Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test · National Testing Agency (CSIR)
Package
JRF: ₹37,000/month (1st 2 yrs) + ₹42,000 (SRF). Lectureship: ₹57,700+/month in colleges.
Difficulty
Hard
Date
Twice a year (June & December) — check csirnet.nta.ac.in
Company
National Testing Agency (CSIR)
CSIR NET qualifies candidates for Lectureship in science colleges and JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) for funded PhD programs in CSIR labs and universities. Covers 5 science subjects: Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Earth Sciences. JRF fellowship: ₹37,000/month.
Eligibility Criteria:
MSc/Integrated BS-MS/BS(4yr)/B.Pharma/BE/B.Tech/MBBS with 55% marks. Age under 28 for JRF; no age limit for Lectureship.
| Section | Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A — General Aptitude (all subjects) | 20 | 30 min | 30 |
| Part B — Subject MCQs (conventional) | 40 | 90 min | 70 |
| Part C — Analytical/Scientific MCQs (higher order) | 60 | 90 min | 100 |
Cutoff Score: JRF: top ~5% per subject. Lectureship: top ~16%. Cutoffs vary by subject.
Package on selection: JRF: ₹37,000/month (1st 2 yrs) + ₹42,000 (SRF). Lectureship: ₹57,700+/month in colleges.
Part C is the differentiator for JRF — it requires deep analytical understanding, not just memory.
Part A (30 marks) is the same for all candidates — ace it with standard aptitude prep.
Choose subject based on your MSc specialization — don't switch subjects.
Standard resources: PG university textbooks (Alberts for Cell Biology, Atkins for Chemistry, etc.).
Part B is scoring and doable — ensure 50+ out of 70 here for a strong base.
CSIR JRF is extremely competitive — start preparation 12 months before the exam.
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