CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025, Subject Wise Pattern & Marking Scheme
Dr. Kar4 Jun, 2025
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CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025: CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the official notification for the CSIR NET 2025 examination on 3rd June 2025. Online application forms are open from 3rd June 2025 and will remain available until 23rd June 2025, 11:59 PM. The deadline for fee payment is 24th June 2025, 11:59 PM. A correction window will be accessible from 25th June to 26th June 2025 for candidates to make necessary edits. The CSIR NET 2025 examination is scheduled to be conducted on 26th, 27th, and 28th July 2025 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. The exam duration is 180 minutes, comprising objective-type questions. The question papers will be bilingual, available in both Hindi and English. The test will cover five subject areas; therefore, understanding the updated exam pattern and schedule is essential for candidates to plan their preparation effectively.
CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 Overview
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) conducts the National Eligibility Test (NET) for various subjects, including Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. The CSIR defines the official paper pattern for this national-level examination on an annual basis. A comprehensive grasp of the CSIR NET exam paper pattern is essential for devising a successful strategy to excel in the examination. The table below provides an overview of the CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025:
| CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 Overview | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Name of the Exam | Council of Scientific Research National Eligibility Test |
| Conducting Body | National Test Agency |
| Number of Subjects | 5 |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours |
| Subjects |
|
| Total Questions to Attempt |
|
| Type of Questions | MCQs; 4 options with only 1 correct option |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Marking Scheme | +2 for the correct answer; Negative marking of 25 per cent (33 per cent for some sections) |
| Language of Paper | English and Hindi |
| Official Website | csirnet.nta.nic.in |
CSIR NET Exam Pattern PDF
CSIR NET 2025 Exam Structure
The CSIR NET 2025 July exam will be conducted in a computer-based test (CBT) format, consisting of five papers to assess candidates' eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and lectureship positions across various scientific disciplines. During the application process, candidates must select one subject from the options: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Earth Sciences, based on their academic background and expertise.
The examination carries a total weightage of 200 marks and is scheduled for 3 hours. Each question holds a value of 2 marks, and a negative marking scheme is implemented, deducting 1/4 mark for every incorrect response. Below is a detailed outline of the overall CSIR NET 2025 exam pattern:
| CSIR NET 2025 Exam Structure | |
| Subjects | Number of Questions |
| Life Sciences | 145 |
| Physical Sciences | 75 |
| Chemical Sciences | 120 |
| Mathematical Sciences | 120 |
| Earth Sciences | 150 |
CSIR NET 2025 Subject Wise Exam Pattern
Candidates should understand the exam structure, qualifying marks, and marking scheme to excel in competitive exams. Referring to the CSIR NET exam pattern is useful because it provides an overview of the test. The question paper follows the exam pattern and is divided into three sections. The marking scheme varies between subjects, so candidates should adhere to the specific pattern for their chosen subject. Candidates should thoroughly review the CSIR NET exam pattern 2025 before commencing exam preparation. The exam pattern varies across all five subjects.
CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 for Life Sciences
Candidates for the CSIR NET Life Sciences paper must answer 75 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) from Parts A, B, and C. Each question in Parts A and B carries a weight of two marks, while each question in Part C carries four marks. It's important to note that there is a negative marking of 25 per cent in Parts A, B, and C for each incorrect response. The CSIR NET Exam Pattern for Life Sciences is outlined below.
| CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 for Life Sciences | ||||
| Particulars | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
| Max no of questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Marks for each correct answer | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
| Negative marking in Part A, B & C | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | - |
| Total Questions | 20 | 50 | 75 | 145 |
CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 for Chemical Sciences
In the Chemical Sciences paper for the CSIR NET Examination, candidates must collectively respond to seventy-five Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) drawn from Parts A, B, and C. Each question in Parts A and B carries a weightage of two marks, while each question in Part C holds four marks. Notably, incorrect answers are subject to a twenty-five percent negative mark. Below is a detailed outline of the CSIR NET Examination Pattern for Chemical Sciences.
| CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 for Chemical Sciences | ||||
| Particulars | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
| Max no of questions to attempt | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Marks for each correct answer | 2 | 2 | 4 | 200 |
| Negative Marking | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | - |
| Total Questions | 20 | 40 | 60 | 120 |
CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 for Physical Sciences
Understanding the CSIR 2025 Exam Pattern and marking scheme for Physical Sciences is extremely important for effective preparation and success. The Physical Science syllabus comprises Core topics like Classical Mechanics, Mathematical Methods, and Advanced topics such as Condensed Matter Physics. The exam pattern includes 120 questions divided into General Aptitude, Physics-I (Core subjects), and Physics-II (Advanced subjects). Each question carries two marks, with a negative marking of 13 for every incorrect answer. To gauge performance accurately, one must be familiar with the marking scheme.
| CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 for Physical Sciences | ||||
| Section | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
| Max Questions to Attempt | 15 | 20 | 20 | 55 |
| Maximum Marks | 30 | 70 | 100 | 200 |
| Correct Answer Marks | 2 | 3.5 | 5 | - |
| Negative Marking | 0.5 | 0.875 | 1.25 | - |
| Total Questions | 20 | 25 | 30 | 75 |
CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 for Earth Sciences
Understanding the CSIR NET paper pattern and marking scheme for Earth Science is essential, as it offers vital information about the exam's structure and weightage distribution. This knowledge empowers candidates to strategize their studies and revision effectively. The Earth Sciences syllabus comprises various sections, such as Geology, Applied Geology, Physical Geography, Geophysics, Meteorology, and Ocean Sciences. For a more precise understanding, the table below presents the Earth Science exam pattern:
| CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 for Earth Sciences | ||||
| Section | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
| Max Questions | 15 | 35 | 25 | 75 |
| Max Marks | 30 | 70 | 100 | 200 |
| Correct Answer | 2 | 2 | 4 | - |
| Negative Marking | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.32 | - |
| Total Questions | 20 | 50 | 80 | 150 |
CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 for Mathematical Sciences
The CSIR NET Mathematical Science paper has 60 multiple-choice questions in three parts: A, B, and C. Part C questions may have multiple correct answers. There's a 25% negative marking in Parts A and B but none in Part C. For a more detailed understanding of the CSIR NET Mathematical Science exam pattern, aspiring candidates can refer to the table below:
| CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 for Mathematical Sciences | ||||
| Section | Part A | Part B | Part C | Total |
| Maximum Questions to Attempt | 15 | 25 | 20 | 60 |
| Maximum Marks | 30 | 75 | 95 | 200 |
| Correct Answer Marks | 2 | 3 | 4.75 | - |
| Deduction for Every Wrong Answer | 0.5 | 0.75 | 0 | - |
| Total Questions | 20 | 40 | 60 | 120 |
CSIR NET 2025 Marking Scheme
| CSIR NET 2025 Marking Scheme | |||
| Subject | Total Weightage | Negative Marking | Marking Scheme |
| Chemical Science | 200 | Part A: -0.5 | Part A: +2 |
| Part B: -0.5 | Part B: +2 | ||
| Part C: -1 | Part C: +4 | ||
| Physical Science | 200 | Part A: -0.5 | Part A: +2 |
| Part B: -0.875 | Part B: +3.5 | ||
| Part C: -1.75 | Part C: +5 | ||
| Mathematical Science | 200 | Part A: -0.5 | Part A: +2 |
| Part B: -0.5 | Part B: +3 | ||
| Part C: -0.75 | Part C: +4.75 | ||
| Life Science | 200 | Part A: -0.5 | Part A: 0.5 |
| Part B: -0.5 | Part B: 0.5 | ||
| Part C: -1 | Part C: 1 | ||
| Earth Science | 200 | Part A: -0.5 | Part A: +2 |
| Part B: -0.5 | Part B: +2 | ||
| Part C: -1 | Part C: +4 | ||
CSIR NET 2025 Negative Marking
The National Entrance Examination conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research incorporates negative marking, with varying degrees of negative marking applied across different sections. The following table presents the subject-specific details of negative marking for the CSIR NET:
| CSIR NET 2025 Negative Marking | ||
| Subject | Section | Negative Marking |
| Chemical Science | Part A | -0.5 |
| Part B | -0.5 | |
| Part C | -1 | |
| Physical Science | Part A | -0.5 |
| Part B | -0.875 | |
| Part C | -1.75 | |
| Mathematical Science | Part A | -0.5 |
| Part B | -0.75 | |
| Part C | 0 | |
| Life Science | Part A | -0.5 |
| Part B | -0.5 | |
| Part C | -1 | |
| Earth Science | Part A | -0.5 |
| Part B | -0.5 | |
| Part C | -1.32 | |
Aspiring candidates are advised to take note of the negative marking details specific to each subject when preparing for the CSIR NET examination.
CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2025 FAQs
Is the CSIR NET exam considered easy or difficult?
What are the minimum eligibility requirements for CSIR NET?
How many sections are there in the CSIR NET exam?
Does CSIR have a negative marking scheme?
Is it easy to clear CSIR NET?
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