National Testing Agency opens application window for December 2026 NET exams

The National Testing Agency has opened the online registration process for the December 2026 session of the Joint CSIR UGC NET examination. Eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the official website at csirnet.nta.nic.in.

Important Dates and Fees

The final date to submit the online application form and pay the examination fee is November 5, 2026, up to 11:50 pm. For applicants who miss this initial deadline, a late registration window will operate from November 6 to November 9, 2026, requiring an additional late fee of Rs 500 up to 11:50 pm on November 9. Following this, an application correction window will remain open from November 10 to November 12, 2026, until 11:50 pm. According to the Hindustan Times - Education report, the standard application fee is Rs 1150 for General category candidates, Rs 600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL candidates, and Rs 325 for SC, ST, PwD, PwBD, and Third Gender candidates. Payment can be made via Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI, with processing charges and GST applied separately by the payment gateway.

Exam Schedule and Format

The computer-based test will take place on December 19, 22, and 27, 2026, across exam centres nationwide. The test runs in two daily shifts: the first shift from 9 am to 12 noon, and the second shift from 3 pm to 6 pm. Each exam lasts 180 minutes and covers five specific subjects, which are Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. Question papers will be available in both Hindi and English, featuring objective-type multiple-choice questions across three parts with no breaks between papers.

Context

The National Testing Agency conducts national-level eligibility exams to determine the qualifications of Indian nationals for Junior Research Fellowships, Assistant Professor posts, and PhD admissions in universities and colleges across the country. Candidates must monitor the official portal regularly for upcoming updates regarding city intimation slips and admit card release dates.