Aspirants aiming for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Lectureship positions through the National Eligibility Test (NET) must thoroughly understand the examination framework. Conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the test requires strategic preparation across various disciplines. For comprehensive details on preparation, you can review the general CSIR NET Syllabus 2026- Click to check.
The examination is officially scheduled for 17th and 18th July 2026. Grasping the precise structure, question distribution, and negative marking rules is vital for maximizing your scores. Once the exam concludes, candidates can track performance outcomes through the CSIR NET Result 2026 Out - Click to Check portal and evaluate benchmarks via the CSIR NET Cut Off 2026 - Click to Check page.
CSIR NET 2026 Exam Structure & General Overview
The assessment consists of 200 total marks evaluated across a single question paper spanning a 3-hour duration. The medium of the examination is bilingual, available in both English and Hindi. The paper is broken down into 3 primary sections: Part A, Part B, and Part C.
Part A remains uniform and mandatory for all candidates, focusing on general aptitude. Meanwhile, Parts B and C are entirely tailored to the candidate's chosen discipline.
Subjects Covered in CSIR NET 2026
Candidates can choose from five distinct subject disciplines depending on their academic background and specialization:
- Chemical science (refer to the CSIR NET Chemical Science Syllabus 2026 - Click to Check for details)
- Earth science
- Life science (explore the CSIR NET Life Science Syllabus 2026 - Click to Check for core topics)
- Mathematical Science
- Physical Science
Summary Table: CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2026
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Council of Scientific Research National Eligibility Test |
| Papers | Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences and Physical Sciences |
| Total Questions | Chemical Science - 75 out of 120 Life Science - 75 out of 145 Mathematical Science - 60 out of 120 Earth Sciences - 75 out of 150 Physical Science - 55 out of 75 |
| CSIR NET Exam Date 2026 | 17th and 18th July 2026 |
| Exam Time | 3 hours |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Paper Language | English and Hindi |
| Total Parts | 3 |
| Negative marking | Varies per subjects |
Subject-Specific Marking Schemes and Question Layouts
Each discipline features a distinct division of questions across Parts A, B, and C along with specific attempt limits and marking metrics.
Chemical Sciences
In Chemical Sciences, candidates attempt 75 out of 120 total questions.
| Particulars | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 20 | 40 | 60 | 120 |
| Max. number of questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Per Question Marks | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
Earth Sciences
In Earth Sciences, candidates are required to attempt 75 out of 150 questions.
| Particulars | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 20 | 50 | 80 | 150 |
| Max. number of questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Per Question Marks | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
Life Sciences
In Life Sciences, candidates attempt 75 out of 145 total questions.
| Particulars | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 20 | 50 | 70 | 145 |
| Max. number of questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Per Question Marks | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
Mathematical Sciences
In Mathematical Sciences, candidates attempt 60 out of 120 total questions.
| Particulars | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 20 | 40 | 60 | 120 |
| Max. number of questions to attempt | 15 | 25 | 20 | 60 |
| Per Question Marks | 2 | 3 | 4.75 | 200 |
Physical Sciences
In Physical Sciences, candidates attempt 55 out of 75 total questions.
| Particulars | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 20 | 25 | 30 | 75 |
| Max. number of questions to attempt | 15 | 20 | 20 | 55 |
| Per Question marks | 2 | 3.5 | 5 | 200 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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