CSIR NET December 2026: registration open till Nov 5, biotech paper merged with Life Sciences
By TUF News Desk · Published 11 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Applications close at 11:50 pm on November 5. That is the deadline research aspirants need to keep in mind, because the National Testing Agency opened registrations for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 examination on October 7. The exam itself will be held on December 19, 22 and 27 as a computer-based test.
The CSIR-UGC NET runs twice a year and decides eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes in science disciplines. NTA conducts the test on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the University Grants Commission.
Biotechnology gets a new combined paper
The biggest change this cycle is the merger of the Department of Biotechnology’s Biotechnology Eligibility Test (DBT-BET) into the CSIR-UGC NET Life Sciences paper. From the December 2026 session, both streams sit under one new discipline titled Life Sciences and Biotechnology (LS and BT).
That leaves the examination with five subject areas: Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences and Biotechnology; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences. NTA has released a revised syllabus for the new discipline through the information bulletin. Students who were preparing for the old DBT-BET or the older Life Sciences paper should read the updated syllabus before deciding their old notes still cover everything.
For biotechnology students in particular, this is a structural change worth taking seriously. One fewer separate test means one shared question paper and one shared merit list, so preparation now has to cover the combined syllabus rather than either of the older ones alone.
Important dates
- Registration and fee payment open: October 7, 2026
- Last date to apply: November 5, 2026, up to 11:50 pm
- Late registration with Rs 500 extra fee: November 6 to 9
- Application correction window: November 10 to 12, up to 11:50 pm
- Examination dates: December 19, 22 and 27, 2026
NTA has not yet announced the dates for the exam city intimation slip or the admit card. Those will be released separately on the official website.
How to apply
Applications are accepted only online through the official CSIR-UGC NET portal. Candidates register, fill in personal and academic details, upload the photograph and signature, and pay the fee through debit or credit card, net banking or UPI. Each candidate may submit only one form. Download the confirmation page after submission and keep a printout.
Get the paperwork in order before the deadline using our admission documents checklist. A rejection over a wrong photograph size or a mismatched name spelling is easy to avoid and painful to fix after the correction window shuts.
What the exam looks like
The test is 180 minutes long, held in two shifts each day: 9 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm. Question papers are available in both English and Hindi. The JRF earned through this route is the standard path to funded full-time doctoral research at universities like the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, so the stakes go well beyond a single exam day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for CSIR UGC NET December 2026?
November 5, 2026, up to 11:50 pm. Candidates who miss it can still apply between November 6 and 9 by paying an additional Rs 500 as late fee.
What is the new discipline introduced this cycle?
Life Sciences and Biotechnology (LS and BT), created by merging the Department of Biotechnology’s Biotechnology Eligibility Test (DBT-BET) with the CSIR-UGC NET Life Sciences paper.
When and how will the exam be conducted?
On December 19, 22 and 27, 2026, in computer-based mode across two shifts daily, with papers in English and Hindi.
Who should apply for CSIR NET?
Postgraduate students and researchers in the five science disciplines who want eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship, Assistant Professor appointments, or PhD admissions at Indian universities and research institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for CSIR UGC NET December 2026?
November 5, 2026, up to 11:50 pm. A late registration window with a Rs 500 fee runs from November 6 to 9.
What is the new discipline in the December 2026 cycle?
The Department of Biotechnology's Biotechnology Eligibility Test (DBT-BET) has been merged into the Life Sciences paper, creating a new discipline called Life Sciences and Biotechnology.
When and how will the CSIR NET December 2026 exam be held?
On December 19, 22 and 27, 2026, as a computer-based test in two daily shifts, with question papers in English and Hindi.
What does qualifying CSIR NET get you?
Eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship, appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes in science disciplines.
Sources: Business Standard, Times Now, The Telegraph India, NTA