The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts national level exams such as CSIR NET and UGC NET to determine the eligibility of the candidates for college and university level lecturers. The same exams test the eligibility for granting the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) to pursue the Ph.D. program or research.
When it comes to a career in education, you may be confused about
- What are the similarities and differences between the two exams?
- Which one is the best fit for you?
| Point of Difference Between CSIR NET and UGC NET | UGC NET | CSIR NET |
| Eligibility | Masters or equivalent degree from a UGC recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks. For UGC NET, there is no age limit for the post of Lecturer, for JRF it is 31 years. | Candidates should have at least 55% marks in Masters or any other equivalent degrees from any recognized university. There is no upper age limit for the post of Lecturer, and that for JRF is 28 years |
| Subjects | UGC NET is conducted for 101 subjects. UGC NET is conducted for Humanities and Commerce Majors. | CSIR NET is conducted for five science subjects such as Life Science, Chemical Science, and others. CSIR NET is conducted for Science majors. |
| Exam Pattern | UGC NET has two papers. Paper I is common for all and consists of 100 marks. Paper-II of the exam is subject-specific and consists of 200 marks. | CSIR NET has three parts. Part A of the Paper is common for all subjects. Part B of the paper consists of subject-related MCQs. Part C of the paper is analytical in nature. |
| Passing Criteria | Candidates should secure at least 40% marks on both papers. | For Paper I and II, candidates should secure at least 40% marks. They should score at least 50% marks on Paper III. |
| Exam Conducted | UGC NET is conducted by the National Testing Agency, NTA. | National Testing Agency, NTA has the responsibility to conduct CSIR NET. |
| Official Links | ugcnet.nta.nic.in, ugcnetonline.in | csirnet.nta.nic.in, csirhrdg.res.in |
UGC NET Exam: Introduction
UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) is a national level exam that NTA conducts for the post of university-level assistant professor and to award the JRF post to Indian citizens. This exam is for the post-graduates of arts, humanities, management streams who wish to become lecturers, professors, or researchers.
CSIR NET Exam: Introduction
CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) is the exam conducted by NTA for science stream candidates to fill the posts of junior research fellow (JRF) and assistant professor in colleges and universities.
CSIR NET Vs UGC NET: Similarities
CSIR NET and UGC NET share many similarities. Let us examine the similarities before diving into the differences:
- Exam Objective: Both tests shortlist candidates for Assistant Professor, lecturers, and JRF.
- Level of Exams: Both tests are national level and held in several cities across India.
- Assessment: Both tests evaluate the candidates’ general aptitude and knowledge of the subject.
- Frequency of Exams: The authority conducts both exams twice a year, in July and December.
- Conducting Body: The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts both exams.
- Exam Mode: Both exams include online computer-based tests.
- Qualifying Criteria: Both tests declare the top 6% of candidates qualified for lectureship and only 2 to 3% of candidates for both the JRF and lectureship.
CSIR NET Vs UGC NET: Differences
The UGC NET and CSIR UGC NET exams are distinct because of the differences in the exam content, eligibility requirements, exam pattern, and possible career paths. Below, we’ve provided a breakdown of these differences.
CSIR NET Vs UGC NET: Exam Content
NTA conducts UGC NET Exam in a total of 81 subjects from various streams. Whereas, CSIR NET Exam contains five science-related subjects, including
Chemical Sciences
Life Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Earth, Ocean, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Physical Sciences
CSIR NET Vs UGC NET: Exam Content
NTA conducts UGC NET Exam in a total of 81 subjects from various streams. Whereas, CSIR NET Exam contains five science-related subjects, including
- Chemical Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Mathematical Sciences
- Earth, Ocean, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
- Physical Sciences
CSIR NET Vs UGC NET: Exam Pattern
CSIR NET is a computer-based test with objective-type questions of 200 points. It comprises three sections with a different number of questions. The candidates’ subject of choice affects the number of questions in each section of the CSIR NET exam. The exam lasts for three hours in total.
UGC NET is a computer-based test that comprises two papers with objective-type questions. Paper 1 includes 50 questions worth 100 points, while paper 2 includes 100 questions worth 200 points. The time limit for both papers is three hours each.
| UGC NET Paper | Total Questions | Total Marks |
| Paper I | 50 | 100 |
| Paper II | 100 | 200 |
| Total | 150 | 300 |
CSIR NET Vs UGC NET: Marking Scheme
There is no negative marking in the UGC NET exam. But, the CSIR NET exam follows a negative marking scheme, which is distinct for all subjects.
CSIR NET Vs UGC NET: Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for both the exams are different, as mentioned in the below table:
| Parameters | CSIR NET Eligibility | UGC NET Eligibility |
| Educational qualification | Degree in BE/BTech/MBBS/BPharma/Integrated BS-MSBS (4 years)/BS (4 years)/MSc with minimum 55 % aggregate | Post-graduation in applicable streams such as Social Science, Humanities, Computer Science & Applications, Electronic Science, etc., with a minimum 55 % aggregate |
| Age limit | For JRF: candidates should be maximum of 28 years of ageFor lectureship: no upper age limit | For JRF: candidates should be maximum of 30 years of ageFor lectureship: no upper age limit |
CSIR NET Vs UGC NET: Career Path
Candidates who qualify for the CSIR NET exam can work at CSIR Research Laboratories. Whereas candidates who pass the UGC NET exam, on the other hand, get a chance to work with UGC coordinating institutes in various capacities.
Conclusion
As discussed above, both CSIR NET and UGC NET exams are distinct from one another for various reasons. However, there are a few similarities that connect them. We hope that this guide has been useful in assisting you to decide which exam to take to further your career goals based on the knowledge of CSIR NET Vs UGC NET
Which exam is better if we do CSIR NET Vs UGC NET?
Because both of these tests select students from various academic backgrounds, there is no comparison of superiority between them. While the CSIR NET exam is for science stream students, UGC NET tests students on more than 80 subjects related to non-science categories.
Compare CSIR NET Vs UGC NET in terms of difficulty level?
Both exams select candidates for lectureship and research posts at national levels, making them highly competitive. However, the difficulty level varies from moderate to tough for different subjects.