The month of February is slipping away, and the silence from the National Testing Agency (NTA) regarding the CSIR NET June 2026 Notification Date is becoming a cause of anxiety for thousands of aspirants. If you are checking the official website daily hoping for the information bulletin, you are not alone.
After the declaration of the December session results, the cycle for June 2026 has officially begun. However, social media rumors and fake circulars have created significant confusion about whether the exam will be held in June or postponed to July. In this detailed analysis, we decode the expected timeline for the NTA CSIR NET Notification 2026 PDF based on past trends.
Wait! While you wait for the NET notification, did you check the latest permanent govt vacancies? See NCERT Recruitment 2026 (117 Posts) here.
📅 Expected Timeline
Based on the previous NTA exam cycles, here is the most probable schedule for the June 2026 session:
| Notification Release | 2nd Week of March 2026 (Expected) |
| Application Start | Mid-March 2026 |
| Exam Date | 3rd Week of June 2026 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
CSIR NET Exam Date June 2026 (Expected)
Why is there a delay? Usually, NTA requires a gap of at least 90 days between the notification release and the examination date. If the exam is to be conducted in mid-June 2026, the notification strictly needs to be released by March.
Let’s look at the data from the last 3 years to understand the pattern:
| Session | Notification Date | Exam Date | Gap (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2025 | March 10 | June 06-08 | ~ 88 Days |
| June 2024 | March 14 | July 25 (Postponed) | ~ 100+ Days |
| June 2026 | Mid-March (Expected) | Mid-June (Expected) | — |
Analysis: As you can see, NTA consistently releases the notification in the second week of March. Therefore, candidates are advised not to panic. The link for the application form will likely be active on the official website csirnet.nta.ac.in very soon.
CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria 2026 & Age Limit
Before filling out the CSIR NET Application Form 2026, it is critical to verify if you meet the specific educational and age requirements. NTA follows strict rules, and any discrepancy found later will lead to the cancellation of your JRF award.
1. Educational Qualification
Candidates must hold an M.Sc. or equivalent degree/Integrated BS-MS/BS-4 Years/B.E./B.Tech/B.Pharma/MBBS with the required percentage of marks.
| Category | Minimum Marks Required |
|---|---|
| General (UR) / EWS / OBC | 55% (Without Rounding Off) |
| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender | 50% (Without Rounding Off) |
Are you in the final year of your M.Sc? You can still apply under the “Result Awaited” (RA) category. However, you must submit your final mark sheet with the required percentage within 2 years of the result declaration.
2. The Age Limit Trap (Read Carefully)
This is where most students get confused. The age limit is different for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and the Lectureship (LS)/Assistant Professor role.
- For JRF (Junior Research Fellowship): Maximum 28 Years* as on 01/01/2026.
- For Lectureship (LS) / Assistant Professor: There is NO Upper Age Limit. You can apply at any age.
*Note: The JRF age limit is subject to change as per the final notification. Sometimes NTA relaxes it to 30 years, but the standard rule is 28 years.
If you are applying for JRF, ensure your age is within the limit. If you exceed the age limit, you will automatically be considered for Lectureship (LS) only, even if you score high enough for JRF.
Age Relaxation Rules:
Relaxation in the upper age limit for JRF is provided to reserved categories:
- SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender: Up to 5 Years
- Female Applicants (All Categories): Up to 5 Years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): Up to 3 Years
3. Subject Codes & Eligibility
Ensure you choose the correct subject code based on your Master’s specialization.
| Subject Name | Subject Code |
|---|---|
| Chemical Sciences | 701 |
| Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Sciences | 702 |
| Life Sciences | 703 |
| Mathematical Sciences | 704 |
| Physical Sciences | 705 |
CSIR NET Chemical Science & Physical Science Exam Pattern 2026
Whether you are appearing for Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, or Chemical Sciences, the exam structure follows a standard Computer Based Test (CBT) format. The paper is of 200 Marks with a duration of 3 Hours.
The question paper is divided into three sections. Understanding this structure is half the battle won:
| Section | Nature of Questions | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Part A (General Aptitude) | Common for all subjects. Logical Reasoning, Graphical Analysis, Numerical Ability. | Scoring area. Do not ignore this. |
| Part B (Subject Core) | Subject-specific conventional questions (MCQs). Covers the basic syllabus. | Focus on accuracy and memory-based concepts. |
| Part C (Higher Order) | Analytical questions testing scientific concepts and application. | Game Changer. Higher marks per question. |
Be careful! There is a negative marking of 25% (0.5 or 1 mark depending on the section) for every wrong answer. It is better to skip a question than to guess blindly.
CSIR NET Life Science Syllabus 2026 PDF & Other Subjects
The syllabus for CSIR NET is vast. NTA rarely changes the core syllabus, so you should start your preparation based on the existing curriculum. The syllabus for Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Earth Sciences is available on the HRDG website.
(We will provide the direct download link for the Syllabus PDF in the “Important Links” section below.)
CSIR NET JRF Fellowship Amount 2026: The Motivation
Why do lakhs of students compete for this exam? It’s not just about the Ph.D. admission; it’s about financial independence. The CSIR JRF Fellowship amount was hiked recently, making it one of the most attractive scholarships in India.
If you crack the JRF Cut Off 2026, here is what you will earn:
| Tenure | Designation | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| First 2 Years | JRF (Junior Research Fellow) | ₹ 37,000 + HRA* |
| Next 3 Years | SRF (Senior Research Fellow) | ₹ 42,000 + HRA* |
| Annual Grant | Contingency Grant | ₹ 20,000 per year |
*Note: HRA (House Rent Allowance) varies from 9% to 27% depending on the city (X, Y, Z category). In metro cities like Delhi or Mumbai, the total in-hand JRF amount crosses ₹ 45,000 per month.
CSIR NET Application Form 2026 Official Website & Steps
Once the notification is released, the application window will remain open for approximately 30 days. Candidates must apply online through the official NTA portal. Offline forms are not accepted.
- Scanned Photograph (10 kb to 200 kb).
- Scanned Signature (4 kb to 30 kb).
- Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) if applicable.
- PwD Certificate (if applicable).
- Valid Email ID and Mobile Number for OTP.
Step-by-Step Guide to Apply Online
- Step 1: Visit the official website: csirnet.nta.ac.in.
- Step 2: Click on the link “CSIR NET June 2026 Registration”.
- Step 3: Click on “New Registration” and download the Information Bulletin.
- Step 4: Fill in the registration details to generate your Application Number and Password.
- Step 5: Login and fill the complete application form (Personal details, Exam Centre choice, Subject code).
- Step 6: Upload the scanned documents in the prescribed format.
- Step 7: Pay the examination fee online (Net Banking/Credit Card/UPI).
- Step 8: Download and print the Confirmation Page for future reference.
Important Links for CSIR NET 2026
Here are the direct official links. We advise you to check the official website regularly for the latest public notice.
| Resource | Direct Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website (NTA) | Visit Site |
| Syllabus Download (HRDG) | Check Syllabus |
| Previous Year Papers | Download from NTA Archive |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When will the CSIR NET June 2026 notification be released?
As per current trends and previous year cycles, NTA is expected to release the official notification PDF in the second week of March 2026.
2. What is the CSIR NET 2026 Registration Last Date?
Usually, NTA provides a window of 30 days. If the forms are out in mid-March, the last date to apply will likely be in mid-April 2026.
3. Will the CSIR NET Cut Off 2026 be higher?
The cut-off depends on the difficulty level of the exam. However, with the increase in fellowship amount, competition has increased, which might lead to a slightly higher cut-off for JRF this year.
4. Can I apply for both JRF and Lectureship?
Yes, you can apply for “JRF & LS”. If you clear the JRF cut-off, you are eligible for both. If you only clear the LS cut-off, you are eligible for Assistant Professor only. If you are overage for JRF, you will only be considered for LS.
Conclusion
The CSIR NET June 2026 cycle is just around the corner. Instead of worrying about the delay, use this extra time to strengthen your Part C concepts. The notification can drop any day now. Keep your documents ready and stay consistent with your revision.
Stay tuned to ResearchPhD.in for the fastest updates on the notification release.
Shyam Giri is the Founder and Lead Editor at ResearchPhD.in. With a deep understanding of the Indian higher education landscape, Shyam specializes in decoding complex PhD admission processes, UGC NET strategies, and academic career planning. His mission is to empower students with authentic, research-backed information to help them secure their seats in top universities.
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