Nov 5 Deadline: CSIR NET December 2026 Opens With Biotech Exam Merged

The National Testing Agency has opened the registration window for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2026 exam. You can apply online at csirnet.nta.nic.in until November 5. This cycle brings a major change: the Biotechnology Eligibility Test (DBT-BET) has been merged into a brand-new Life Sciences and Biotechnology paper, and the exam will run on December 19, 22, and 27.

The CSIR-UGC NET is one of the biggest national-level tests for science postgraduates. Clearing it decides who gets the Junior Research Fellowship, who becomes eligible for Assistant Professor posts, and who can apply for PhD admission. With the notification out on October 7, the December session is the next big date for research aspirants.

The biotech merger is the big change this time

For years, two separate exams served biology students. The CSIR-UGC NET Life Sciences paper and the Department of Biotechnology’s Biotechnology Eligibility Test (DBT-BET) ran on different tracks. That changes now. NTA has merged the two into a single new discipline called Life Sciences and Biotechnology (LS and BT), starting with the December 2026 cycle.

This matters if you were preparing for either paper. The old DBT-BET no longer exists as a standalone test, and the new combined paper comes with a revised syllabus, available in the official CSIR information bulletin. Read it before you finalise your preparation. Old study material will not fully match the new paper.

The merger of the two biology exams into one paper is the biggest structural change in the CSIR NET in years. If you are a life sciences or biotech postgraduate, your preparation plan needs a fresh look before November 5.

One reassurance: fellowships funded by the Department of Biotechnology will still be administered by DBT itself. Only the testing framework has changed, and CSIR will not carry any financial liability for those fellowships.

Key dates: mark November 5 on your calendar

Here are the dates that matter:

• Application window: October 7 to November 5, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM)
• Late fee window: November 6 to 9, 2026 (extra Rs. 500, fee payment by 11:50 PM on Nov 9)
• Correction window: November 10 to 12, 2026
• Exam dates: December 19, 22, and 27, 2026
• Exam city and admit card: NTA will announce these separately on the official portal

Students who applied for the UGC NET December 2026 round heard the same advice: finish your form early, and treat the late-fee window as a backup, not a plan.

What the new LS and BT paper looks like

The test stays computer-based and bilingual, with five subjects this cycle: Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences and Biotechnology; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences. Each paper runs three hours in two shifts: 9 AM to 12 noon and 3 PM to 6 PM.

The marking scheme for the new Life Sciences and Biotechnology paper is confirmed:

• Total questions: 145 (Part A has 20, Part B has 50, Part C has 75)
• Questions to attempt: a maximum of 75 (15 from Part A, 35 from Part B, 25 from Part C)
• Marks per correct answer: 2 marks in Parts A and B, 4 marks in Part C
• Total marks: 200
• Negative marking: 0.5 marks deducted for each wrong answer in Parts A and B, 1 mark in Part C

With 1 mark deducted per wrong answer in Part C, blind guessing will cost you. Picking 25 out of 75 questions is itself a strategy question, so practise under the new limits.

Who is eligible, and how to apply

You need a postgraduate degree in the relevant science discipline. The complete eligibility rules, including percentage requirements and relaxations, are in the official information bulletin. That document is the final word.

To apply:

1. Go to the official CSIR NET portal run by NTA.
2. Find the link for “Online Application for Joint CSIR UGC-NET December 2026”.
3. Register and note down your application number.
4. Log in, fill the form, and upload your documents in the asked format.
5. Pay the fee online and submit. Download the confirmation page and keep it safe.

Use only the official portal. NTA has warned candidates not to trust dates or links forwarded on social media. Exam city slips and admit cards will be announced only on csirnet.nta.nic.in.

What this means for research aspirants

The CSIR-UGC NET sorts candidates into three qualifying categories: JRF plus Assistant Professor eligibility and PhD admission, Assistant Professor eligibility and PhD admission, or PhD admission only. Your category depends on your score and the cycle’s cut-offs.

If a research career is your goal, this December session matters more than usual. A new paper means every serious candidate is adjusting, so the playing field is level. Apply before November 5, and keep watching the official portal for the admit card announcement. More updates like this appear in our education news section.