below.
| Events | Expected Dates | |
| For June exam | For December exam | |
| Release of official notification | February 2021, last week | September 2021, 3rd week |
| Availability of online application form | March 2021, 3rd week | September 2021, 4th week |
| Last date for submitting the application form | April 2021, 3rd week | October 2021, 3rd week |
| Starting of application correction | April 2021, 3rd week | October 2021, 3rd week |
| Last date to make correction in application | April 2021, 4th week | October 2021, 4th week |
| Issue of admit card | May 2021, 3rd week | December 2021, 1st week |
| Date of exam | June 2021, 3rd week | December 2021, 3rd week |
| Announcement of result | July 2021, 2nd week | March 2022/ April 2022 |
| Fellowship will be effective from | January 2022, 1st week | July 2022, 1st week |
CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2021
The basic pattern for CSIR NET 2021 exam is given below:
- Duration of exam: 3 hours
- Medium of exam: English or Hindi
- Mode of exam: Online
- Question paper parts: 3 (A, B & C)
- Type of questions: Multiple-choice questions
- Total marks: 200
- Negative marking: Provision for negative marking will be there.
- Part ‘A’ shall be common to all subjects. This part shall contain questions pertaining to General Aptitude including Logical Reasoning, Graphical Analysis, Analytical & Numerical Ability, Quantitative Comparison, Series Formation, Puzzles etc.
- Part ‘B’ shall contain subject-related questions covering the topics given in the syllabus.
- Part ‘C’ shall contain higher value analytical questions to test the candidate’s knowledge of scientific concepts and their application.
| Mathematical Sciences | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
| Total questions | 20 | 40 | 60 | 120 |
| Maximum questions to attempt | 15 | 25 | 20 | 60 |
| Marks per question | 2 | 3 | 4.75 | 200 |
| Negative marking | 0.5 | 0.75 | 0 | — |
| Physical Sciences | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
| Total questions | 20 | 25 | 30 | 75 |
| Maximum questions to attempt | 15 | 20 | 20 | 55 |
| Marks per question | 2 | 3.5 | 5 | 200 |
| Negative marking | 0.5 | 0.875 | 1.25 | — |
| Life Sciences | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
| Total questions | 20 | 50 | 75 | 145 |
| Maximum questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Marks per question | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
| Negative marking | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | — |
| Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Sciences | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
| Total questions | 20 | 50 | 80 | 150 |
| Maximum questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Marks per question | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
| Negative marking | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.32 | — |
| Chemical Sciences | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
| Total questions | 20 | 40 | 60 | 120 |
| Maximum questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Marks per question | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
| Negative marking | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | — |
Subjects of the test
The eligibility test will be held for the following subjects:
- Chemical Sciences
- Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Mathematical Sciences
- Physical Sciences
Syllabus
The syllabi for various subjects under CSIR NET are given below:
- Chemical Sciences: Chemical periodicity, Cages & Metal Clusters, Concepts of Acids & Bases, Atomic Structure & Spectroscopy, Statistical Thermodynamics, Solid State, Principles Of Stereochemistry, Organic Reactive Intermediates, Chemistry Of Natural Products, Organic Transformations & Reagents, etc
- Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences: The Earth and the Solar System, Earth Materials, Surface Features and Processes, Oceans and Atmosphere, Environmental Earth Sciences, Structural Geology And Geotectonic, Paleontology And Its Applications, Applied Geology, Geophysics, etc
- Life Sciences: Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology, Cellular Organization, Fundamental Processes, Cell Communication and Cell Signaling, Developmental Biology, System Physiology, Inheritance Biology, Diversity of Life Forms, Ecological Principles, Evolution and Behavior, etc
- Mathematical Sciences: Analysis, Complex Analysis, Linear Algebra, Topology, Ordinary Differential Equations, Numerical Analysis, Calculus of Variations, Classical Mechanics, Descriptive Statistics, Exploratory Data Analysis, etc
- Physical Sciences: Mathematical Methods of Physics, Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Electronics and Experimental Methods, Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Nuclear & Particle Physics, etc
Eligibility Criteria
The following eligibility criteria need to be fulfilled by the candidates who wish to appear for CSIR NET 2021:
Age limit:
- For JRF NET: The upper age limit is 28 years as on 1st January 2021 (for June exam) or 1st July 2021 (for December exam). SC/ ST/ PwD/ female candidates will get a relaxation of 5 years and OBC- NCL of 3 years in upper age limit.
- For Lectureship (LS NET): There will be no upper age limit for LS NET.
Educational qualification:
- The candidates with M.Sc or equivalent degree/ Integrated BS-MS/ 4-year BS/ BE/ B.Tech/ B.Pharma/ MBBS from a recognized university are eligible.
- Applicants should score a minimum of 55% marks (General/ OBC candidates) and 50% (SC/ ST/ PwD candidates) in the qualifying exam.
- Candidates who will complete the qualifying degree with requisite percentage of marks within the validity period of two years to avail the fellowship from the effective date of award can apply too.
- Such candidates will have to submit the attestation form duly certified by the Head of the current Department/ Institute.
- Those with B.Sc (Hons) or equivalent degree or those enrolled in Integrated MS-PhD program with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ ST/ PwD candidates) are also eligible to apply.
- Candidates with bachelor’s degree will be eligible for CSIR fellowship only after getting registered for Ph.D/ Integrated Ph.D program within the validity period of two years.
CSIR NET Application Form 2021
- The candidates will be able to apply online for CSIR NET 2021 by visiting the official website csirnet.nta.nic.in.
- Candidates first need to register themselves providing basic details like name, mobile number, email id, etc.
- After successful registration, the candidates can proceed with filling of the application form.
- Rest personal and educational details of the candidates will be asked in the application form.
- Scanned copies of photograph, signature, category certificate, PwD certificate and attestation form (for result awaited candidates) will be uploaded.
- After providing all the details into the application form, the candidates can submit it with the required application fee.
- After successful submission of online application, an application number will be auto-generated which must be kept safe.
- The candidates should take a printout of the filled-in application form and keep it safe for future reference.
Application fee
Payment of application fee can be done in online mode credit card or debit card or net banking.
Category-wise application fee for the NET exam is given below:
| Category | Application fee |
| General candidates | Rs. 1000/- |
| OBC-NCL candidates | Rs. 500/- |
| SC/ ST candidates | Rs. 200/- |
| PWD candidates | NIL |
Admit Card
- Successfully registered candidates will be able to download their admit card from the website csirnet.nta.nic.in.
- Admit card can be downloaded by the candidates using their application number.
- The admit card along with a photo identity proof and passport size photograph should be carried by the candidates to the exam center.
- Candidates without any of these documents will not be allowed to enter into the examination hall.
- Admit card will only be available online and will not be sent though post or any other means.
Result & Fellowship
- Merit lists will be prepared of the candidates who qualify their online test.
- Two separate merit lists will be prepared for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF NET) and for Eligibility Test for Lectureship (LS NET).
- Candidates qualifying for JRF NET will also be eligible for Lectureship NET subject to fulfilling the eligibility.
- Candidates qualifying for Lectureship will be considered for recruitment as Lecturers as well as for Junior Research Fellowship in a Scheme/ Project (not Regular JRF NET Fellowship).
- Fellowship of successful candidates will be valid for a period of two years from the date of its effectiveness.