CSIR NET December 2026: NTA extends deadline to November 9, no late fee now
By TUF News Desk · Published 6 November 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Candidates who missed the November 5 cut-off for the CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 exam still have time to apply, and this time there is no extra charge. The National Testing Agency has extended the application deadline to November 9, 2026, at 11:50 pm, and said no late fee will apply during the extended window.
Under the schedule NTA published on October 7, regular registration closed on November 5, and forms filed between November 6 and 9 were to carry an additional Rs 500 late fee. That charge no longer applies. The last date for fee payment has also moved to November 9 at 11:50 pm.
According to NTA’s update, 2,23,395 candidates have registered for the exam so far, and 1,76,616 of them have completed the fee payment. Anyone who has registered but not paid must finish the payment by November 9 for the form to count.
What the exam decides
The Joint CSIR-UGC NET determines eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship, for appointment as Assistant Professor, and for admission to PhD programmes. The December session covers five subjects: Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences and Biotechnology; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences.
From this cycle, the Department of Biotechnology’s Biotechnology Eligibility Test has been merged into the Life Sciences and Biotechnology paper.
Exam dates and shifts
The test will be held in computer-based mode on December 19, 22 and 27, 2026, in two shifts each day, 9 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 6 pm, and the paper runs for three hours.
Candidates should read the information bulletin on the official portal before paying. It carries the subject-wise eligibility rules and the exam pattern, and the portal will also carry updates on the city intimation slip and the admit card.
Fees in the extended window
The application fee is Rs 1,150 for General candidates, Rs 600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL candidates, and Rs 325 for SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates. The Rs 500 late fee that was planned for November 6 to 9 will not be charged, so everyone who applies by November 9 pays the regular fee.
A form counts as submitted only after the fee has gone through, so keep the payment receipt and the confirmation page. Our admission documents checklist covers the papers exam and admission offices commonly ask for. Candidates aiming for the fellowship can also read our guide to scholarships for Indian university students.
How to apply
Applications are accepted only online through the official CSIR-UGC NET portal. Register on the portal, fill in the details exactly as they appear on supporting documents, upload the photograph and signature in the prescribed formats, pay the fee online, and download the confirmation page.
Submit only one form. Check personal details, qualifications and uploaded documents before submitting, because a second form does not fix the first one.
Correction window, and its limits
A one-time correction facility is scheduled from November 10 to 12, 2026, but only for the fields NTA lists when the window opens. No changes will be accepted after it closes, so a wrong photograph, a misspelt name or a wrong category entry may not be fixable later.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last date to apply for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026?
November 9, 2026, at 11:50 pm. No late fee will be charged during the extended window, and the fee payment deadline is the same time.
Was there a late fee for applying after November 5?
The original schedule charged an extra Rs 500 for forms filed between November 6 and 9. NTA’s extension removed that charge, so candidates can apply till November 9 at the regular fee.
When is the CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 exam?
The computer-based test will be held on December 19, 22 and 27, 2026, in two shifts each day, from 9 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 6 pm.
When can I correct my CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 application?
NTA has scheduled a one-time correction window from November 10 to 12, 2026. Only the fields NTA lists for that window can be edited.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last date to apply for CSIR-UGC NET December 2026?
November 9, 2026, at 11:50 pm. No late fee will be charged during the extended window, and the fee payment deadline is the same time.
Was there a late fee for applying after November 5?
The original schedule charged an extra Rs 500 for forms filed between November 6 and 9. NTA's extension removed that charge.
When is the CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 exam?
The computer-based test will be held on December 19, 22 and 27, 2026, in two shifts each day, from 9 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 6 pm.
When can I correct my CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 application?
NTA has scheduled a one-time correction window from November 10 to 12, 2026. Only the fields NTA lists for that window can be edited.
Sources: The Times of India, The Indian Express, National Testing Agency