CSIR-UGC NET merges biotechnology test: apply by Nov 5, exam from Dec 19

By TUF News Desk · Published 15 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

One paper now covers biotechnology too

Applications for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 exam opened on October 7, and this cycle brings a structural change for bioscience candidates. The National Testing Agency has merged the Department of Biotechnology’s Biotechnology Eligibility Test with the CSIR-UGC NET Life Sciences paper. The combined paper will be called Life Sciences and Biotechnology (LS & BT), and the old standalone biotechnology test will not be held separately.

If you are applying this cycle, the dates matter more than the name change. The online application window closes at 11:50 pm on November 5, 2026. Candidates who miss it get a late-fee window from November 6 to 9 with an additional Rs 500, followed by a correction window from November 10 to 12 to fix errors in the submitted form.

Dates and exam format

The December session will run on December 19, 22 and 27. That replaces the earlier tentative calendar, which had marked December 20 and 21. The exam is computer-based, three hours long, and held in two shifts each day: 9 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 6 pm. Question papers are bilingual, in English and Hindi.

The exam covers five subjects this cycle: Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences and Biotechnology; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences. It remains the qualifying route for the Junior Research Fellowship, Assistant Professorship and PhD admission in science and technology fields.

What biotechnology candidates should do

The syllabus for the merged paper has been revised, and NTA points candidates to the official CSIR information bulletin rather than older preparation material for the separate Life Sciences or DBT-BET papers. Anyone who had been preparing for the standalone biotechnology test will need to check the new blueprint before continuing.

Apply on the official CSIR-UGC NET portal, and rely on that portal alone for the admit card and exam city announcements. NTA has said those will be released separately.

The fellowship angle is the one worth understanding before you fill the form. Our guide to scholarships for Indian university students explains how research fellowships like the JRF actually pay out once you qualify. And clearing the paper is only step one; our guide to choosing a university in India walks through what to compare when you pick where to register for a PhD.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last date to apply for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026?

November 5, 2026, at 11:50 pm. A late-fee window runs from November 6 to 9 with an additional Rs 500, followed by a correction window from November 10 to 12.

What changed for biotechnology candidates this cycle?

The DBT Biotechnology Eligibility Test has been merged with the CSIR-UGC NET Life Sciences paper into a new discipline called Life Sciences and Biotechnology (LS & BT). The standalone DBT-BET will not be held separately, and the syllabus for the merged paper has been revised.

When is the CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 exam?

December 19, 22 and 27, 2026. The exam is computer-based, three hours long, and held in two daily shifts (9 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 6 pm), in English and Hindi.

What does qualifying in CSIR-UGC NET lead to?

Eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship, Assistant Professorship, and PhD admission in science and technology fields at Indian universities and colleges.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: The Times of India (Education Times), Careers360, The Telegraph