CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2026, Subject Wise Weightage, Marking Scheme

The CSIR NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test) is a national-level examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of CSIR. It determines candidates’ eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and appointment as Assistant Professors, as applicable under the prevailing UGC/CSIR rules.

The exam covers five subjects: Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. Candidates should understand the CSIR NET exam pattern and subject-wise syllabus to prepare effectively for the examination and pursue careers in research and higher education.

What Is the CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2026?

The CSIR NET 2026 exam is a computer-based test (CBT) conducted for five science subjects. The paper consists of three parts: Part A, Part B, and Part C, with a total of 200 marks and a duration of 3 hours. There is no break between the parts. The total number of questions, questions to attempt, marks per question, and negative-marking rules vary by subject.

CSIR NET December 2026 Notification

How Many Questions Are There in CSIR NET 2026?

The total number of questions and the number candidates can attempt depend on the selected subject. The subject-wise question distribution is given below.

Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences has the most questions (150). Physical Sciences has the fewest (75).

CSIR NET Exam 2026 Overview

The CSIR NET Exam 2026 is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for five science subjects. The exam consists of a single paper divided into Part A, Part B, and Part C, with each section testing different skills. The paper carries a total of 200 marks, and the number of questions to be attempted varies by subject. Since the marking scheme and negative marking are different for each subject, candidates should understand the exam pattern before starting their preparation.

CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2026 Subject-Wise

The CSIR NET exam pattern varies across the five science subjects. All papers contain Parts A, B and C, but the total number of questions, number of questions to attempt, marks per question and negative-marking rules differ by subject.

CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2026 for Chemical Sciences

The Chemical Sciences paper assesses candidates’ knowledge of chemistry through Parts A, B and C. Candidates should understand the question distribution, marking scheme and negative-marking rules before the examination.

• Total questions: 120
• Questions to attempt: 75
• Marks per correct answer in Part A and Part B: 2
• Marks per correct answer in Part C: 4
• Negative marking: 25% for each incorrect answer
• Exam duration: 3 hours

CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2026 for Earth Sciences

The Earth Sciences paper covers areas such as geology, geophysics, ocean sciences and related disciplines. Candidates should review the question distribution and marking scheme to understand the structure of the examination.

• Total questions: 150
• Questions to attempt: 75
• Marks per correct answer in Part A and Part B: 2
• Marks per correct answer in Part C: 4
• Negative marking: 25% in Parts A and B and 33% in Part C
• Exam duration: 3 hours

CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2026 for Life Sciences

The Life Sciences paper evaluates candidates’ understanding of biology through objective-type questions. Reviewing the question distribution, marks and negative-marking rules can help candidates plan their preparation.

• Total questions: 145
• Questions to attempt: 75
• Marks per correct answer in Part A and Part B: 2
• Marks per correct answer in Part C: 4
• Negative marking: 25% in all three parts
• Exam duration: 3 hours

CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2026 for Mathematical Sciences

The Mathematical Sciences paper consists of three parts with different marks per question and negative-marking rules. Candidates should understand the number of questions to attempt in each part before planning their exam strategy.

• Total questions: 120
• Questions to attempt: 60
• Marks per correct answer in Part A: 2
• Marks per correct answer in Part B: 3
• Marks per correct answer in Part C: 4.75
• Negative marking applies to Parts A and B.
• Part C has no negative marking.
• Exam duration: 3 hours

CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2026 for Physical Sciences

The Physical Sciences paper tests candidates on concepts from different branches of physics. Candidates should review the question distribution, marks per question and negative-marking rules to prepare effectively.

• Total questions: 75
• Questions to attempt: 55
• Marks per correct answer in Part A: 2
• Marks per correct answer in Part B: 3.5
• Marks per correct answer in Part C: 5
• Negative marking: 25% in all three parts
• Exam duration: 3 hours

CSIR NET Previous Year Question Papers

CSIR NET Subject-Wise Weightage 2026

The CSIR NET question paper has three parts. Part A assesses general aptitude, while Parts B and C focus on subject knowledge at different levels.

CSIR NET Negative Marking Rules 2026

Candidates should understand the negative-marking rules before attempting questions in the CSIR NET examination.

• Negative marking applies across the subjects, but the deduction varies by subject and section.
• Mathematical Sciences has no negative marking in Part C.
• In the provided exam-pattern details, candidates who attempt more questions than the prescribed limit have only the permitted number of responses evaluated.

Why Is Understanding the CSIR NET Exam Pattern Important?

Understanding the CSIR NET exam pattern helps candidates plan their preparation and make informed decisions during the examination.

• Helps improve time management.
• Supports better question selection.
• Helps candidates account for negative marking.
• Makes subject-wise preparation more structured.
• Helps candidates focus on important sections and improve their overall score.