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JRF Exam 2023: Upcoming NET JRF Exam, Eligibility

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 13th, 2023

JRF Exam 2023: The JRF Exams are conducted by different organizations to select eligible candidates for the post of Junior Research Fellowship Programs in different fields. Hence, these are competitive exams that test the eligibility of candidates for a scholarship to pursue research in their chosen field. The JRF Exam 2023 is a letter awarded by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to the candidates qualifying for the National Eligibility Test and securing equal/higher marks than the cutoff that has been released in the particular subject.

The JRF letter or scholarship is awarded for a period of 2 years, during which the candidates are expected to carry out research work and produce a thesis. We have developed this article to provide information for all the JRF Exams conducted in India.

JRF Exam 2023

The JRF Exams are the exams that are conducted to choose the most eligible candidates for the Junior Research fellowship award. Here are the JRF Exams that are conducted in India.

  • CSIR NET: This exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) twice a year for the selection of candidates for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professors in various scientific fields. CSIR NET is a prestigious exam for Science students who wish to enter the world of higher academics.
  • DBT JRF: BET & GAT-B: This exam is conducted by the Department of Biotechnology, under the ministry of science & technology, Government of India once a year to select the candidates for the post of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).
  • ICMR JRF: The ICMR JRF examination is conducted by the PGIMER, Chandigarh to select the candidates for Medical Research Junior Research Fellowship.
  • CSIR JRF GATE: This exam is a national-level exam that is conducted for the selection of the most eligible candidate who is looking to pursue a career in research work through CSIR.
  • ICAR JRF: This exam is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) to provide students with a Master’s Degree Programme in accredited Agricultural Universities.
  • UGC NET: The UGC NET exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to select the best candidates for the post of ‘Assistant Professor’ and ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges.

JRF Exam: Important Highlights

The candidates interested in applying for the JRF Exams must be aware of the basic knowledge about the particular JRF Exam that they are applying for. The table below provides all the important highlights for the JRF Exams 2023.

Exam Names Exam Conducting Body Full- Form

Level of Exam 

Mode of Exam Frequency Of Exam Posts/Courses Offered
CSIR NET National Testing Agency (NTA) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Level Online Twice (June & December) Lectureships & Junior Research Fellowships
DBT JRF (BET & GAT-B) Department of Biotechnology, under the ministry of science & technology, Government of India. 

 

Department of Biotechnology Junior Research Fellowship

National Level Online Annually Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) 
ICMR JRF PGIMER, Chandigarh Indian Council of Medical Research Junior Research Fellowship National Level Online Annually PhD and Research programs
CSIR JRF GATE  One of the administering institutes  Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering  National Level Online Annually Pursue a career in research work through CSIR
ICAR JRF National Testing Agency (NTA) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) National Level Online Annually Master Degree Programme in accredited Agricultural Universities
UGC NET National Testing Agency (NTA) University Grants Commission National Level Online Annually  ‘Assistant Professor’ and ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges.

JRF Exam Eligibility Criteria

The students looking forward to applying for the JRF exam must ensure their eligibility for the exam. The candidates can only register themselves successfully when they completely fulfill the eligibility criteria for the exam in terms of both qualifications and age limit. The candidates can check the table below to acknowledge their eligibility for any JRF Exam 2023.

Exam Name Qualification Criteria Age Limit
CSIR NET
  • Candidates must have a BE, B.Pharma, B. Tech, MSc, Integrated BS-MS, MBBS, or any other science degree with a minimum of 55%.
  • Candidates in the reserved category receive a 5% mark relaxation. Candidates who are studying for an M.Sc and have finished their graduation (10+2+3) are also eligible to take this exam.
  • Candidates who have completed a B.Sc. or are enrolled in an Integrated MS-PhD program and have received at least a 55% mark are eligible to apply.
  • Candidates with an Engineering or Science background are eligible for the fellowship if they enroll in a Ph.D. or Ph.D. integrated program within two years of graduation.
  • The maximum age limit is 28 years for UR.
  • SC/ST/PWD/Female Applicants must not exceed 33 years of age.
  • For OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Applicants, the maximum age limit is 31 years. 
  • There is no upper age limit for lecturership.
DBT JRF: BET & GAT-B
  • M.Sc./ M.Tech./ M.V.Sc. or equivalent degree from a recognized university in one Biotechnology, Agriculture Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Animal/Veterinary Biotechnology, Medical Biotechnology, Marine Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, Food Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Computational biology, etc. discipline.
  • Integrated BS and M.S. or B.E./ B.Tech in Biotechnology (4-year course after 12th)
  • Aspirants admitted under DBT Postgraduate Teaching Programs or M.Sc. in Bioscience, Life Science, Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or Biophysics.
  • M.Sc./M.Tech.Bioinformatics Computational Biology.

OBC – 3 Years

SC/ ST – 5 Years

PwD – 5 Years

ICMR JRF
  • A candidate must possess an M.Sc/ M.A. degree from a recognized university or its equivalent qualification. 
  • The final year student of the M.Sc/ M.A. degree candidates can also apply for the ICMR JRF exam.
  • Candidates appearing for the final year examination are also eligible to apply for the ICMR JRF exam.
  • The age limit for ICMR JRF Entrance Exam is 28 years.
  • A relaxation of 3 years will be given to candidates in the OBC category.
  • A relaxation of 5 years will be given to the SC/ ST/ PwD category candidates.
CSIR JRF GATE 
  • BE/ B.Tech degree in an engineering discipline with a valid GATE score. OR
  • B.Pharm degree and have qualified GPAT OR
  • Candidates with B.Tech in Biotechnology with a valid GATE score and subject to securing a minimum of 85.00 %ile in GATE.
  • General Candidate- 28 Years
  • OBC- 31 years
  • SC/ST- 33 Years
ICAR JRF 
  • The candidates should have passed the Master’s Degree program from any public-funded/Govt institution with a minimum Overall Grade Point Average (OGPA).
  • In cases where only marks are awarded rather than grade points, the candidate must have secured the minimum percentage score as mentioned in the table given below:
The candidate applying for ICAR JRF must be of at least 19 years. There is no age relaxation for any category regarding age criteria for ICAR JRF.
UGC NET Master’s Degree or equivalent with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD/Transgender candidates) 31 years for JRF
No age limit for AP

JRF Exam Pattern

Aspirants must be aware of the exam pattern for the JRF Exam before appearing for the exam as it also helps them with the pre-planning of time management. The exam pattern for the different JRF exams varies with the subjects included in one examination. The table below contains the links with detailed information on the exam patterns for the JRF Exams 2023.

Exam Name

Exam Patterns
CSIR NET Click Here
DBT JRF: BET & GAT-B Click Here
ICMR JRF Click Here
CSIR JRF GATE  Click Here
ICAR JRF  Click Here
UGC NET Click Here

JRF Exams 2023: Syllabus

The candidates preparing for the JRF Exams must thoroughly ensure the complete syllabus for their subjects to prepare well for the examination. The table below contains the links for the syllabus of all the JRF Exams mentioned. The students can click on the links and get all the details regarding the JRF Exam 2023.

Exam Name Syllabus
CSIR NET Click Here
DBT JRF: BET & GAT-B Click Here
ICMR JRF Click Here
CSIR JRF GATE  Click Here
ICAR JRF  Click Here
UGC NET Click Here

Application Process for JRF Exams 2023

Candidates looking forward to applying for the different JRF Exams must be aware of the application processes to register themselves successfully for the exams. The examination process for all the different kinds of Junior Research Fellowship Exams involves almost the standard procedures, the candidate can follow the steps given below to apply: 

Step 1: The candidates must first visit the official website of the exam conducting body.

Step 2: Click on the application link given on the home screen.

Step 3: Fill in the required details correctly.

Step 4: Attach the required document asked in the application.

Step 5: Click on the ‘submit’ option at the end and pay the required examination fee based on your categories.

JRF Exam Books

Selecting the best study material for preparing for the JRF Exam is essential. Books are one of the most original forms of study material candidates need to prepare for the JRF Exams 2023. The candidates must choose the books considering the edition, author, and contents. The table provided below contains the links for the best-referenced books for the JRF Exam mentioned:

Exam Name  Best Referenced Books
CSIR NET Click Here
ICMR JRF Click Here
DBT JRF: BET & GAT-B Click Here
CSIR JRF GATE  Click Here
ICAR JRF  Click Here
UGC NET Click Here

Preparation Tips for JRF Exam

 JRF Exams are conducted on the National level; hence it requires a lot of hard work and dedication to qualify for these exams. We have compiled some of the most strategic preparation tips for effectively preparing for the upcoming Junior Research Fellowship exams.

  • Preparation of the Study Plan

 The first and foremost thing to do in preparation for any JRF Exam is to make a study plan. The study plan must contain all the topics and units of your chosen subjects, along with the time duration. The candidates must not search for shortcuts. Instead, a detailed and profound preparation will help them prepare for the examination effectively.

  • Preparing Study Notes

The candidates must understand all the concepts and prepare the study notes for the topics they have learned in their own words. Preparing handmade study notes along with diagrams and mind maps will help the candidates to revise the concepts in a summarised version. This will save a lot of time and help in the effective preparation for the examination.

  • Mock Test/Quizzes

It is essential to test the knowledge you have gained in your preparation journey. Some of the best ways to do this are to attempt mock tests and quizzes of the subjects they are preparing for. Testing your knowledge will give you an idea of your preparation level. This will also help you identify the parts you must work on to make your preparations more effective.

  • Time Management

The factor of time management is a huge factor while preparing for any JRF Exam. The candidates must formulate a time strategy to follow in the examination. They must have a clear idea as to how much time they must devote to each section of the exam to solve all the questions in the given time.

  • Revision is Key

The things you have learned will be useless if you can’t remember them. Revision helps to eliminate the factor of forgetting the learned concepts. The candidates must revise the learned concepts on a daily basis.

  • Keep Yourself Motivated

Motivation is very important while you are preparing for any examination. The candidates must always remember that ‘Harwork Never Disappoints’ and that consistency is the most important aspect of preparation for any JRF Exam.

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