CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria 2025 for JRF and Lectureship, Check Age Limit and Qualifications

CSIR NET is one of the most significant competitive exams in India for candidates seeking to pursue research and teaching careers in the fields of Science and Technology. It is conducted twice a year by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of CSIR. CSIR NET exam is held for two major purposes: Junior Research Fellowship and Lectureship. It is crucial for aspirants to understand and meet the CSIR NET eligibility criteria laid out by CSIR to successfully apply for the exam. Here we provide CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria for 2025, as detailed in the official notification.

Also, Check CSIR NET Previous Year Questions

CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria 2025

The CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria 2025 require candidates to have specific educational qualifications, age limits (mainly for JRF), and other category-based concessions. Candidates must review these details to ensure their application is valid and prepare accordingly for the exam.

1. Nationality

• Candidates must be Indian citizens.

2. Educational Qualification

CSIR NET eligibility criteria in terms of educational qualifications are one of the most crucial aspects of CSIR NET exam. To apply for the exam, candidates must hold one of the following degrees:

• Candidates must have a Master’s degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks for General/EWS/OBC candidates and 50% marks for SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender candidates.
• Accepted degrees include MSc, Integrated BS-MS, BS (4 years), BE, BTech, BPharma, or MBBS from a recognized university.
• Candidates in their final year or those whose results are awaited can also apply provisionally, provided they obtain the required percentage of marks within two years of the result declaration.
• Candidates with a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree must have at least 75% marks (or relaxation for reserved categories).
• Applicants with only a Bachelor’s degree can apply for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) only, not for Lectureship/Assistant Professo

3. Age Limit for JRF

CSIR NET eligibility criteria for candidates applying for the Junior Research Fellowship are as following:

• Maximum Age for JRF: The upper age limit for CSIR NET candidates applying for JRF is 28 years as of 1st of January in the year of the exam. This means that candidates must not be older than 28 years on January 1, 2024, to be eligible for JRF.
• For Lectureship/Assistant Professor and PhD admission, there is no age limit
• Age Relaxation for Reserved Categories: There is a relaxation of 5 years for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) categories. This means that for these candidates, the upper age limit can extend to 33 years.

4. Age Limit for Lectureship (LS)

For candidates applying for the Lectureship (LS), there is no upper age limit. This allows candidates of any age to apply for the Lectureship position, as long as they meet the educational qualification requirements. Candidates applying for LS are those who are interested in pursuing a career in teaching at the college or university level.

5. Number of Attempts

For the CSIR NET exam in 2025, there is no limit on the number of attempts for the Assistant Professor (Lectureship) category; candidates can appear as many times as they meet the general eligibility conditions.

For the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), most recent sources suggest there is a maximum of 5 attempts allowed for each candidate. If a candidate crosses the attempt limit or the upper age limit for JRF, they can still continue to apply for Assistant Professor as there is no age or attempt restriction for that category.

• JRF: Maximum 5 attempts (with age limits and relaxations as applicable).
• Assistant Professor: Unlimited attempts (as long as other eligibility criteria are met).

Also, Check Important Topics for Physical Science

CSIR NET Eligibility for Third Gender Candidates

Candidates identifying as the Third Gender are eligible for the same benefits provided to SC/ST/PwD categories, including:

• Age relaxation
• Fee relaxation
• Relaxation in minimum qualifying marks

In addition, the cut-off marks for Third Gender candidates will be the lowest among all reserved categories for the respective subject.

CSIR NET Educational Qualification Subject Wise

The educational qualification for CSIR NET 2025 differs for each subject, with specific requirements for Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. All candidates must have the prescribed degree in their respective subject and meet the minimum marks requirement. 

Important Points to Keep in Mind

• Candidates are advised to carefully check their eligibility before filling out the CSIR NET Application Form 2025. Applications from ineligible candidates will be rejected.
• CSIR NET Application Form is expected to be available from May 1 to May 21, 2025, for the June session.
• Candidates must have a valid email address and mobile number to register for the exam.
• The exam will be held in five subjects: Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Earth Sciences, and Physical Sciences.

CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria 2025 FAQs

1. What is the minimum educational qualification required for CSIR NET 2025?

To apply for CSIR NET 2025, candidates must have a Master’s degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks for General/EWS/OBC candidates and 50% marks for SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender candidates.

2. What is the age limit for the CSIR NET Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)?

The upper age limit for JRF is 28 years as of January 1, 2024. However, candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PwD/Third Gender categories get a 5-year age relaxation, making the maximum limit 33 years.

3. Can final-year students apply for CSIR NET 2025?

Yes. Candidates who are in the final year of their qualifying degree or whose results are awaited can apply provisionally.

4. How many attempts are allowed in the CSIR NET exam?

For JRF, candidates can attempt the exam a maximum of five times, provided they meet the age criteria.
For Lectureship (Assistant Professor), there is no restriction on the number of attempts — candidates can appear as long as they fulfill the eligibility conditions.