CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 deadline extended: NTA’s public notice dated 5 November 2026 extends the last date for online application and successful examination-fee payment to 9 November 2026, 11:50 PM. The notice says the extension is without late fee. Candidates who have not completed the application should use the revised schedule and avoid the final-hour rush.
Revised schedule
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Application and fee | 9 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM |
| Correction window | 10–12 November, up to 11:50 PM |
| Exam-city slip | To be announced |
| Admit card | To be announced |
| CBT | 19, 22 and 27 December 2026 |
| Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
The December 2026 Information Bulletin describes an objective-type CBT, with shifts 9 AM–12 noon and 3 PM–6 PM. Individual centre, date and shift will be specified on the admit card. The examination calendar is a planning reference; candidates should rely on later NTA notices for city slips and hall tickets.
What the Joint CSIR-UGC NET tests
The examination supports eligibility pathways for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor and/or PhD admission, according to the applicable category and rules. Qualifying does not itself guarantee a fellowship, faculty appointment or PhD seat; institutions make their own selections and apply their eligibility conditions.
The five subject areas are Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences and Biotechnology; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences. Use the current subject-wise syllabus and bulletin for paper structure, eligibility and marking rules.
DBT-BET integration and Life Sciences & Biotechnology
A major change from this cycle is the integration of the Department of Biotechnology’s Biotechnology Eligibility Test (DBT-BET) into the CSIR-UGC NET Life Sciences route. The December 2026 bulletin provides a Life Sciences & Biotechnology (LS&BT) discipline/syllabus framework. Candidates previously preparing for DBT-BET should not assume that the former separate exam and syllabus arrangement remains unchanged: study the current CSIR bulletin and revised subject syllabus before selecting the paper.
Application fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General | ₹1,150 |
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender | ₹325 |
Bank/payment gateway charges and applicable GST may be additional. The original bulletin listed a ₹500 late-fee window; the latest 5 November notice supersedes the earlier dates and extends the form and fee to 9 November without late fee.
Application checklist
- Open the official CSIR-UGC NET portal and choose December 2026.
- Read the Information Bulletin for eligibility, documentation and subject rules.
- Fill personal/academic details, select the correct subject and exam-city choices.
- Upload photograph, signature and required certificates in the prescribed format.
- Pay before 9 November, 11:50 PM; download and save the confirmation page.
- Use the correction window only for permitted fields, 10–12 November.
- Monitor NTA for city intimation and admit card.
For preparation, make a unit-wise syllabus tracker, combine concept revision with numerical/problem practice and analyse previous papers by question type. LS&BT applicants should map the revised syllabus rather than rely only on older DBT-BET materials.
Official extension notice: NTA notice dated 5 November. Official bulletin: December 2026 Information Bulletin. Also see DailyGKUpdate’s Teaching & Research Exams Hub and Latest Articles.
