CSIR NET December 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is the body responsible to conduct the CSIR NET exam. The body also decides the structure and scheme of the examination. With the release of the CSIR NET December 2026 notification, the NTA has announced the merging of Department of Biotechnology's Biotechnology Eligibility Test (DBT-BET) with the Joint Council of Scientific and Industrial Research University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (CSIR UGC NET). The BET will be merged with the Life Sciences subject, one of the five among the total subjects for which the Joint CSIR UGC NET exam is being conducted. This merger will apply from the CSIR NET December 2026 session and the candidates who are going to appear for the examination will have to appear for a new combined discipline called Life Sciences & Biotechnology (LS & BT). The syllabus for the subject has also been revised and has been provided in the Information Bulletin.
New Discipline of Life Sciences & Biotechnology in CSIR NET December 2026
The CSIR NET information bulletin has been released on the official website, csirnet.nta.nic.in on 07 October 2026 and with the release of the bulletin, the aspirants get to know about the merger of the two subjects i.e. Life Sciences and Biotechnology Eligibility Test. This information has also been updated on NTA’s X-account.
CSIR NET December 2026 Syllabus Revised
The candidates who are preparing for the CSIR NET Life Sciences subject and those who were aspiring for the DBT’s Biotechnology Eligibility Test should now remember that there will be a single exam for both of these subjects, which will be conducted by NTA under the head of CSIR NET December 2026. Therefore, the candidates are advised to check the revised syllabus which is available in the CSIR NET December 2026 information bulletin. It is advised to go through the syllabus carefully and prepare your strategy accordingly.
Fellowships Will be Disbursed by CSIR & DBT Separately
As we came to know that the two disciplines have been merged into a single one, therefore, there will be a lot of confusion on who will bear the burden of providing fellowship for research. The CSIR NET December notification mentions that although the two subjects have been merged, the responsibility of providing the fellowship will remain to the parent organisation i.e. DBT will pay the fellowship for Biotechnology fellows and CSIR for Life Sciences fellows.
ALSO CHECK: CSIR NET Syllabus 2026
New Exam Pattern for CSIR NET Life Sciences & Biotechnology
The new CSIR NET exam pattern for Life Sciences & Biotechnology includes a total of 145 MCQs for 200 marks where the candidates are required to attempt a maximum of 75 questions. There is also a provision for 25% negative marking. Check the table below:
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LIFE SCIENCES & Biotechnology (703)
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PART A
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PART B
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PART C
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TOTAL
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Total questions
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20
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50
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75
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145
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Max No of Questions to attempt
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15
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35
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25
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75
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Marks for each correct answer
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2
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2
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4
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200
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Marks for each incorrect answer (Negative marking for part A, B & C is @ 25%)
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0.5
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0.5
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1
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-
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