Joint CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET)

The Joint CSIR-UGC NET (National Eligibility Test) decides three things for a science graduate: whether you qualify for a Junior Research Fellowship, whether you are eligible to be appointed as an Assistant Professor (also called Lectureship), and whether you can be admitted to a PhD programme at an Indian university or college. The National Testing Agency conducts it on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), and has run the operational side of the test since December 2019.

It is a postgraduate-level test for the sciences. You are eligible if you hold a master's degree, or an equivalent qualification, in a relevant science subject and meet the prescribed minimum percentage. The test is set in five subjects: Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences. It runs as a computer-based test twice a year.

The paper is a single multiple-choice test in three parts. Part A carries general aptitude questions (logical reasoning, numerical ability and data interpretation) common to every subject, Part B holds subject-specific questions, and Part C sets higher-value questions on how you apply scientific concepts. Clearing the test qualifies you either for JRF or for Assistant Professor eligibility, depending on your score. JRF carries an upper age limit; Assistant Professor eligibility carries none.

Sources: About Joint CSIR-UGC, National Testing Agency · CSIR-UGC NET Examination, iPleaders