Official syllabus · 2026–2027
CSIR NET Syllabus 2026–2027 & Exam Pattern
CSIR-UGC NET Physical Sciences decides Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Lectureship/Assistant Professor eligibility and PhD admission. The paper has Part A (general aptitude), Part B (core physics) and Part C (advanced physics).
Official CSIR NET Physical Sciences syllabus (PDF)
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CSIR NET exam pattern & marking scheme
Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for CSIR
Mode
Computer Based Test (CBT)
Duration
3 hours
Questions
75 (attempt 55)
Total marks
200
| Section | Questions | Marks | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A — General Science, Quantitative Reasoning & Research Aptitude | 20 (attempt any 15) | 2 each · 30 marks | 25% (−0.5) |
| Part B — Core physics (Part ‘A’ of syllabus) | 25 (attempt any 20) | 3.5 each · 70 marks | 25% (−0.875) |
| Part C — Advanced + core physics, analytical | 30 (attempt any 20) | 5 each · 100 marks | 25% (−1.25) |
- All questions are single-correct MCQs.
- Only the first 15 / 20 / 20 answered questions in each part are evaluated.
CSIR NET detailed syllabus — topic wise
Syllabus from the official CSIR-UGC NET Physical Sciences syllabus document (CSIR HRDG).
Part A (Core) — I. Mathematical Methods of Physics
- Dimensional analysis
- Vector algebra and vector calculus
- Linear algebra, matrices, Cayley-Hamilton Theorem
- Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
- Linear ordinary differential equations of first & second order
- Special functions (Hermite, Bessel, Laguerre and Legendre functions)
- Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms
- Elements of complex analysis, analytic functions
- Taylor & Laurent series
- poles, residues and evaluation of integrals
- Elementary probability theory, random variables, binomial, Poisson and normal distributions
- Central limit theorem
Part A (Core) — II. Classical Mechanics
- Newton’s laws
- Dynamical systems, Phase space dynamics, stability analysis
- Central force motions
- Two body Collisions - scattering in laboratory and Centre of mass frames
- Rigid body dynamics - moment of inertia tensor
- Non-inertial frames and pseudoforces
- Variational principle
- Generalized coordinates
- Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism and equations of motion
- Conservation laws and cyclic coordinates
- Periodic motion: small oscillations, normal modes
- Special theory of relativity - Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics and mass–energy equivalence
Part A (Core) — III. Electromagnetic Theory
- Electrostatics: Gauss’s law and its applications, Laplace and Poisson equations, boundary value problems
- Magnetostatics: Biot-Savart law, Ampere's theorem
- Electromagnetic induction
- Maxwell's equations in free space and linear isotropic media
- boundary conditions on the fields at interfaces
- Scalar and vector potentials, gauge invariance
- Electromagnetic waves in free space
- Dielectrics and conductors
- Reflection and refraction, polarization, Fresnel’s law, interference, coherence, and diffraction
- Dynamics of charged particles in static and uniform electromagnetic fields
Part A (Core) — IV. Quantum Mechanics
- Wave-particle duality
- Schrödinger equation (time-dependent and time-independent)
- Eigenvalue problems (particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, etc.)
- Tunneling through a barrier
- Wave-function in coordinate and momentum representations
- Commutators and Heisenberg uncertainty principle
- Dirac notation for state vectors
- Motion in a central potential: orbital angular momentum, angular momentum algebra, spin, addition of angular momenta
- Hydrogen atom
- Stern-Gerlach experiment
- Time-independent perturbation theory and applications
- Variational method
- Time dependent perturbation theory and Fermi's golden rule, selection rules
- Identical particles, Pauli exclusion principle, spin-statistics connection
Part A (Core) — V. Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics
- Laws of thermodynamics and their consequences
- Thermodynamic potentials, Maxwell relations, chemical potential, phase equilibria
- Phase space, micro- and macro-states
- Micro-canonical, canonical and grand-canonical ensembles and partition functions
- Free energy and its connection with thermodynamic quantities
- Classical and quantum statistics
- Ideal Bose and Fermi gases
- Principle of detailed balance
- Blackbody radiation and Planck's distribution law
Part A (Core) — VI. Electronics and Experimental Methods
- Semiconductor devices (diodes, junctions, transistors, field effect devices, homo- and hetero-junction devices), device structure, device characteristics, frequency dependence and applications
- Opto-electronic devices (solar cells, photo-detectors, LEDs)
- Operational amplifiers and their applications
- Digital techniques and applications (registers, counters, comparators and similar circuits)
- A/D and D/A converters
- Microprocessor and microcontroller basics
- Data interpretation and analysis
- Precision and accuracy
- Error analysis, propagation of errors
- Least squares fitting
Part B (Advanced) — I. Mathematical Methods of Physics
- Green’s function
- Partial differential equations (Laplace, wave and heat equations in two and three dimensions)
- Elements of computational techniques: root of functions, interpolation, extrapolation, integration by trapezoid and Simpson’s rule, Solution of first order differential equation using Runge-Kutta method
- Finite difference methods
- Tensors
- Introductory group theory: SU(2), O(3)
Part B (Advanced) — II. Classical Mechanics
- Dynamical systems, Phase space dynamics, stability analysis
- Poisson brackets and canonical transformations
- Symmetry, invariance and Noether’s theorem
- Hamilton-Jacobi theory
Part B (Advanced) — III. Electromagnetic Theory
- Dispersion relations in plasma
- Lorentz invariance of Maxwell’s equation
- Transmission lines and wave guides
- Radiation - from moving charges and dipoles and retarded potentials
Part B (Advanced) — IV. Quantum Mechanics
- Spin-orbit coupling, fine structure
- WKB approximation
- Elementary theory of scattering: phase shifts, partial waves, Born approximation
- Relativistic quantum mechanics: Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations
- Semi-classical theory of radiation
Part B (Advanced) — V. Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics
- First- and second-order phase transitions
- Diamagnetism, paramagnetism, and ferromagnetism
- Ising model
- Bose-Einstein condensation
- Diffusion equation
- Random walk and Brownian motion
- Introduction to nonequilibrium processes
Part B (Advanced) — VI. Electronics and Experimental Methods
- Linear and nonlinear curve fitting, chi-square test
- Transducers (temperature, pressure/vacuum, magnetic fields, vibration, optical, and particle detectors)
- Measurement and control
- Signal conditioning and recovery
- Impedance matching, amplification (Op-amp based, instrumentation amp, feedback), filtering and noise reduction, shielding and grounding
- Fourier transforms, lock-in detector, box-car integrator, modulation techniques
- High frequency devices (including generators and detectors)
Part B (Advanced) — VII. Atomic & Molecular Physics
- Quantum states of an electron in an atom
- Electron spin
- Spectrum of helium and alkali atom
- Relativistic corrections for energy levels of hydrogen atom, hyperfine structure and isotopic shift, width of spectrum lines, LS & JJ couplings
- Zeeman, Paschen-Bach & Stark effects
- Electron spin resonance
- Nuclear magnetic resonance, chemical shift
- Frank-Condon principle
- Born-Oppenheimer approximation
- Electronic, rotational, vibrational and Raman spectra of diatomic molecules, selection rules
- Lasers: spontaneous and stimulated emission, Einstein A & B coefficients
- Optical pumping, population inversion, rate equation
- Modes of resonators and coherence length
Part B (Advanced) — VIII. Condensed Matter Physics
- Bravais lattices
- Reciprocal lattice
- Diffraction and the structure factor
- Bonding of solids
- Elastic properties, phonons, lattice specific heat
- Free electron theory and electronic specific heat
- Response and relaxation phenomena
- Drude model of electrical and thermal conductivity
- Hall effect and thermoelectric power
- Electron motion in a periodic potential, band theory of solids: metals, insulators and semiconductors
- Superconductivity: type-I and type-II superconductors
- Josephson junctions
- Superfluidity
- Defects and dislocations
- Ordered phases of matter: translational and orientational order, kinds of liquid crystalline order
- Quasi crystals
Part B (Advanced) — IX. Nuclear and Particle Physics
- Basic nuclear properties: size, shape and charge distribution, spin and parity
- Binding energy, semi-empirical mass formula, liquid drop model
- Nature of the nuclear force, form of nucleon-nucleon potential, charge-independence and charge-symmetry of nuclear forces
- Deuteron problem
- Evidence of shell structure, single-particle shell model, its validity and limitations
- Rotational spectra
- Elementary ideas of alpha, beta and gamma decays and their selection rules
- Fission and fusion
- Nuclear reactions, reaction mechanism, compound nuclei and direct reactions
- Classification of fundamental forces
- Elementary particles and their quantum numbers (charge, spin, parity, isospin, strangeness, etc.)
- Gellmann-Nishijima formula
- Quark model, baryons and mesons
- C, P, and T invariance
- Application of symmetry arguments to particle reactions
- Parity non-conservation in weak interaction
- Relativistic kinematics