The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the final answer keys for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2025 examination, marking a crucial update for candidates awaiting their results. This release follows the provisional answer key issued earlier, incorporating feedback from grievances raised by examinees.
Key Details of the Final Answer Key Release
On January 30, 2026, the NTA announced the availability of the final answer key for the Joint Central Scientific and Industrial Research – University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (CSIR-UGC NET) held in December 2025. Candidates who participated in the exam can now access and download the final answer key through the official website at csirnet.nta.nic.in. This step is essential for verifying responses and estimating scores before the official results are declared.
Changes in the Final Answer Key: Questions Dropped
In a significant development, the final answer key includes the dropping of three questions from the examination papers. Specifically, one question has been removed from the chemical sciences paper, while two questions have been dropped from the life sciences paper. This adjustment aims to address any discrepancies or errors identified during the grievance redressal process, ensuring fairness in the evaluation.
Background on the CSIR-UGC NET December 2025 Exam
The Joint CSIR-UGC NET December 2025 exam was conducted on December 18, 2025, with a total of 2,12,552 candidates appearing for it. Prior to this final release, the NTA had issued provisional answer keys on December 30, 2025, allowing candidates to submit objections or grievances against any perceived inaccuracies. The final answer key has been prepared after carefully considering all such feedback, reflecting the agency's commitment to transparency and accuracy.
How to Download the CSIR-UGC NET Answer Key
For candidates looking to download the final answer key, follow these simple steps:
- Visit the official website: csirnet.nta.nic.in.
- Locate and click on the answer key link provided on the homepage.
- Download the answer key file and save it for future reference.
It is advisable to keep a copy of the answer key to cross-check answers once the results are announced.
Marking Scheme and Evaluation Criteria
The NTA has clarified important aspects of the marking scheme for the CSIR-UGC NET exam. For questions where more than one correct answer is identified, marks will be awarded to all candidates who have marked any one of the correct options. This policy ensures that candidates are not penalized for minor variations in response selection.
Additionally, negative marking for incorrect answers will be applied as per the subject-wise scheme of the exam. In cases where a question is found to be erroneous, the benefit of marks will be granted only to those candidates who attempted that particular question, maintaining equity in the scoring process.
Cut-off and Merit List Considerations
There will be no separate cut-off for Part A, Part B, and Part C of the CSIR-UGC NET exam. Instead, the cumulative marks from all parts will be considered for drawing the merit list. This holistic approach ensures a comprehensive assessment of candidate performance.
Furthermore, minimum benchmark scores have been established for different categories. For General, EWS, and OBC categories, a minimum of 33 per cent is required, while for SC, ST, and PwD/PwBD categories, the benchmark is set at 25 per cent. These benchmarks apply to both fellowship and Assistant Professor eligibility, emphasizing inclusivity in the selection process.
With the release of the final answer key, candidates can now better gauge their performance and prepare for the next steps in their academic or professional journeys. Stay tuned for further updates on result declarations and merit lists from the NTA.
