
The National Testing Agency has opened online applications for the CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 exam. Candidates can apply at csirnet.nta.nic.in for Junior Research Fellowship, assistant professor eligibility, and PhD admission in five science subjects: chemical, earth and atmospheric, life, mathematical, and physical sciences. The exam is scheduled for 20 and 21 December 2026.

Eligible candidates include MSc or equivalent degree holders, as well as those with BE, BTech, BPharma, MBBS, or four-year science degrees under specified conditions. The maximum age for JRF is 30 years for general category, with relaxations for reserved categories, disabled candidates, and women. No age limit applies for assistant professor eligibility or PhD admission. The NTA will issue subject-wise exam dates, shifts, and centres in a later notice.
The application window for the December 2026 CSIR-UGC NET exam is now open, but the first cohort of candidates will face a compressed timeline: with the exam set for 20 and 21 December, applicants have just over two months to prepare. The test serves as the gateway to JRF, assistant professor eligibility, and PhD admission across five science disciplines, making it a critical milestone for thousands of recent MSc graduates and BE/BTech holders. The NTA has not yet released the subject-wise schedule or admit cards, which could test the agency's logistical capacity for an exam taken by candidates across India. The deadline to apply, yet to be announced in the source, will determine how many actually get a shot at this session.
Source: prabhatkhabar.com
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