What is the Difference between UGC NET and CSIR NET?

Before moving ahead with the exam preparation, it is essential to understand the difference between UGC NET and CSIR NET exams. In this article, we have summarised the differences between CSIR NET and UGC-NET exams. For ease of comparison and comprehension, the differences have been categorized into various subheads like exam conduction body, exam mode, career scope, etc.

CSIR NET vs. UGC NET

The major difference between the UGC NET and CSIR NET exams is based on the following parameters:

Exam Convener Body
Exam Subjects
Exam Pattern
Mode of Examination
Eligibility Criteria
Career Scope

We will now discuss each of these in-depth to help you understand the difference between CSIR and UGC NET exams. The following points will distinguish the exams of UGC and CSIR NET:

1. CSIR NET vs. UGC NET: The Exam Conducting Body

The exam administration body for both exams is different.

Exam Name	Exam Conducting Body
CSIR NET Exam	Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
UGC NET Exam	National Testing University (NTA)

Note: Both exams are conducted twice a year.

2. CSIR NET vs. UGC NET: Exam Subjects

One of the major differences between the CSIR NET Exam and the UGC NET Exam is the number of subjects conducted. The CSIR NET exam is conducted in 5 subjects, whereas the UGC NET is conducted for 84 subjects other than the science stream.
CSIR NET is conducted for 5 different subjects of the Science stream. These are:

Chemical Science
Earth Science
Life Science
Physical Science
Mathematical Science

The complete UGC NET 84 subjects other than the science stream are mentioned here.

3. UGC NET vs. CSIR NET: Exam Pattern

You must understand the exam pattern of both examinations in a very clear manner. The preparation for each exam will depend upon the exam pattern. There is a major difference between the exam pattern of UGC NET and CSIR NET exams. Find the complete exam pattern of both the exams below:

UGC NET exam pattern

The UGC NET is an online objective-type exam consisting of two papers, and all the questions are mandatory. The pattern is uniform for all subjects, and there is no negative marking on any paper.

Paper	Subject	Marks (2 marks each)	Number of questions
I	General Aptitude (common for all)	100	50
II	The candidate chooses the subject.	200	100

CSIR NET Exam Pattern

It consists of only a single paper with three sections (Part A, Part B, and Part C). The marking scheme is different for different subjects. Unlike the UGC NET exam, there is a negative marking of 25% marks for every incorrect answer. The CSIR NET Exam is conducted for 3 hours.

Section	Subject	Total Marks	No. of questions	Marks for each correct question	Negative marking	Maximum no. of questions to be attempted
Part A	General Aptitude	30	20 (for every subject)	2 (For every subject)	0.5 (for every subject)	15 (for every subject)
Part B	Subject Paper	70	25-50 (subject-wise)	2-3.5 (subject wise)	0.5-0.875 (subject wise)	20-35 (Subject-wise)
Part C	Scientific Concepts	100	30-75 (subject-wise)	4-5 (subject wise)	1-1.32 (subject wise)	20-25 (Subject-wise)

4. UGC NET vs. CSIR NET: Mode of Examination

CSIR NET is conducted offline, i.e., pen/pencil –paper mode.
UGC NET exam will be conducted online as a computer-based test (CBT) for the first time. Earlier, it was also conducted in offline mode.

5. CSIR NET vs. UGC NET: Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria are set differently for both the exams by the convenor institutes. We have shared the same below:

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria

CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who have obtained a minimum of 55% marks (General category) and 50% (SC/ST/PwD) in Master’s Degree or equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC in the list of subjects at the Post-graduation level are eligible for this Test.
Candidates who are currently in their Master’s degree course or equivalent course or candidates who have appeared for their Master’s degree (final year) examination and whose result is still awaited may also apply for this Test.
Upper Age Limit is 30 years (For JRF).
Relaxation of upto 5 years for sc/st/obc-ncl/women/armed forces personnel’s /pwd/ transgender/ researchers , 3 years for L.L.M degree holder.
No upper age limit is set for applying for Assistant Professor.

The candidates who have secured at least 55% marks (General category) and 50% (SC/ST/PwD) (without rounding off) in M.Sc. / BS-4 Years / Integrated BS-M, BE/B-Tech / MBBS /B-Pharma.
Candidates pursuing their Master’s degree or equivalent course or candidates who have appeared for their Master’s degree (final year) examination and whose result is still awaited may also apply for this Test.
Upper Age Limit is 28 years (for JRF).
Relaxation of up to 5 years in sc/st/PWD/women and 3 years for OBC-NCl.
No upper age limit is set for applying for Assistant Professor.

6. CSIR NET vs. UGC NET: Career Scope

There is a difference in the scope of career opportunities after the UGC NET and CSIR NET exams.

The UGC NET-qualified candidates are eligible to work with UGC Coordinating Institutes.
CSIR NET qualified candidates are eligible to work with the CSIR Research Laboratories.

We have seen major differences between CSIR NET and UGC NET exams. But there are many similarities between these exams as well. Let’s have a look at some common characteristics between these two examinations.

Similarities between UGC NET and CSIR NET Exams

Purpose: As already discussed, both the exams are conducted to recruit Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professors.
Qualifying Procedure: The qualifying procedure for both exams is similar. Candidates are selected based on their performance in their tests. The top 6% of candidates are considered qualified for Assistant Professor, and the top 2-3% of candidates are considered qualified for JRF & Assistant Professor.
The Frequency of exam: Both the exams are conducted twice a year, usually in June/July and November/December.
Assessment: The candidates are assessed based on their General Aptitude Knowledge and Subject Knowledge in both the exams.

We hope this article has added some value to your knowledge, and it was able to clear all your doubts and confusion regarding the NTA UGC NET and CSIR NET exams.

Download UGC NET Previous Year Paper with solutions

Difference between UGC NET and CSIR NET FAQs

What is UGC NET Exam?

The National Eligibility Test (NET) is conducted on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the Eligibility of Assistant Professorship, Junior Research Fellowship, or both for Indian Universities and Colleges. UGC NET exam is conducted for the 101 subjects.

What is CSIR NET Exam?

CSIR NET exam is a test being conducted to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals from science backgrounds for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for Lectureship (LS) /Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria laid down by UGC.

Which is better CSIR NET or UGC NET?

From the subject point of view, CSIR NET is best for Chemistry. CSIR conducts exams for the physical sciences, mathematical sciences, Chemical sciences, and life sciences. UGC NET is for Humanities and other professional courses.

Is UGC NET exam pattern different from CSIR NET exam pattern?

UGC NET is an online exam that consists of two papers containing objective-type questions. Paper 1 contains 50 questions of 100 marks, and paper 2 contains 100 questions of 200 marks. Both the papers are conducted in a single duration of three hours, while CSIR NET is an online exam containing objective-type questions of 200 marks. The question paper is divided into A, B, and C. Each part contains a different number of questions. The total number of questions in the CSIR UGC NET exam also varies depending on the subject for which the candidate is appearing. The total duration to complete the exam is three hours.