CSIR NET Syllabus 2026: Sections, Topics, Weightage, Exam Pattern

CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 will be released by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research along with the June session notification on the official website csirnet.nta.nic.in. The syllabus helps candidates understand the topics that may be asked in the exam and guides them in planning their preparation. It also helps students identify important topics, create a proper study plan, and revise regularly. The CSIR NET 2026 Exam is expected to be held in July 2026.

The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency to determine the eligibility of candidates for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Lectureship (LS)/Assistant Professor in universities and colleges across India. The syllabus includes five science subjects: Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences. The question paper is divided into three parts, where Part A tests General Aptitude and Parts B and C focus on subject-related topics such as Molecular Biology, Quantum Mechanics, Linear Algebra, and Geophysics.

CSIR NET Syllabus 2026: Highlights

In the CSIR NET 2026 Exam, Part A consists of 20 questions focused on General Aptitude. Part B focuses on subject-specific questions, and candidates are required to attempt between 20 and 35 questions. In Part C, candidates are expected to apply their scientific understanding to solve scientific problems.

CSIR NET Syllabus 2026: Exam Pattern

According to the CSIR NET 2026 exam, the exam will be conducted online in CBT format. Candidates must answer a maximum of 75 MCQs (depending on the subjects chosen) within 3 hours. The exam has a provision for a negative marking scheme, and its maximum score is 200 marks. Check below to learn more about the CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2026 in terms of subject-wise question numbers and marking scheme.

CSIR NET Syllabus 2026: Subject-wise Topics

Part A of the CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 is common to all subjects and focuses on General Aptitude, including topics such as logical reasoning, numerical ability, graphical analysis, data interpretation, and quantitative comparison. Part B contains subject-specific knowledge. For instance, Chemical Sciences includes organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry; Life Sciences covers cell biology, genetics, ecology, and physiology. Part C is designed to test the candidate’s ability to apply scientific concepts to solve analytical and application-based problems. Candidates can refer to the following section to review the essential topics covered in the subject-wise categories of the CSIR NET Syllabus 2026.

CSIR NET General Aptitude Syllabus 2026

The CSIR NET General Aptitude Syllabus covers topics such as Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, Analysis, and Research Aptitude. Part A consists of 20 questions, of which candidates must attempt 15.

CSIR NET Life Science Syllabus 2026

CSIR NET Life Science Syllabus contains a total of 13 chapters, and each chapter is subdivided into some subtopics. The list of chapters is as follows:

CSIR NET Chemical Science Syllabus 2026

The CSIR NET Chemical Science Syllabus covers sections such as inorganic and organic chemistry, as well as physical chemistry. The topics are detailed below:

• Inorganic Chemistry: Chemical periodicity, Structure and bonding in homo- and heteronuclear molecules, including shapes of molecules (VSEPR Theory), Concepts of acids and bases, Hard-Soft acid base concept, Non-aqueous solvents, Inner transition elements, Organometallic compounds, Analytical chemistry, Bioinorganic chemistry, Nuclear chemistry, etc.
• Physical Chemistry: Basic principles of quantum mechanics, Approximate methods of quantum mechanics, Atomic structure and spectroscopy, Chemical bonding in diatomics, Chemical applications of group theory, Chemical thermodynamics, Electrochemistry, etc.
• Organic Chemistry: IUPAC nomenclature of organic molecules, Principles of stereochemistry, Aromaticity, Organic reactive intermediates, Pericyclic reactions, Synthesis and reactivity of common heterocyclic compounds containing one or two heteroatoms (O, N, S) and Chemistry of natural products.
• Interdisciplinary topics: Chemistry in nanoscience and technology, Catalysis and green chemistry, Medicinal chemistry, Supramolecular chemistry and Environmental chemistry.

CSIR NET Mathematical Science Syllabus 2026

The CSIR NET Mathematical Science Syllabus covers topics such as Analysis, Linear Algebra, and Complex Analysis, among others. The areas are presented below:

• Analysis of Elementary Set Theory, Sequences and series, Monotonic functions, types of discontinuity, functions of bounded variation, Lebesgue measure, Lebesgue integral, etc.
• Linear Algebra
• Complex Analysis based on Algebra of complex numbers, the complex plane, polynomials, power series, transcendental functions such as exponential, trigonometric and hyperbolic functions, Analytic functions, Cauchy-Riemann equations.
• Algebra
• Topology
• Ordinary Differential Equations
• Partial Differential Equations
• Numerical Analysis
• Calculus of Variations
• Linear Integral Equations
• Classical Mechanics
• Descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis

CSIR NET Physical Science Syllabus 2026

The CSIR NET Physical Science Syllabus covers topics such as vector algebra, vector calculus, classical mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, and Quantum Mechanics. The subtopics are listed below:

• Mathematical Methods of Physics: Dimensional analysis. Vector algebra and vector calculus. Linear algebra, matrices, Cayley-Hamilton Theorem. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Linear ordinary differential equations of first & second order, Special functions (Hermite, Bessel, Laguerre and Legendre functions). Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms. Elements of complex analysis, analytic functions; Taylor & Laurent series; poles, residues and evaluation of integrals. Elementary probability theory, random variables, binomial, Poisson and normal distributions. Central limit theorem.
• Classical Mechanics: Newton’s laws. Dynamical systems, Phase space dynamics, stability analysis. Central force motions. Two-body Collisions - scattering in laboratory and centre-of-mass frames. Rigid body dynamics: moment of inertia tensor. Non-inertial frames and pseudoforces. Variational principle. Generalised coordinates. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism and equations of motion. Conservation laws and cyclic coordinates. Periodic motion: small oscillations, normal modes. Special theory of relativity: Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics and mass–energy equivalence.
• Electromagnetic Theory: Electrostatics: Gauss’s law and its applications, Laplace and Poisson equations, boundary value problems. Magnetostatics: Biot-Savart law, Ampere's theorem. Electromagnetic induction. Maxwell's equations in free space and linear isotropic media; boundary conditions on the fields at interfaces. Scalar and Vector Potentials, Gauge Invariance. Electromagnetic waves in free space. Dielectrics and conductors. Reflection and refraction, polarisation, Fresnel’s law, interference, coherence, and diffraction. Dynamics of charged particles in static and uniform electromagnetic fields.
• Quantum Mechanics: Wave-particle duality. Schrödinger equation (time-dependent and time-independent). Eigenvalue problems (particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, etc.). Tunnelling through a barrier. Wave function in coordinate and momentum representations. Commutators and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Dirac notation for state vectors. Motion in a central potential: orbital angular momentum, angular momentum algebra, spin, addition of angular momenta; Hydrogen atom.
• Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics: Laws of thermodynamics and their consequences. Thermodynamic potentials, Maxwell relations, chemical potential, phase equilibria. Phase space, micro- and macro-states. Micro-canonical, canonical and grand-canonical ensembles and partition functions. Free energy and its connection with thermodynamic quantities. Classical and quantum statistics. Ideal Bose and Fermi gases. Principle of detailed balance. Blackbody Radiation and Planck's Distribution Law.
• Electronics and Experimental Methods: Semiconductor devices (diodes, junctions, transistors, field effect devices, homo- and hetero-junction devices), device structure, device characteristics, frequency dependence and applications. Opto-electronic devices (solar cells, photo-detectors, LEDs). Operational amplifiers and their applications. Digital techniques and applications (registers, counters, comparators and similar circuits). A/D and D/A converters. Microprocessor and microcontroller basics.

CSIR NET Earth Science Syllabus 2026

The CSIR NET Earth Science Syllabus comprises key topics from Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean, and Planetary Sciences, as well as Geology. The topics are listed below:

• The Earth and the Solar System
• Earth Materials, Surface Features and Processes
• Interior of the Earth, Deformation and Tectonics
• Oceans and Atmosphere
• Environmental Earth Sciences
• Mineralogy And Petrology
• Structural Geology And Geotectonics
• Palaeontology and Its Applications
• Sedimentology And Stratigraphy
• Marine Geology And Paleoceanography
• Geochemistry
• Economic Geology
• Precambrian Geology And Crustal Evolution
• Quaternary Geology
• Applied Geology: Remote Sensing and GIS, Engineering Geology, Mineral Exploration, and Hydrogeology.
• Physical Geography: Geomorphology, Climatology, Biogeography, Environmental Geography, and Geography of India.
• Geophysics: Signal Processing, Field Theory, Numerical analysis and inversion, Gravity and Magnetic fields of the Earth, Plate Tectonics and Geodynamics, Seismology, Elastic theory, Gravity and Magnetic Methods, Electrical and Electromagnetic Methods, Seismic Methods and Well logging.
• Meteorology: Climatology, Physical Meteorology, Atmospheric Electricity, Cloud Physics, Dynamic Meteorology, Numerical Weather Prediction, General Circulation and Climate Modelling, Synoptic Meteorology, Aviation Meteorology and Satellite Meteorology.
• Ocean Sciences: Physical Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Geological Oceanography, and Biological Oceanography.

Also Read: CSIR NET Analysis

CSIR NET Syllabus 2026: Chapter-wise Weightage

Candidates must note that each topic across the five subjects is equally important and has a high weightage distribution. Based on previous year’s question papers, it has been found that Chemical Sciences gives heavy attention to areas such as reaction mechanisms, Reagents, and Organometallic Chemistry. Accordingly, molecular biology carries the highest marks distribution in Life Science papers. Candidates can refer to the section below to check the chapter-wise expected number of questions to understand high-weightage sections.

Chemical Science

Core topics such as Reaction Mechanisms, Reagents, organometallic chemistry, Stereochemistry, Organic Spectroscopy, and Coordination Chemistry are high-weightage areas in the CSIR NET Chemical Science Syllabus.

Physics

Sections of Chemical + Stat Thermo and Quantum Physics carry the highest marks distribution in the CSIR NET Physical Science Syllabus.

Check: CSIR NET Question Papers

Mathematics

Linear Algebra and Real Analysis are the high-scoring sections in the CSIR NET Mathematical Science Syllabus.

Earth Science

In Earth Science, candidates should focus on the Oceanography, Meteorology, and Geophysics sections, as these are high-weightage sections in the CSIR NET 2026 Exam.

Life Science

Cell Communications and Cell Signalling, Fundamental Processes, Diversity of Life Forms, Developmental Biology, and Inheritance Biology carry high-weightage marks in the CSIR NET Life Science Syllabus.

CSIR NET Syllabus 2026: Preparation Tips

Aspirants must be familiar with the question pattern and syllabus of the CSIR NET Syllabus to achieve a good percentile in the CSIR NET 2026 Exam. Below are some essential CSIR NET 2026 Preparation Tips:

• Understand the Syllabus and Exam Format: Begin by studying the syllabus and exam pattern to gain a clear understanding of what to expect in the CSIR NET exam.
• Conceptualise Fundamental Concepts First: Establish a solid foundation with basic concepts before moving on to more complex topics.
• Review Previous Year’s Question Papers: Revise past CSIR NET Question Papers daily to be familiar with the type of questions asked.
• Take Mock Tests: Candidates should start by taking mock tests to assess their knowledge.

CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 FAQs