CSIR NET June 2026 Mathematical Sciences Topper Imandar Saikia’s Story: 99.78 Percentile with PW

Imandar Saikia secured 99.78 percentile in Mathematical Sciences in the CSIR NET June 2026 examination on his first attempt. What makes his journey notable is that he prepared with an undergraduate-level academic background while also dealing with semester examinations and dissertation work that created a backlog. 

With limited time left, he chose to focus on topics where his concepts were already strong instead of trying to cover everything from scratch. 

How Imandar Saikia Started His CSIR NET Preparation 

Imandar explained that his CSIR NET preparation started after his JAM examination. He felt that he had made a mistake during the JAM exam by spending too much time on certain sections, which left him with less time for the NAT-based questions.

After the JAM examination, he decided to prepare for CSIR NET. A friend, Badal Yadav from IIT Bombay, helped him access a preparation batch, and Imandar subsequently began studying for the examination.

Initially, his preparation was progressing properly. He studied topics such as Calculus, Differential Equations, Integral Equations and Linear Algebra through lectures.

However, his preparation faced a setback during May and June because of his semester examinations and dissertation work. This resulted in a backlog, while the CSIR NET examination was approaching quickly.

How Imandar Saikia Prioritised Strong Topics for CSIR NET 

With limited time remaining before the examination, Imandar decided not to start several completely new topics. Instead, he concentrated on subjects where he already had strong conceptual foundations.

His main focus was on Linear Algebra and Modern Algebra, while also revising topics such as COP and Integral Equations.

He explained:

“What I did was focus on my strong concepts, like Linear Algebra and Modern Algebra. At that time, starting a completely new topic like Analysis or Complex was not practical because I did not have enough time to study everything properly.”

His preparation philosophy was to make sure that the fundamentals of the topics he studied were clear.

“My approach from the beginning was that whatever I study, the basic concepts should be clear. If the basics are clear, the rest can be handled.”

This strategy worked well for him because the CSIR NET paper included several questions from Linear Algebra and Modern Algebra.

CSIR NET June 2026 Exam Strategy

Imandar Saikia also revealed his section-wise strategy and marks.

He attempted all 15 questions in Part A and got all 15 correct, securing 30 marks.

In Part B, he attempted four questions. Three were correct and one was incorrect, resulting in negative marking.

In Part C, he attempted all 20 questions, with 13 correct and seven incorrect.

According to the interview, his total score was 100 marks.

His strategy was straightforward: secure the maximum possible marks in Part A, avoid taking unnecessary risks in Part B and attempt as many suitable questions as possible in Part C.

How Self-Study and PW Revision Supported Imandar Saikia 

Self-study was an important part of Imandar's CSIR NET preparation. While he used lectures for learning, he focused on understanding concepts independently.

He said:

“There was basically no live doubt discussion because I mainly watched the lectures. Apart from that, I focused on self-study and tried to understand things as much as possible on my own. If I can clear the basics myself, then during the exam my mind becomes clearer about how to approach a question.”

He also attended the final two days of a marathon session conducted by PW before the examination.

According to him, the marathon session helped him revise multiple concepts shortly before the exam.

Imandar Saikia's Advice for CSIR NET Aspirants

When asked about the key lessons from his preparation journey, Imandar highlighted four important points.

1. Practise Previous Year Questions

According to Imandar, question practice is essential for CSIR NET preparation. Aspirants should solve as many previous-year questions as possible.

2. Keep Your Concepts Crystal Clear

He strongly emphasised conceptual clarity before question practice.

“The second thing is that before doing question practice, the entire concept should be crystal clear. The basics should be crystal clear.”

He also warned students against depending entirely on shortcuts. Short tricks may help with some MCQs, but deeper conceptual understanding is important for questions requiring application.

3. Do Not Allow Backlogs to Build Up

Imandar advised students to attend classes regularly and maintain consistency.

“The third thing is the mistake I made: you should not allow a backlog to be created. Attend classes regularly, attend lectures and make notes.”

He found his notes particularly helpful during the final stage of preparation.

4. Combine Conceptual Understanding With Practice

His preparation strategy involved first understanding the fundamentals and then applying those concepts through questions.

Aspirants should focus on understanding why a concept works rather than simply memorising formulas or shortcuts.

How Much Preparation Time Does Imandar Saikia Recommend? 

When asked how much time a beginner would need to prepare for CSIR NET, Imandar said that proper preparation could take around five to six months.

According to him, even smart preparation would require approximately four months.

He did not follow a fixed number of study hours every day. Instead, he studied according to the topic he felt ready to study while ensuring that he covered something every day.

He said:

“There was no fixed timing as such. If I felt like studying a particular topic, I would study that topic. But every day, I had to study something. Every day, at least one topic had to be covered.”

At the same time, he stressed the importance of starting from the basics.

“You should cover everything from the basics. You should not start directly from the middle thinking that basic questions will not be asked.”

According to him, even when direct questions are not asked from basic concepts, advanced concepts are built on those fundamentals.

How PW Supported Imandar Saikia’s CSIR NET Preparation

PW became part of Imandar Saikia’s preparation through lectures and the final revision marathon. While most of his preparation involved self-study and independent understanding, he also attended the last two days of the PW marathon before the examination to revise multiple concepts in a short period. 

Imandar Saikia’s CSIR NET June 2026 journey shows how focused preparation can help aspirants make the most of limited time. Despite a backlog caused by semester examinations and dissertation work, he prioritised topics where his concepts were strong, used PYQs and revision strategically, and continued learning consistently. His 99.78 percentile in Mathematical Sciences, achieved in his first attempt, makes his preparation journey particularly relevant for future CSIR NET aspirants.