Importance of higher education in the present jobs scenario is being taken seriously, not only by the students but also by most of the recruiters. They want that the new recruits should have indepth knowledge of the job profile into which they are being selected. Such a concept is seeing the rise of heavy admissions into the research fellowship programs and the appearance of a large number of students in the National Eligibility Test or NET.
The NET
The NET is an entrance exam conducted by National Educational Testing Bureau of University Grants Commission that selects candidates for lectureship and for Junior Research Fellowship programs in the recognised universities or institutes in the country. This particular exam is for the humanities stream. On the other hand the CSIR or Council of Scientific and Industrial Research conducts the UGC-CSIR NET exam for the science subjects. These subjects are
- Life sciences
- Physical sciences
- Chemical sciences
- Mathematical sciences
- Earth, atmospheric, ocean and planetary sciences
Timing
Those who are interested to continue with researches in different fields, after their masters degrees should be aware about the timings of the NET exam. The CSIR conducts the written exam twice in a year during the months of June and December, the results of which are published during September and March respectively.
Pattern
From the year 2011, the CSIR NET exam for science subjects will be conducted in the objective type format. The question paper will have only one with multiple type questions that would be required to be solved in 3 hours. Each question paper will have three parts with the first part A having 20 questions on topics of general science, quantitative aptitude and reasoning and research aptitude. There has again been a change in the format of questions proposed from the June 2012 exam, according to which the objective type questions will have to be solved in 2 different sessions. Although, papers would be 3 in number, the last paper will be given in the second session. The first paper will have 60 questions of which 50 would be required to be answered with each having 2 marks and total time of one hour and 15 minutes. The same duration would be given for the second paper which will have 50 questions with all of them being compulsory with 2 marks each. The third part would be provided in the second session with 75 questions, and all are compulsory with 2 marks each and a time of 2 ½ hours. None of the papers will have any negative marking.
Benefits
At the least, a couple of imminent benefits attract millions of students who have passed their masters and Ph.Ds.
After qualifying in the test, the students will get admissions in the JRF category in various institutes of the government and along with that they become eligible for stipend of Rs 12,000 per month along with the commensurate HRA, and also a yearly contingency fund of Rs 20,000, which will be handed over to the university/institute. Based on the progress of the research activities, the stipend of the 3rd year of fellowship is increased to Rs 14,000. The stipend payment is subject to research progress and assessment and the fellowship period should not extend for more than 5 years.
The second benefit for the NET qualifying students is that of the recruitment into various institutes of higher education as lecturers.
Eligibility in age and education
In order to be able to appear in the CSIR NET exam, students should be able to fulfil the criteria laid down by the CSIR UGC conducting board so that their applications are accepted.
Although the maximum age limit in general is 28 years for JRF, relaxation of age up to a maximum of 5 years can be given for schedule caste, women,LLBholders and few others.
Candidates should have passed the masters’ degree examination with a minimum of exactly 55% from a recognised university inIndiaor such students who are about to appear and are awaiting the results of the same exam, can appear. There are other features which one can find from the CSIR UGC NET advertisements for the upcoming sessions as per the convenience.