The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the results and final answer key for the Joint Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (CSIR UGC NET) December 2024 session officially. The candidates who wrote the exam can now view their results on the official portal, csirnet.nta.ac.in, by using the login details. The NTA also made it officially clear that the cutoff marks subject-wise would be published in the near future.

The CSIR UGC NET, which establishes eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Lectureship/Assistant Professorship in Indian colleges and universities, was held from February 28 to March 2, 2025. The test was conducted in computer-based mode at several centres all over the country. Official figures say that a total of 2,38,451 candidates had enrolled for the test, of whom 1,74,785 actually appeared. This turnout indicates a high rate of participation, highlighting the increasing interest of science graduates and postgraduates in research and academic careers.

Of the five subjects that were tested in the CSIR UGC NET exam, Chemical Science had the maximum number of candidates. Up to 39,452 students appeared in the test of this subject on the second shift on 28 February. Life Sciences was a close second with 37,522 candidates writing the test on the first shift on March 1. The other subjects—Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences—also experienced significant participation, reflecting the wide academic interest shown in many scientific streams.

The NTA has released the final answer key for all subjects and the results. The final key is prepared by expert review and includes feedback and objections filed by the candidates after the release of the provisional answer key. It is the foundation for preparing the CSIR NET result, making it transparent and fair in the assessing process.

Aspirants can download their scorecards by logging in to the official website using their application number and date of birth. Once logged in successfully, they will be able to download and view their personal scorecards, which show their marks, subject-wise performance, and overall qualification status. It is recommended that they take a printout of the result and keep it for future academic or professional purposes.

Regarding the qualifying marks, the NTA has made it clear that the minimum marks for passing the CSIR NET exam vary according to category. For General, EWS (Economically Weaker Section), and OBC (Other Backward Class) category candidates, a minimum of 33% is required in order to qualify for either the JRF or Lectureship/Assistant Professorship. On the other hand, candidates from SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe), and PwD (Persons with Disabilities) categories are required to score at least 25%.

The last cutoff scores, which are subject to a multifactorial combination of the number of candidates who took the test and the level of difficulty in the examination, will be announced subject-wise. These cutoffs are significant because they dictate the suitability of the candidates for various academic and research positions under the CSIR-UGC scheme. The cutoffs will be made available on the same portal once announced.

The CSIR UGC NET is India’s most recognized science scholars’ examination, which opens gates for aspirants to apply for research fellowships and teaching positions in top-notch institutions. The successful culmination of the December 2024 session is a testimony to the NTA’s meticulousness in conducting fair and effective tests. With the announcement of results and key answers, candidates are now free to start strategizing their future moves, whether it’s applying for PhD courses, seeking postdoctoral research positions, or looking into teaching faculty assignments at universities.

The NTA has also advised candidates to keep themselves informed by regularly visiting the official CSIR NET portal in search of cutoff score announcements and other key notifications pertaining to the December 2024 cycle.