The CSIR NET Cut Off is one of the most highly awaited parameters of the CSIR NET exam for students in India who want to prepare for their research and teaching careers. The CSIR NET exam for all five subjects—Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Earth Sciences—was conducted successfully on 28th July 2025.
What is the CSIR NET Cut Off?
The CSIR NET Cut Off is the minimum marks or percentage that a candidate needs to get to qualify in the exam. This qualifying score is set by the National Testing Agency (NTA) or the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The candidates who clear this cut-off (minimum score equal to or greater than the declared cut-off) are eligible for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and/or for Assistant Professor positions based on their eligibility and category.
The CSIR NET Cut Off differs for various subjects, categories (General, SC, ST, OBC, and PwD), and exam difficulty levels. However, the same is not static and may change based on a number of factors.
Factors That Determine the CSIR NET Cut Off
The following are the main factors that determine the CSIR NET Cut Off:
- Difficulty Level of the Exam: If the exam is found to be more difficult, the cut-off will be lower as not many candidates will be able to score the qualifying marks.
- Number of Candidates: A higher number of candidates give rise to a higher cut-off, especially in cases when the exam is found to be less difficult.
- Number of Positions: The number of positions for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor also influence the cut-off.
- Category of the Candidate: There is a separate cut-off for different categories (General, OBC, SC/ST, PwD).
- Performance of the Candidates: The overall performance of the candidates also has a role to play.
Expected Cut Off 2025 Subject-wise and Category-wise
The CSIR NET Cut Off 2025 will be decided based on the subject, category, and difficulty level of the exam. Therefore, the following table gives the expected cut-off for the next cycle:
| Subject | General | OBC | SC/ST | PwD |
| Life Sciences | 55-60% | 50-55% | 45-50% | 40-45% |
| Mathematical Sciences | 55-60% | 50-55% | 45-50% | 40-45% |
| Physical Sciences | 50-55% | 45-50% | 40-45% | 35-40% |
| Chemical Sciences | 55-60% | 50-55% | 45-50% | 40-45% |
| Earth Sciences | 50-55% | 45-50% | 40-45% | 35-40% |
This table is an estimate and shows the different category-wise cut-off ranges on the basis of the expected difficulty level of the exam.
Last 5 Years CSIR NET Cut Offs
The best way to predict the likely NET Cut Off 2025 is by checking the CSIR NET Cut Offs from the previous years.
CSIR NET Cut Off Subject & Category-wise (Last 5 Years)
| Subject | Category | 2021 (%) | 2022 (%) | 2023 (%) | 2024 (%) | 2025* (%) (Expected) |
| Chemical Sciences (JRF) | UR (General) | 49.25 | 50.75 | 52.88 | 59.00 | 58.50–60.00 |
| EWS | 44.88 | 44.25 | 46.35 | 51.50 | 51.00–52.00 | |
| OBC | 42.75 | 43.50 | 46.35 | 51.00 | 50.50–52.00 | |
| SC | 34.38 | 33.50 | 33.88 | 39.25 | 38.50–40.00 | |
| ST | 27.00 | 27.50 | 28.25 | 30.50 | 30.00–31.50 | |
| PwD | 25.00 | 25.25 | 25.28 | 25.00 | 25.00–26.00 | |
| Mathematical Sciences (JRF) | UR | 49.25 | 48.38 | 54.13 | 54.88 | 54.50–55.50 |
| EWS | 44.88 | 42.75 | 47.50 | 47.63 | 47.00–48.00 | |
| OBC | 42.75 | 40.50 | 46.00 | 47.13 | 46.50–47.50 | |
| SC | 34.38 | 32.38 | 33.88 | 36.00 | 35.50–37.00 | |
| ST | 27.00 | 27.13 | 28.25 | 29.63 | 29.00–30.00 | |
| PwD | 25.00 | 25.00 | 25.28 | 26.13 | 25.00–26.00 | |
| Earth Sciences (JRF) | UR | 57.00 | 60.29 | 53.10 | 62.63 | 61.50–63.50 |
| EWS | 51.38 | 55.45 | 46.35 | 56.97 | 56.00–57.50 | |
| OBC | 50.75 | 53.79 | 45.90 | 56.61 | 55.50–57.00 | |
| SC | 40.25 | 48.04 | 35.33 | 46.31 | 45.50–47.50 | |
| ST | 30.88 | 45.74 | 27.45 | 44.61 | 44.00–45.00 | |
| PwD | 28.75 | 32.33 | 25.00 | 25.10 | 25.00–26.00 | |
| Life Sciences (JRF) | UR | 98.81 | 98.81 | 98.05 | 99.08 | 99.00–99.50 |
| EWS | 96.56 | 96.56 | 94.92 | 96.52 | 96.50–97.00 | |
| OBC | 96.12 | 96.12 | 94.92 | 96.47 | 96.50–97.00 | |
| SC | 90.96 | 90.96 | 88.55 | 92.24 | 91.50–92.50 | |
| ST | 84.23 | 84.23 | 80.59 | 85.42 | 84.50–86.00 | |
| PwD | 61.81 | 61.81 | 72.02 | 72.02 | 71.50–72.50 | |
| Physical Sciences (JRF) | UR | 50.25 | 50.25 | 49.39 | 43.94 | 43.00–44.50 |
| EWS | 42.94 | 42.94 | 42.86 | 36.69 | 36.00–37.00 | |
| OBC | 41.56 | 41.56 | 42.41 | 36.75 | 36.00–37.00 | |
| SC | 32.31 | 32.31 | 32.40 | 30.38 | 30.00–31.00 | |
| ST | 28.13 | 28.13 | 26.66 | 26.94 | 26.50–27.00 | |
| PwD | 25.63 | 25.63 | 25.00 | 25.88 | 25.00–26.00 |
Conclusion
CSIR NET Cut Off is an essential parameter that indicates whether you have made the cut or not for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or Assistant Professor. It is dependent on several factors, such as the difficulty level of the exam, the number of candidates, and the number of available positions. One of the most effective ways to know about the CSIR NET Cut Off 2025 is by taking a look at the trends, along with the analysis of the historical data of previous years.
CSIR NET Cut Off FAQs
How is the CSIR NET Cut Off determined?
The cut-off is based on the number of candidates, the difficulty level of the exam, the number of vacant positions, and category-wise reservation. It is then set as a minimum qualifying score for each subject.
What is the importance of the CSIR NET Cut Off?
The cut-off tells you if you qualify for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and/or Assistant Professor positions. If your score is above the cut-off, you will be eligible for these roles depending on your category and subject.
Can the CSIR NET Cut Off change after it has been released?
Yes, the cut-off can be changed if any objections are raised against the answer key or discrepancies are found after the rechecking process. It is recommended to keep track of the official announcement for any such updates.
What should I do if my score is below the CSIR NET Cut Off?
In case your score is below the cut-off, you can attempt the exam again in the next cycle. You should review your performance, understand your weak areas, and work towards improving them for the next attempt.
