NET/JRF
The University Grants Commission (UGC) conducts National Eligibility Test (NET) to determine eligibility for lectureship and for award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in order to ensure minimum standards in the teaching profession and research. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) conducts the UGC-CSIR NET for Science subjects.
The tests are conducted twice in a year generally in the months of June and December. UGC has a number of fellowships to the universities for the candidates who qualify the test. The JRFs are awarded to the meritorious candidates from among the candidates qualifying for eligibility for lectureship in the NET.
NET Schedule
UGC conducts NET twice a year, i.e., in the months of June and December. The notifications announcing the June and December examinations are published in the months of March and September respectively in the weekly journal of nation-wide circulation (Employment News).
Educational Qualification
BS-4 year’s program/ BE/ B.Tech/ B.Pharma/ MBBS/ Integrated BS-MS/ M.Sc. or Equivalent degree with at least 55% marks for General & OBC (50% for SC/ST candidates, Physically and Visually handicapped candidates).
Candidate enrolled for M.Sc. or having completed 10+2+3 years of the above qualifying examination are also eligible to apply under the Result Awaited (RA) category on the condition that they complete the qualifying degree with requisite percentage of marks within the validity period of two years to avail the fellowship from the effective date of award.
Such candidates will have to submit the attestation format (Given at the reverse of the application form) duly certified by the Head of the Department/Institute from where the candidate is appearing or has appeared.
B.Sc. (Hons) or equivalent degree holders or students enrolled in integrated MS-Ph.D programme with at least 55% marks for General & OBC candidates; 50% for SC/ST candidates, Physically and Visually handicapped candidates are also eligible to apply.
Candidates with bachelor’s degree, whether Science, engineering or any other discipline, will be eligible for fellowship only after getting registered/enrolled for Ph.D/integrated Ph.D. programme within the validity period of two years.
Age Limit
The age limit for admission to the Test is as under:
For JRF (NET): Maximum 28 years (upper age limit may be relaxed up to 5 years in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST/Person with Disability/Female Applicants & 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer) (As per GOI central list)).
For Lectureship (NET): No upper age limit.
Scheme of Test
CSIR-UGC (NET) Exam for Award of Junior Research Fellowship and Eligibility for Lectureship shall be a Single Paper Test having Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). The question paper shall be divided in three parts.
