CSIR NET December 2026: apply by November 5, or pay Rs 500 late fee till November 9
By TUF News Desk · Published 4 November 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Tomorrow is the last day to file the CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 form without paying extra. The National Testing Agency closes the regular registration window on November 5, 2026, at 11:50 pm, and the fee has to be paid by the same time for the form to count.
Anyone who misses that cut-off still gets a second chance, but it costs more. Applications will be accepted from November 6 to 9 with an additional late fee of Rs 500, and the last date for payment in that window is November 9 at 11:50 pm. After that, the window closes for this session.
What the exam is for
The Joint CSIR-UGC NET is the national test for science graduates who want a research or teaching career. Performance in it determines eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship, for appointment as Assistant Professor, and for admission to PhD programmes, depending on the category a candidate qualifies under. The December session will be held as a computer-based test on December 19, 22 and 27, 2026.
Candidates should read the information bulletin on the official portal before paying. It carries the subject-wise eligibility rules and the exam pattern for this cycle. The portal also carries updates on the city intimation slip and admit card.
Fees, including the late fee
The regular fee depends on the candidate’s category. General candidates pay Rs 1,150. General-EWS and OBC-NCL candidates pay Rs 600. SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates pay Rs 325. The Rs 500 late fee is added to the regular fee for forms filed from November 6 to 9.
Fee payment closes at 11:50 pm on the relevant last date. Keep the payment receipt and the confirmation page: a form counts as submitted only after the fee has gone through.
How to apply before the deadline
Applications are accepted only online through the official CSIR-UGC NET portal. Have the documents ready before opening the form, since the last-day rush is where most mistakes happen.
- Register on the portal and create login credentials.
- Fill in personal and academic details carefully, exactly as they appear on supporting documents.
- Upload a live photograph, a recent passport-size photograph and a signature in the prescribed formats.
- Pay the fee online through net banking, card or UPI.
- Download the confirmation page and keep a printout with the payment receipt.
Submit only one form. NTA has told candidates to check personal details, qualifications and uploaded documents before submitting, because a second form does not fix the first one. Our admission documents checklist covers the papers that exam and admission offices commonly ask for, and it is a useful cross-check before the form is locked.
The correction window, and its limits
A one-time correction facility will open from November 10 to 12, 2026. It helps, but only up to a point. NTA will allow edits only in the fields it lists when the window opens, and no changes will be accepted after it closes.
That limit is the reason to slow down on the first submission. A wrong photograph, a misspelt name or a wrong category entry may not be fixable later, and the correction window is not a second application window.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last date to apply for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 without a late fee?
November 5, 2026, at 11:50 pm. Applications submitted from November 6 to 9 carry an additional late fee of Rs 500.
What is the late fee for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026?
Rs 500, on top of the regular category fee. The last date for fee payment, including the late fee, is November 9, 2026, at 11:50 pm.
When can I correct my CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 application?
NTA will open a one-time correction facility from November 10 to 12, 2026. Only the fields NTA lists for that window can be edited, and no changes will be accepted after it closes.
When is the CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 exam?
The computer-based test will be held on December 19, 22 and 27, 2026. It determines eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship, appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last date to apply for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 without a late fee?
November 5, 2026, at 11:50 pm. Applications submitted from November 6 to 9 carry an additional late fee of Rs 500.
What is the late fee for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026?
Rs 500, on top of the regular category fee. The last date for fee payment, including the late fee, is November 9, 2026, at 11:50 pm.
When can I correct my CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 application?
NTA will open a one-time correction facility from November 10 to 12, 2026. Only the fields NTA lists for that window can be edited.
When is the CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 exam?
The computer-based test will be held on December 19, 22 and 27, 2026. It determines eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship, appointment as Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD programmes.
Sources: CareerIndia, Edex Live, Education Times