CSIR NET June 2026 Physical Sciences Topper Somsubhra Saha’s Story: Secured AIR 21 With PW

Somsubhra Saha secured AIR 21 and qualified for JRF in CSIR NET June 2026 Physical Sciences with 110.75 marks. His result came after multiple attempts and a preparation process in which he worked on areas that had affected his performance earlier, particularly time management and question selection.

In his interaction with PW, Somsubhra shared how he prepared notes from his MSc studies, used previous-year questions to understand the examination and relied on mock tests to practise under time constraints. He also spoke about his future goal of pursuing a PhD in Cosmology.

How Somsubhra Saha’s Earlier Attempts Shaped His Preparation

Somsubhra’s journey to AIR 21 was not limited to a single attempt. He shared that time management had affected his performance in an earlier CSIR NET attempt, when he could not complete the questions within the available time.

He recalled:

“What you said about time management is a very important thing. This was probably my fourth attempt. In one attempt, I was sitting in the exam hall and solving the NET paper, but because of the lack of time, I could not complete the questions.”

This experience made managing the limited examination time an important part of his later preparation. Instead of treating question-solving only as a practice exercise, Somsubhra used mock tests to understand how much time he could spend on different questions and parts of the paper.

He explained:

“Mock tests helped me a lot. They prepare you for the exam. You get practice and improve your time management. You understand how much time you have to give to each question and each part. You understand this through mock tests.”

How Somsubhra Saha Prepared Notes Using Previous-Year Questions

Somsubhra had already prepared some notes during his MSc. While preparing for CSIR NET, he used previous-year questions to understand the type of questions asked in the examination and then studied the related theories.

He explained:

“For notes, I had done a little bit of preparation while studying during my MSc. While studying, I made some notes. Then I looked at the previous year's questions to understand what type of questions are asked. I studied the theories related to those questions and then noted down the formulas because, in our exam, mathematical problems are mainly asked.”

This approach connected his note-making with the actual question pattern. Instead of creating notes separately from his practice, he used previous-year questions to identify the theories and formulas that needed attention.

How Somsubhra Saha Used Mock Tests to Improve Time Management

Mock tests became an important part of Somsubhra’s preparation because they allowed him to practise solving questions within the time available in the actual examination.

He said:

“Now, mock tests help a lot. What happens in this exam is that when we go to take the exam, we get very little time to think because there are so many questions and the time is also limited. Mock tests help a lot in this.”

For Somsubhra, the benefit was not limited to solving more questions. The tests helped him understand how to plan his attempt and work within the examination time.

He further explained:

“They prepare you completely for the exam and tell you how to plan your strategy and how to solve questions quickly. All of this happens through mock tests, and they were very helpful for me.”

This was particularly relevant to his earlier experience of being unable to complete a paper because of limited time.

How Somsubhra Saha Analysed Mistakes After Mock Tests

Somsubhra also used mock tests to identify mistakes and revisit the concepts behind them. The availability of solutions and related theories helped him review questions after each test.

He explained:

“Exactly, exactly, sir. Exactly. When we gave the mock test, wherever we made mistakes, the solutions were also available. There were theories as well. We looked at them, prepared again and then attempted another test. This is how we identified our weaknesses.”

This created a cycle of attempting a test, reviewing mistakes, revisiting the relevant concepts and taking another test. For Somsubhra, this process helped him understand the areas that required further preparation.

PW CSIR NET June 2026 Toppers List

How PW Mock Tests Supported Somsubhra Saha’s Preparation

Somsubhra specifically highlighted the role of mock tests in his preparation. The tests gave him an opportunity to practise under time constraints, review solutions and revisit the theories behind questions he had answered incorrectly.

His experience with the mock tests was closely connected to the challenges he had identified from his earlier attempts. Rather than focusing only on the number of questions solved, he used the test results to understand his mistakes and refine his approach to the examination.

This made mock-test practice a practical part of his preparation for CSIR NET Physical Sciences.

Somsubhra Saha Secured AIR 21 With 110.75 Marks

Somsubhra’s preparation eventually resulted in 110.75 marks, AIR 21 and JRF qualification in CSIR NET June 2026 Physical Sciences.

When asked about his score, he said:

“Sir, I scored 110.75.”

His result marked a significant point in his CSIR NET journey, particularly after the time-management challenges he had experienced in an earlier attempt.

What Somsubhra Saha Plans to Do After CSIR NET

After securing AIR 21 and qualifying for JRF, Somsubhra plans to continue towards research in Physics. He specifically expressed his interest in Cosmology and his goal of pursuing a PhD in the field.

He shared:

“Sir, I am from a physics background, and I have a lot of interest in cosmology. I will pursue my PhD in cosmology. This is my goal.”

For Somsubhra, the CSIR NET result is therefore part of a longer academic journey rather than an endpoint.

Somsubhra’s CSIR NET June 2026 journey reflects how his preparation evolved through multiple attempts. An earlier experience of being unable to complete the paper because of limited time led him to place greater emphasis on mock tests, question selection and time management.

His use of previous-year questions for understanding the examination pattern and his practice of reviewing mistakes after mock tests formed key parts of his preparation. With AIR 21 and JRF secured, Somsubhra now plans to pursue his interest in Cosmology through a PhD.