• Up to 5 years relaxation is available to eligible OBC-NCL candidates.
• Up to 5 years relaxation is available to SC / ST candidates.
• Applicable relaxation is available to PwD / PwBD candidates.
• Applicable relaxation is available to Third Gender candidates.
• Women applicants are eligible for relaxation according to the official rules.
• Research experience relaxation may be provided subject to prescribed conditions.
• Eligible Armed Forces service may also be considered according to the official rules.
• Total age relaxation under the stated grounds cannot exceed the prescribed maximum under the Information Bulletin.

Master’s Degree / Equivalent:

• General / Unreserved / General-EWS candidates require at least 55% marks in Master’s Degree or equivalent.
• OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD / PwBD / Third Gender candidates require at least 50% marks.
• Candidates pursuing a Master’s Degree or awaiting final qualifying results can apply provisionally subject to fulfilment of the prescribed conditions.

Four-Year Bachelor’s Degree Route:

• Candidates who have completed a 4-year / 8-semester Bachelor’s Degree require a minimum of 75% aggregate marks or equivalent grade.
• Applicable relaxation in marks is available to eligible categories according to UGC rules.
• Candidates qualifying through a four-year undergraduate degree can become eligible for JRF and admission to Ph.D..
• Such candidates are not eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor solely through the four-year Bachelor’s Degree route.

Illustrative Degree / Course Examples Mentioned in the Official Attestation Format:

• BS – 4 Year Programme
• B.E.
• B.Tech.
• B.Pharma
• MBBS
• Integrated BS-MS / Master’s
• M.Sc. or Equivalent

Candidates must still satisfy the complete eligibility provisions of the official Information Bulletin.

1. Chemical Sciences – 701
2. Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences – 702
3. Life Sciences – 703
4. Mathematical Sciences – 704
5. Physical Sciences – 705

• Examination Dates: 17-18 July 2026
• Exam Mode: Computer Based Test
• Number of Test Subjects: 5
• Examination Cities: 224
• Examination Centres: 352
• Registered Candidates: 1,87,739
• Provisional Answer Key Release: 16 August 2026
• Answer Key Challenge Ends: 18 August 2026 at 11:00 PM

• Question Paper
• Marked / Recorded Responses
• Question IDs
• Option IDs
• Provisional Correct Option
• Provisional Answer Key
• Questions available for challenge
• Submitted challenge summary
• Challenge payment status

• Application Number
• Password
• Case-Sensitive CAPTCHA

The official June 2026 candidate portal uses Application Number and Password. Candidates should not rely on unofficial pages asking for unrelated login details.

1. Visit the official Joint CSIR-UGC NET website.
2. Find Answer Key Challenges for Joint CSIR UGC NET June 2026.
3. Click the candidate activity link.
4. The official candidate login page will open.
5. Enter your Application Number.
6. Enter your Password.
7. Enter the case-sensitive CAPTCHA displayed on the screen.
8. Click the Login / Submit button.
9. Click View Question Paper to view your marked / recorded responses.
10. Click View / Challenge Answer Key.
11. Check the provisional correct Option ID for each question.
12. Download / save your question paper and response details for future reference.

1. Log in to the official Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026 candidate portal.
2. Click View Question Paper to check your recorded responses.
3. Click View / Challenge Answer Key.
4. Locate the disputed question using its Question ID.
5. Check the Option ID shown under Correct Option(s).
6. Select one or more Option IDs that you want to claim as the correct answer.
7. If supporting evidence is required, prepare the supporting material.
8. Upload supporting documents through Choose File.
9. Supporting documents must be combined into one PDF file.
10. Maximum supporting-document PDF size: 500 KB.
11. Click Submit and Review Claims.
12. Review the summary of Question IDs and Options challenged.
13. Use Modify Claim if you need to change your selection before payment.
14. Click Save Claim and Pay Fee.
15. Click Pay Now.
16. Pay ₹200 per challenged question.
17. Complete the process before 18 August 2026 at 11:00 PM.

• The challenge facility is available online only.
• No challenge is accepted without successful payment of the prescribed fee.
• The processing fee is ₹200 for each question challenged.
• The processing fee is non-refundable.
• Challenges sent by another mode will not be accepted.
• Supporting documents, if submitted, must be combined into a single PDF of maximum 500 KB.
• The facility is a one-time challenge facility.
• No modification is permitted after successful payment.
• Submitted challenges are verified by a panel of subject experts.
• If a challenge is found correct, the Answer Key is revised.
• The revised answer is applied to the responses of all candidates as applicable.
• No individual candidate is informed separately about acceptance or rejection of a challenge.
• The Answer Key finalised by experts after the challenge process is final.

• Provisional Answer Key: Initial answer key made available for candidate review.
• Recorded Response: Response marked by the candidate in the CBT examination.
• Challenge: Formal online objection against a provisional answer.
• Expert Review: Subject experts examine submitted challenges.
• Final Answer Key: Finalised after review of valid challenges.
• Result: Prepared using the finalised Answer Key.

• Mode of Examination: Computer Based Test
• Question Type: Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions
• Parts: Part A, Part B and Part C
• Total Examination Duration: 180 Minutes / 3 Hours
• Maximum Marks: 200 Marks
• There is no break between the three parts.
• Number of questions, maximum attempts and negative-marking rules differ by subject.

1. Open their recorded response sheet.
2. Compare every attempted question with the provisional Answer Key.
3. Identify correct and incorrect responses.
4. Apply the marks allotted to the relevant Part A, Part B or Part C question.
5. Apply the negative-marking rule of the relevant subject and part.
6. Add the marks to obtain an approximate raw score.

The calculated score is only an estimate. The official result will be based on the final Answer Key and NTA’s official result procedure.

• JRF-qualified candidates can use the applicable qualification for Ph.D. admission according to UGC rules.
• Category-2 and Category-3 scores can be used for Ph.D. admission as prescribed.
• For Category-2 and Category-3 candidates, Joint CSIR-UGC NET written examination marks have 70% weightage for Ph.D. admission.
• The concerned University / HEI interview or viva voce has 30% weightage.
• Category-2 and Category-3 NET marks for Ph.D. admission are valid for the period prescribed in the official Information Bulletin.

• JRF Stipend: ₹37,000 per month for the first two years, subject to applicable conditions.
• Annual Contingent Grant: ₹20,000 as prescribed.
• After completion of two years and fulfilment of the applicable assessment / registration requirements, the fellowship may be upgraded to SRF (NET).
• SRF Stipend: ₹42,000 per month for the applicable subsequent period, subject to official assessment and rules.

• The Answer Key challenge window closes.
• NTA forwards valid challenges to subject experts.
• Subject experts review disputed questions and answers.
• Correct challenges are incorporated into the revised Answer Key.
• The Final Answer Key is prepared.
• Candidate responses are evaluated using the finalised Answer Key.
• The Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026 result is prepared.
• Result / Score Card and qualifying status are subsequently released.
• Qualified candidates receive JRF / Assistant Professor / Ph.D. eligibility according to the applicable result category.

• Check the provisional Answer Key only through the official Joint CSIR-UGC NET website.
• Keep your Application Number and Password secure.
• Download your recorded responses before the facility closes.
• Check every Question ID carefully.
• Verify the Option ID before submitting a challenge.
• Use reliable academic supporting evidence for genuine challenges.
• Combine supporting documents into one PDF not exceeding 500 KB.
• Review all claims before paying the challenge fee.
• Remember that the challenge facility is one-time.
• Do not make payment until you have checked all selected claims.
• Submit the challenge before 18 August 2026 at 11:00 PM.
• Save the payment confirmation for future reference.

• Open the official CSIR NET candidate portal.
• Log in using Application Number and Password.
• Download / check the question paper.
• Check recorded responses.
• Check the provisional Answer Key.
• Estimate your marks according to your subject’s marking scheme.
• Identify genuine disputed questions.
• Prepare supporting documents if required.
• Submit challenges before the deadline.
• Pay ₹200 per challenged question.
• Save the challenge confirmation.
• Wait for the Final Answer Key and result.

• Do not confuse the provisional Answer Key with the Final Answer Key.
• Do not state that the Answer Key was released before the examination; it was released after the 17-18 July examination.
• Do not use June 2025 as the correction-window year; the correct year is 2026.
• Do not assume the challenge closes at 11:59 PM; the official CSIR notice states 11:00 PM.
• Do not assume the ₹200 challenge fee is refundable; it is officially described as non-refundable.
• Do not log in using an unofficial website.
• Do not use Roll Number when the official challenge portal asks for Application Number and Password.
• Do not submit the wrong Question ID.
• Do not exceed the 500 KB limit for supporting-document PDF.
• Do not make payment before reviewing all claims because modification is not allowed afterward.
• Do not use one common negative-marking formula for all five subjects.
• Do not treat your estimated score as the official result.

• NTA Helpdesk: 011-40759000
• Alternate Helpdesk: 011-69227700
• Email: csirnet@nta.ac.in

Candidates facing genuine technical issues with the June 2026 answer-key facility should use the official NTA helpdesk details.

• Online Application
• Computer Based Test
• Provisional Answer Key
• Question Paper & Recorded Responses
• Online Answer Key Challenge
• Subject Expert Review
• Final Answer Key
• Result / Score Card
• Subject / Category-Wise Qualification
• JRF / Assistant Professor / Ph.D. Admission Eligibility according to result category

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• BRABU UG 1st Merit List 2026 – Out
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• NTA NCET Result / Score Card 2026
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• BRABU UG 1st Merit List 2026
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