Just before appearing for any competitive examination, students make a good amount of research on the feasibility and opportunities of the career of their dream. Apart from a part of the students taking up jobs and getting felicitated for the professional designation they hold, there are a few aspirants craving to pursue higher education and gain more knowledge in the discipline of their passion.

As there is an immense quotient of opportunities for the students from a wide spectrum of courses, they visit career counselors or discuss with the subject experts. Discussion, with the career counselors or with the experts, lets the student know his/ her potential, aptitude, level of perseverance, and financial stability.

What is the difference between UGC-NET, CSIR-NET and JRF ?

Those who want to get into the teaching stream or into the Research and Development stream, start looking for various pitching points and avenues with good take-away and job security. To get into these sectors, aspirants have to appear for an examination -for -entry called UGC-NET. While searching for the details under UGC-NET, students find many confusing terms like UGC- NET, JRF, and CSIR- NET. Stumbling upon these terms, students might be wondering what each acronym means and how each is different from the others.

1.What is UGC -NET?

  • This is an eligibility screening test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to test the eligibility of Indian Nationals aspiring for a Research Fellowship (JRF) or a Lectureship (LS)/ Assistant Professorship (AP) in the Universities of prominence.
  • It is an Examination conducted for all the subjects of every prominent possible stream
  • It conducts Examination of 2 papers, each with its own time duration

2. When should you take up UGC- NET or JRF or CSIR-NET?

  • You should appear for the examination –If you have a long-term plan and can spend time studying/ researching further, to get into a satisfying position in the area of academia.
  • If you have passed your Master’s degree with a minimum 50 percentage as a qualifying score to appear for the examination (45 percentage as the qualifying percentage for the reservation category). Infact, this is one of the most important qualifying criteria to apply for.

3. What should be the age and qualification required to appear for UGC-NET?

  • The candidate should not be more than 31 years of age to appear for Junior Research Fellowship
  • No age limit to appear for the Assistant Professorship/ Lecturership
  • A Master’s degree with the specified qualifying percentage of marks is the entitlement to appear for the examination.

4. Under Master’s degree, what are the qualifying criteria to appear for the examination ?

  • If you have already appeared for your qualifying Master’s degree examination by being in the final year of your program
  • If you are pursuing a Master’s degree or any equivalent course from any of the Indian Universities
  • If you have earned a CS/ CA/ ICWA degree and if it is considered equivalent to a Master’s programme

5. What is the other qualifying criterion (reasonable) for the examination, if you have not completed your Master’s program in time or on time?

  • Note-If your final year Master’s program examination is delayed/ rescheduled for a later date and if the delay is considered as a valid known reason to be mentioned
  • In all the above cases ( qualifying criteria mentioned in 5 and 6), you will be admitted provisionally with a binding

6. After writing the examination and after the result of UGC NET is announced, what if you cannot complete your Masters?

  • You will be disqualified from that enrolled batch of candidates, who would have appeared for the examination

7. How should you choose the subjects for the examination?

  • For UGC-NET, You have to choose the subjects, which match the subjects you have chosen for your Master’s degree

8. Can you appear for the examination when you have a Master’s degree from a foreign university?

  • Yes, the degree availed from a foreign university is approved only if the degree is deemed equivalent to a Master’s degree from India
  • When it falls under the norms/ prerequisite prescribed by the Association of Indian Universities

9. How can you apply for UGC-NET? From where can you get the syllabus for the examination?

  • By keeping your transcripts/ marks sheet ready, go to the official website csirnet.nta.nic.in
  • Go to the e-services for the ‘Application form for the UGC-NET cycle ‘
  • Get registered under New Registration
  • Enter the required details and complete the registration
  • You can view the syllabus on the official website csirnet.nta.nic.in

10. Do you think an average student can appear for UGC-NET?

  • Yes, with a required minimum qualifying percentage to appear for the examination and by working well on the previous years’ question papers, you can appear for the examination.
  • Practicing on the mock tests with good time management, before the examination,  should help you to a great extent.

11. What is the cut- off marks to clear UGC-NET?

  • The minimum qualifying mark to clear the examination is 40% for the General category and 35% for the reserved category.

12. What is the examination cycle for UGC-NET?

  • The UGC-NET Examination is held twice a year, generally in June and December.
  • You get the dates for the examination and the detailed pointers in the form of Public Notices on the official website csirnet.nta.nic.in

13. How is CSIR-NET different from UGC-NET?

  • CSIR-NET Examination is organized only for the science stream subjects and has only one paper of 3 hours duration
  • The qualified candidates are entitled to work in public sector organizations and public sector Laboratories
  • Qualified CSIR-NET candidates can also apply for a Ph.D, or Junior Research Fellowship

14. For how long will the awarded certificate of UGC- NET be valid?

  • The validity of the UGC-NET certificate of Eligibility for Assistant Professorship/ Lectureship is for life
  • The validity of the certificate for JRF( Junior Research Fellowship) is for 3 years

15. With UGC-NET, can you get a government job?

  • After qualifying for UGC-NET, You are eligible to get a job in Government aided Universities and also in the Private colleges/ Universities

16. What is Associate Professorship?

  • Associate Professorship is the rank that a candidate gets after getting a promotion from Assistant Professorship with 14 yrs. of experience in service.

17. What is Professorship?

  • Generally, an Associate Professor, on promotion, after completing 3 yrs. of service, gets the rank of Professorship.

18. Is JRF (Junior Research Fellowhsip) different from the above ranks?

  • Junior Research Fellowship is the certificate awarded by UGC to the top 5%-7% of the candidates who clear UGC-NET with a commendable score and excellence
  • It is a scholarship program for candidates opting for research work and higher studies
  • It does not guarantee a job after the completion of two years under JRF. The scholarship is given for two years. Absorption after the Fellowship depends on excellence in performance.
  • Candidates can pursue Ph.D in their respective field of study and can apply for jobs later
  • The cut-off marks for UGC- NET is different from that of JRF.

19. While applying for the Associate Professorship/ Lecturership, is Ph.D. necessary?

  • Ph.D. is not necessary while applying for the AP/ Lecturership

New Education Policy 2020 has many flexible, attractive rewarding features to back the students, who want to pursue higher education and research in the areas of their choice. The earmarked amount to be released (of the GDP) into the education sector, in the forthcoming days, will encourage many more talented aspirants to choose their areas of passion.

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