The National Eligibility Test for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and University Grants Commission have their own set of differences. From career scope to the eligibility criteria.
For example, the exam administration for both is different. One is conducted by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research itself while the other is carried out by the National Testing University (NTA)
However, they also have similarities between themselves. What those differences and similarities are will be highlighted in this article.
Exam Pattern and Subjects for UGC NET and CSIR NET
One of the notable differences between the CSIR NET and UGC Net exams is the number of subjects. The CSIR NET exam is conducted with 5 subjects while UGC NET is for 84 subjects other than the science stream. The 5 subjects for CSIR NET are as follows:
- Chemical Science
- Earth Science
- Life Science
- Physical Science
- Mathematical Science
The exam pattern for UGC NET is as follows:
| 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 |
The exam pattern for CSIR NET is as follows:
| 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) |
- 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.
Differences in Eligibility Criteria for UGC NET and CSIR NET
The eligibility criteria are different for both exams. They have been listed below:
| UGC Net Eligibility Criteria | CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria |
| Candidates must obtain 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. | 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 who are pursuing their Master’s degree course or equivalent course or candidates who have appeared for their final exam, pending publication of results are also eligible to apply. | 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. |
| For JRF candidates upper age limit is 30 years | Upper Age Limit is 28 years (for JRF). |
| Age relaxation upto 5 years for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/women/armed forces personnel’s/pwd/transgender/researchers. 3 years for L.L.M degree holder. | Relaxation of up to 5 years in sc/st/PWD/women and 3 years for OBC-NCl. |
| There is no upper age limit while applying for Assistant Professor post. | No upper age limit is set for applying for Assistant Professor. |
Career Scop for UGC NET and CSIR Net
The career path for UGC NET and CSIR NET differs in terms of scope and opportunity
- Candidates who qualify in UGC NET exams are eligible to work in UGC-affiliated institutions
- Those that qualify for the CSIR NET exam will be eligible for 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
- Reason d’ eitre: Both the exams are conducted in order to recruit Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Proessors
- Qualifying Process: The qualifying process for both exams is similar. In this case top 6% of candidates qualify for Assistant Professor and the top 2-3% of candidates are qualified for JRF & Assistant Professor
- Exam Frequency: Both exams are conducted twice in the year usually in the months of June/July or November/December.
- Assessment: Candidates are assessed as per their performance in the General Aptitude segment or subject knowledge in either exams.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Difference between UGC NET and CSIR NET
Which is tough UGC NET or CSIR NET?
Is CSIR and UGC different?
For more related articles, refer to the links given below:
| Related Links | |
| CSIR NET Question Paper | CSIR NET Admit Card |
| CSIR NET Books | CSIR NET Age Limit |
| CSIR NET Cut Off | CSIR NET Vacancy |
| CSIR NET Syllabus | CSIR NET Answer Key |
