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Annually, a significant number of candidates participate in the UGC NET (National Eligibility Test) and CSIR NET. The numbers even doubled as the exam is being held twice every year. These assessments play a pivotal role in establishing candidates’ eligibility for college and university-level lectureships. Additionally, they offer a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and enable individuals to pursue PhD studies in top institutions. With the same kind of offerings, being confused about the purpose of both exams is natural. The following article outlines the distinctions between UGC NET and CSIR NET.
UGC NET & CSIR NET
UGC NET (National Eligibility Test) & CSIR NET i.e. Both exams are held two times a year, in the months of June and December. However, there are many candidates who are confused between UGC- NET and CSIR NET. Actually, the purpose of conducting both these exams is the same, there is a difference in the subjects involved in that.
Both CSIR and UGC are two different bodies of the government, with their own respective NET entrance examination. While the CSIR conducts NET examinations for subjects of the Science stream, UGC conducts examinations of all the other streams and their respective subjects.
UGC NET Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who have secured at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in a Master’s Degree OR equivalent examination from universities/ institutions recognized by UGC in Humanities (including languages) and Social Science, Computer Science & Applications, Electronic Science etc. are eligible for this Test.
For Reserved Category: The Other Backward Classes(OBC) belonging to non-creamy layer/Scheduled Caste(SC)/Scheduled Tribe(ST)/ persons with disability(PwD) category candidates who have secured at least 50% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s degree or equivalent examination are eligible for this test.
CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria
M.Sc. or equivalent degree/ Integrated BS-MS/BS-4 years/BE/B.Tech/B.Pharma/MBBS with at least 55% marks for General (UR)/General-EWS and OBC candidates and 50% for SC/ST, Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates.
NET Exam Pattern
CSIR NET Exam Pattern
CSIR NET Examination will be going to be held for 5 subjects i.e. Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences and Mathematical Sciences. The candidates are advised to check out the following tables carefully and thoroughly.
- Total Exam Time: 3 hours
- Exam type: multiple-choice questions.
- The Test will consist of three parts i.e. Part A, B, C.
- Mode of Examination: Computer Based Test (CBT) only.
- There will be a negative marking @ 25% for each wrong answer.
UGC NET Exam Pattern
UGC NET 2024 Exam is conducted in online mode (Computer Based Test). The Computer-Based Test (CBT) will consist of two papers i.e. Paper-I & Paper-II. There will be no break between Paper I and Paper II. Both papers will consist of objective-type, multiple-choice questions. You will see the latest NTA UGC NET Syllabus Paper 1 & 2 in detail.
| UGC NET Exam Pattern | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | Marks | Number of Questions (All Are Compulsory) | Duration (First Shift) | Duration (Second Shift) |
| I | 100 | 50 | 03 hours (09:00 am to 12:00 pm) | 03 hours (03:00 pm to 06:00 pm) |
Age Limit:
| Post | Assitant Professor | Junior Research Fellow (JRF) |
| UGC NET | Nil | 30 Year |
| CSIR UGC NET | Nil | 28 Year |
JRF(Junior Research Fellowship) Stipend
The stipend of a JRF selected through CSIR/UGC NET will be Rs.37,000/- p.m for the first two years. In addition, an annual contingent grant of Rs.20,000/- per Fellow will be provided to the University / Institution.
The Fellowship will be governed by terms and conditions of CSIR, UGC or Research Scheme, as applicable. On Completion of two years as JRF and if the Fellow is registered for PhD, the Fellowship will be upgraded to SRF (NET) and the stipend will be increased to Rs.42,000/- p.m for the 3rd.
| UGC NET JRF Fellowship | CSIR NET JRF Fellowship |
Difference Between UGC NET & CSIR NET
CSIR NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test) and UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) are both national-level exams conducted in India, but they serve different purposes and focus on different subject areas.
| Content | CSIR NET | UGC NET |
| Subject Focus | CSIR NET is primarily focused on science subjects, including Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean, and Planetary Sciences. It is meant for candidates aiming to pursue research and teaching positions in scientific disciplines. | UGC NET covers a wide range of subjects, including humanities, social sciences, commerce, languages, computer science, and more. It is designed for candidates aspiring to become college and university professors or researchers in various academic disciplines. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Candidates with a postgraduate degree in relevant science subjects or a bachelor’s degree in engineering are eligible to apply for CSIR NET. | The eligibility criteria for UGC NET vary based on the subject. Generally, candidates need to have a postgraduate degree with a certain percentage of marks to apply. |
| Scope of Qualification | Qualifying for CSIR NET opens opportunities for a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and eligibility for lectureships in scientific institutions and universities. | Qualifying UGC NET makes candidates eligible for lectureship positions in colleges and universities. Additionally, candidates can also apply for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in disciplines other than science. |
| Exam Pattern and Syllabus | The exam pattern for CSIR NET includes a single paper with a combination of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and numerical answer-type questions. | The exam pattern for UGC NET includes multiple papers (Paper-I and Paper-II) with MCQs. The syllabus varies based on the chosen subject |
| Frequency of Exam | CSIR NET is generally conducted twice a year for science subjects. | UGC NET is conducted biannually for various subjects. |
| Certification and Funding | Successful candidates of CSIR NET receive the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and are eligible to apply for research positions in CSIR laboratories and other institutions. | Qualifying for UGC NET makes candidates eligible for lectureship positions and also for the award of JRF in some disciplines. |
Difference Between UGC NET, JRF and CSIR NET
Here’s a comparison table outlining the differences between UGC NET, JRF, and CSIR NET:
| Parameter | UGC NET | JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) | CSIR NET |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Eligibility test for Assistant Professorship and/or JRF in Indian universities and colleges | Fellowship awarded for research through UGC NET or CSIR NET | Eligibility test for JRF and Lectureship in CSIR labs and institutions |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of UGC | Awarded through UGC NET or CSIR NET | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) |
| Subjects | Humanities, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Environmental Science, etc. | Any subject eligible under UGC or CSIR NET | Science subjects such as Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Mathematical Sciences |
| Eligibility | Master’s degree with at least 55% marks (50% for reserved categories) | Master’s degree with the required percentage in eligible subjects | Same as UGC NET but only for Science streams |
| Scope | Qualifies candidates for Assistant Professorship and JRF | Supports research in universities, institutes, and laboratories | Qualifies candidates for JRF and Lectureship in CSIR labs and academic institutions |
| Financial Assistance | Not applicable | Monthly stipend for research work | Provides JRF and eligibility for Lectureship in Science subjects |
| Focus | Academics, teaching, and research in diverse fields | Research-based fellowship | Research aptitude and scientific disciplines |
| Validity | UGC NET qualification for Assistant Professorship is a lifetime | JRF is valid for 3 years, extendable for research purposes | Same as UGC NET, JRF validity is 3 years |
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