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Eduncle posted an Article
December 11, 2023 • 17:26 pm

Differences between UGC, CSIR, ICAR & SET NET Exams

Differences between UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET & SET Exams

Many students have a dream to become a lecturer or researcher in India. If you are also willing to pursue your career either as a research analyst or lecturer in Indian universities, then choosing UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET, or SET as your career path will be the right decision for you.

You can apply for NET and SET exams after completing your postgraduation courses as it is the required educational qualification. These exams are the best channels through which you can show your talent and fulfill your dream of getting placed at prestigious positions of JRF’s or assistant professors.

Since all the exams help you pursue career in the Educational fields, you may confuse between them and have queries like:

What are the differences between these exams?

Which one is best for you?

Can you appear UGC, CSIR, ICAR NET, and SET Exam?

Are CSIR NET/UGC NET/ICAR NET/SET Exam equivalent to each other?

To clear these confusions, here we have come up with detailed information of NTA UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET, and SET Exam. So, please read the article and know the differences between them.

In this blog, you will find the following details: -

About UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET, and SET Exam

What is UGC NET?

What is CSIR NET?

What is ICAR NET?

What is SET Exam?

Differences Between CSIR, UGC, ICAR & SET

Differences in Subjects

Difference in Eligibility

Difference in Paper Pattern

Difference in Selection Criteria

Difference in Career Scope

Similarities between UGC, CSIR, ICAR NET & SET Exam

UGC NET Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Start your NET Exam studies with the updated syllabus and plan your preparation smartly. Download Free PDF Now!!

 

 

About UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET and SET Exam

 

All these exams, UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET, and SET, are conducted at the national and state levels by authorities to select the most eligible candidates for the post of assistant professor and researcher.

Below, you can check the detailed information about these exams.

 

 

What is the UGC NET Exam? - An Introduction

 

UGC NET is the acronym form of the University Grant Commission National Eligibility Test.

It is also called NTA NET. UGC NET Exam is a national-level exam that focuses on maintaining the minimum standards for teaching and research nationwide.

It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year for the post of assistant professor at the university level and to provide the JRF award to Indian citizens.

This exam is for the arts, humanities, and management post-graduates who wish to become lecturers/professors/researchers.

 

 

Get Experts Guidance for Choosing the Right Subject for NET Exam

 

 

What is the CSIR NET Exam? - An Introduction

 

CSIR stands for the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, which is a national research and development organization.

National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting the CSIR NET Exam twice a year (June & December) since December 2019. But before that, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the exam.

This exam is for science stream candidates who want to become junior research fellow (JRF) and assistant professor in colleges/universities.

 

 

 

 

What is the ICAR NET Exam? - An Introduction

 

ICAR NET is an acronym form of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research National Eligibility Test.

ASRB NET or ASRB ICAR NET is a national-level exam conducted by the Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) once a year.

The purpose of the exam is to recruit lecturers/ assistant professors in state agricultural universities and other agricultural universities.

 

 

What is the SET Exam? - An Introduction

 

SET stands for State Eligibility Test.

SET Exam is conducted on state-level once a year to fulfill the post of professors in state universities and provide a benefit of fellowship for the research program.

Currently, 15 state participates in this exam which are as follows: -

Andhra Pradesh State Eligibility Test (APSET)

Assam State Level Eligibility Test (Assam SLET)

Chhattisgarh State Eligibility Test (CG SET)

Gujarat State Eligibility Test (GSET)

Himachal Pradesh State Eligibility Test (HP SET)

Jammu & Kashmir State Eligibility Test (JK SET)

Kerala State Eligibility Test (Kerala SET)

Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET)

Madhya Pradesh State Eligibility Test (MP SET)

Maharashtra State Eligibility Test (MH SET)

Tamil Nadu State Eligibility Test (TNSET)

Telangana State Eligibility Test (TSSET)

Uttarakhand State Eligibility Test (USET)

West Bengal State Eligibility Test (WB SET)

Rajasthan State Eligibility Test (RSET)

 

 

Start your NET Exam preparation with free study kit designed by Eduncle Experts. Download Now!!

 

 

Differences Between CSIR, UGC, ICAR & SET

 

In the table below, we have summed up some of the basic differences between these four exams. These are the main differences between UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET and SET Exam.

 

Factors

UGC NET

CSIR NET

ICAR NET

SET Exam

Exam conducting Institute

NTA (National Test Agency)

NTA (National Test Agency)

ASRB (Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board)

State Agencies

Total Marks

300

200

150

300

Negative Marking

No negative marking

Different for all subjects/ parts A, B, C

1/3rd per wrong answer

No negative marking

Difficulty Level of the Paper

Hard - Moderate

Tough

Moderate

Moderate

Exam Mode

Online mode

Online mode

Online mode

Online mode

Official Website

https://ntanet.nic.in

https://csirnet.nta.nic.in

http://www.asrb.org.in or https://icar.org.in

Different for each state

Duration of the Exam

3 hours

3 hours

2 hours

3 hours

Total Subjects

82

5

57

Depend on state

 

 

Want to know about difficulty level of questions asked in the exam? Download NET Exam Previous Papers and get an overview of the paper.

 

 

Differences in Subjects of UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET, SET Exam

 

The official authority conducts these exams in different subjects. With the help of the knowledge of these subjects, you can make a smart choice and decide which exam will be preferable for you.

Below, you can check the list of all subjects.

 

 

List of NTA UGC NET Exam Subjects

 

Till Dec 2018 along with general paper 1, there were 100 subjects in which you could apply. But from 2023 onwards, a total of 83 subjects are available for UGC NET.

Indeed, in the 2022-23 session, a new subject has been added to the UGC NET exam. Check all subjects’ names with their codes below: -

 

Subject code

Subjects

01

UGC NET Economics

02

UGC NET Political Science

03

Philosophy

04

Psychology

05

UGC NET Sociology

06

UGC NET History

07

Anthropology

08

UGC NET Commerce

09

UGC NET Education

10

UGC NET Social Work

11

Defense & Strategic Studies

12

Home Science

14

Public Administration

15

Population Studies

16

Music

17

UGC NET Management

18

Maithili

19

Bengali

20

Hindi

21

Kannada

22

Malayalam

23

Oriya

24

Punjabi

25

Sanskrit

26

Tamil

27

Telugu

28

Urdu

29

Arabic

30

UGC NET English

31

Linguistics

32

Chinese

33

Dogri

34

Nepali

35

Manipuri

36

Assamese

37

Gujarati

38

Marathi

39

French

40

Spanish

41

Russian

42

Persian

43

Rajasthani

44

German

45

Japanese

46

Adult Education / Continuing Education / Andragogy / Non-Formal Education

47

Physical Education

49

Arab Culture and Islamic Studies

50

Indian Culture

55

UGC NET Labour Welfare / Pers. Mgmt. / Indl Rela/ Labr & Soc Welfr/ HRM

58

UGC NET Law Exam

59

UGC NET Library and Information Science

60

Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian & Peace Studies

62

Comparative Study of Religions

63

UGC NET Mass Communication and Journalism

65

Dance

66

Museology & Conservation

67

Archaeology

68

Criminology

70

Tribal & Regional Language/Literature/td>

71

Folk Literature

72

Comparative Literature

73

Sanskrit Traditional Subjects (including Jyotisha / Sidhanta Jyotisha / Navya Vyakarna / Vyakarna / Mimamsa/Navya Nyaya / Sankhya Yoga / Tulanatmaka Darsana / Shukla Yajurveda / Madhva Vedanta / Dharma Sastra / Sahitya / Purana-itihasa /Agama /Advaita Vedanta)

74

Women Studies

79

Visual Arts (including Drawing & Painting / Sculpture / Graphics / Applied Art / History of Art)

80

UGC NET Geography

81

Social Medicine & Community Health

82

Forensic Science

83

Pali

84

Kashmiri

85

Konkani

86

Social Medicine & Community Health

87

UGC NET Computer Science and Applications

88

UGC NET Electronic Sciences

89

Environmental Sciences

90

International and Area Studies

91

Prakrit

92

Human Rights and Duties

93

Tourism Administration & Management

94

BODO

95

Santali

100

UGC NET Yoga

101

Sindhi

102 Hindu Studies

 

If you have a post-graduation degree in any of the above subjects, then you can opt NTA UGC NET Exam to proceed toward your career goals.

Check the complete syllabus for your selected subjects through UGC NET Syllabus.

 

 

Confused about choosing the right subject for UGC NET? Talk to Eduncle Counsellors and get free guidance here.

 

 

List of CSIR NET Exam Subjects

 

NTA conducts the CSIR NET Exam in five science-related subjects. With the help of the subject list given below, you can wisely choose whether you should appear in CSIR NET or not.

 

S. No.

Subjects

01

General Aptitude (common for all subjects)

02

Chemical Science

03

Earth Science

04

Life Science

05

Physical Science

06

Mathematical Science

 

Get the complete syllabus for the subject of your choice from here - CSIR NET Syllabus.

 

 

ICAR NET Subject List

 

ASRB ICAR NET is conducted online in 57 subjects which are as follow: -

 

List of ICAR NET Subjects

Agricultural Biotechnology

Agriculture Entomology

Agriculture Microbiology

Economics Botany and Plant Genetic Resources

Genetics and Plant Breeding

Nematology

Plant Biochemistry

Plant Pathology

Plant Physiology

Seed Science and Technology

Agricultural Structure and Process Engineering

Floriculture and Landscaping

Fruit Science

Spices, Plantation and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Vegetable Science

Animal Biochemistry

Animal Genetics and Breeding

Animal Nutrition

Animal Physiology

Animal Reproduction and Gynaecology

Dairy Chemistry

Dairy Microbiology

Dairy Technology

Livestock Product Technology

Livestock Production Management

Poultry Science

Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Parasitology

Veterinary Pathology

Veterinary Pharmacology

Veterinary Public Health

Veterinary Surgery

Aquaculture

Fisheries Resources Management

Fish Processing Technology

Fish Nutrition

Fish Health

Fish Genetics and Breeding

Agriculture Chemicals

Agriculture Meteorology

Agroforestry

Agronomy

Environmental Science

Soil Science

Agricultural Business Management

Agricultural Economics

Agricultural Extension

Agricultural Statistics

Home Science

Farm Machinery and Power

Computer Application and IT

Land and Water Management Engineering

Bioinformatics

Food Technology

Veterinary Anatomy

 

Check the complete syllabus for the ICAR NET Exam from here – ASRB ICAR NET Syllabus.

 

 

Get Free NET Exam Study Plan & Boost your Learning

 

 

SET Exam Subjects

 

SET Exam includes different subjects for all 15 states. Here is the list of total numbers of subjects for Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Karnataka. To know the number and name of subjects and their syllabus for your state, refer to the respective official website.

 

State

Number of Subjects Included

Maharashtra State Eligibility Test (MH SET)

32

West Bengal State Eligibility Test (WB SET)

30

Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET)

41

 

 

Can I appear in the UGC, CSIR, ICAR NET & SET Exams? Difference Between Eligibility!

 

Now that you are aware of the basic knowledge of all these exams, you must ensure the eligibility guidelines decided by the respected exam convener institutes.

Here we are providing you the details of these criteria for all the exams individually.

 

 

Are You Eligible for the UGC NET?

 

Have a look at the UGC NET Eligibility containing educational qualifications and the age limit criteria that you need to fulfill to become applicable for the UGC NET.

You will be eligible for UGC NET if you have completed your master’s degree or equivalent examination in one of the following courses from the universities/institutions recognized by UGC.

You must have a post-graduation degree (in any of the UGC NET subjects) with 55% (for General Candidates) or 50% (for ST/SC/PWD/OBC/ Transgenders) marks.

The maximum age limit is 31 years for the JRF while there is no age limit for the lectureship. The age relaxation is applicable as per the UGC Regulations.

 

If you clear all the eligibility criteria for the exam, then you must prepare for it. Start with understanding the syllabus and then plan your exam preparation.

 

 

 

Who is Eligible to Apply for CSIR NET? 

 

The aspirants must have the CSIR NET Eligibility like educational qualification and age limit as mentioned below:

If you have completed your master’s degree with a minimum of 55% (for General Candidates) or 50% (for ST/SC/PWD/OBC/) marks from the recognized university then you are eligible to apply for the CSIR NET Exam.

The graduate candidates are also eligible to apply for the CSIR NET Exam. However, they will be awarded the CSIR NET Certificate after the completion of the Post-graduation within two years.

For JRF, the age of the candidates must be below 28 years.

 

After satisfying the complete eligibility criteria, start your preparation with expert-designed free sample material. At Eduncle, we have provided you with the complete study kit for CSIR NET Exam that you can get from below: -

 

 

 

ICAR NET Eligibility Criteria

 

The eligibility criteria for ASRB ICAR NET are: -

A master's degree or equivalent in the same discipline for which one is applying.

There is no age limit.

 

 

SET Exam Eligibility Criteria

 

If you want to become a lecturer and researcher in the university of your state, then the SET Exam is perfect for you. To apply for the exam, you will require: -

A master’s degree with a minimum of 55% (for General Candidates) or 50% (for ST/SC/PWD/OBC/) marks from the recognized university.

There is no age limit.

 

Note - The above eligibility can vary from state to state.

All States have different eligibility criteria for the exam. So, if you want to apply for any, then you must satisfy state eligibility criteria set by the same conducting authority. You can check the complete eligibility from the official website.

 

 

Get Eduncle Study material for the upcoming NET Exam trusted by 4600+ selected students. Join Now!!

 

 

Difference Between Paper Pattern for UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET, SET Exam

 

To qualify for these exams, you must know the paper pattern for the NTA UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET, and SET Exam. Below we are providing you the complete paper pattern for all these exams. You can check it and analyze the differences.

 

 

UGC NET Exam Paper Pattern

 

The exam is conducted in two different papers (Paper- 1 and Paper – 2) in a single three-hour duration.

It consists of 300 marks (Paper 1 - 100 marks and Paper 2 - 200 marks).

There is no negative marking.

If you are going to appear in the upcoming UGC NET Exam, then you must check the complete NTA UGC NET Exam Pattern for 2022.

 

 

CSIR NET Paper Pattern

 

CSIR NET Exam consists of only a single paper with three different sections (Part – A, Part – B, and Part- C).

It is conducted for a total of 200 marks.

The marking scheme is different for each subject.

The total time duration is 3 hours to solve the complete paper.

Negative marking is different for each subject.

Check the complete CSIR NET Exam Pattern released by NTA and start your preparation accordingly.

 

 

Download NET Exam Syllabus 2022 Free PDF (All Subjects)

 

 

ICAR NET Paper Pattern

 

ASRB conducts the exam in a single paper consisting of 150 objective-type multiple-choice questions.

The total time duration is 2 hours to solve the complete paper.

The exam is included of 150 marks.

There will be negative markings on each wrong answer.

The exam is conducted in English and Hindi both languages.

 

 

State Eligibility Test Exam Pattern

 

The paper pattern of the SET Exam is similar to University Grant Commission National Eligibility Test. 

This exam is also conducted in two papers with a single 3 hours duration without any break.

The paper consists of 150 objective-type questions with 300 marks.

There will be no negative marking.

 

 

Difference Between ICAR, UGC, CSIR NET and SET Exam in Terms of Selection Ratio

 

The selection ratio for these exams is different. You can check the previous stats to know the differences between the selection ratio.

 

Selection Ratio

UGC NET Dec 2019

CSIR NET Dec 2019

ICAR NET 2018

SET Exam

Number of candidates registered

10,34,872

2,82,117

-

The selection ratio of the SET Exam is different for each state. So, if you are going to appear in the State Eligibility Test, then go to the respective official website to know the complete selection ratio.

 

Several candidates appeared 

7,93,813

2,25,889

31,127

Selection ratio

6% of appeared candidates

Depend on CSIR NET Cutoff Marks

0.22% (6,987 Qualified)

 

Note - Set your goal by checking the NTA UGC NET Result & UGC NET Cut Off and get an idea about the complete selection criteria.

 

 

Are you looking for a complete NET exam 2020 Paper analysis? Download the expert paper review here.

 

 

NTA UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET, and SET Exam - Career Scope is Different

 

There’s a different career scope after qualifying for the exams.

The NTA UGC NET qualified candidates get a chance to work with NET Coordinating Institutes.

CSIR NET qualified candidates have to work with the CSIR Research Laboratories.

After qualifying for the ICAR NET Exam, you can make your career in all agriculture-related organizations and can join as a teacher in colleges/ institutes.

SET Exam qualified candidate can apply for lectureship in the universities and colleges which comes under the respective state government.

 

Suggested Read - 

UGC NET Career Scope

CSIR NET Career Scope

 

We hope, now all your doubts regarding these exams are clear. Apart from these differences, there are a few similarities between them.

 

 

Similarities between NTA UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET, and SET Exam

 

As you can see, there are many reasons for which these exams are different from each other. But few factors make them similar. Below, we are listing all the similarities between these exams.

These exams are conducted for the recruitment of JRF and assistant professors.

The qualifying procedure is similar. Candidates are selected only based on their performances in the test.

The candidates are assessed on the basis of their aptitude knowledge and subject knowledge.

The eligibility criteria are also similar.

The application forms are submitted online for all these exams.

 

 

Download NET Exam Mock Test Papers Free PDF

 

 

UGC NET Frequently Asked Questions

 

Here, we have compiled the questions that are frequently asked by students, if you also have a query then you must read the following question. Also, we have covered all the UGC NET exam-related queries of aspirants in our UGC NET FAQ blog, you can refer to it for any UGC NET information.

 

 

Q1. Is NET and JRF the same? 

Ans.  JRF stands for Junior Research Fellowship and NET is the National Eligibility Test You have to qualify for the UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET or SET Exam to be able to receive the JRF award, through which you can pursue your career in the research field. 

 

 

Q2. Which is better, UGC NET or CSIR NET? 

Ans. There is no comparison of superiority between them because these exams are conducted for students from different academic backgrounds. 

CSIR NET exam is for the science stream and has subjects like Chemical science, Life science, Physical science, etc. whereas, UGC NET includes more than 80 subjects that are mostly related to the non-science category. 

 

 

Q3. What is the difficulty level of UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICAR NET and SET exams? 

Ans. These exams are conducted for lectureship and research at national and state levels, which makes them quite competitive. However, the difficulty level may vary from medium to tough for different sessions. 

 

 

Q4. What are the qualifying marks for UGC NET, CSIR NET, and ICAR NET (General category)?

Ans. Qualifying marks for the General category are mentioned below: So, these were the differences and similarities between NTA UGC NET, CSIR NET Exam, ICAR NET, and SET Exam.

 

Exam 

Qualifying Marks 

UGC NET 

40% 

CSIR NET 

33% 

ICAR NET 

50% 

 

 

We hope that we helped you to get the right and complete information regarding the details of these exams. Now considering all the factors like eligibility, syllabus, career scope, etc. you can select your preference.

You can share this article with your friends who are also confused between them. Also, if you have any queries, then share them with us through the comment box below. We will try to solve your doubts as soon as possible.

You can also join India’s No.1 Learning Community for UGC NET and CSIR NET, where you will get a doubt solution for all your exam-related queries with the help of experts from all over India. To join the community, you can download the Eduncle app now.  

 

 

Thank You!!

 

Post
Showing 10 comments out of 39
  • Pooja gorle

    hello sir, I am doing my MSC In Physics after completion of my post graduation i am applicable for CSIR and UGC NET both exam or only CSIR?

    T
    eduncle-logo-app

    Hello Pooja,
    Greetings from Eduncle!
    You can apply for CSIR NET in Physical science after completing MSc in Physics.
    Thank You!!

  • Malayanur sahithi

    Hello sir, in paper 2 I selected my subject as forensic science but I am not finding my subject in your app. As per the guidelines those who cannot find their post graduation subject they have to select their related subject in their PG course and my related subject is Forensic Science

    T
    eduncle-logo-app

    Hello Malayanur,
    Welcome to Eduncle!
    We will be glad to help you for the UGC NET Exam preparation.
    Kindly share your querieshere . Our support team will reach out to you and share free UGC NET sample study material and course features with you.
    Thank You!!

  • Deepshikha

    Set is conducted by haryana or not??

    T
    eduncle-logo-app

    Hello Deepshikha,
    Greeting From Eduncle!
    Yes, Haryana is conducted SET Exam.
    Thank You!!

  • Mansi chauhan

    can I give NET after doing post graduation from SOL DU?

    T
    eduncle-logo-app

    Hello Mansi,
    Greetings from Eduncle!
    Yes, you are eligible to apply for NET exam after completing post graduation from UGC Approved university.
    Thanks for asking your query with us!

  • Nafees

    I have completed my msc computer science soooo plzzzzgive me a advice that what I should prepare weather ugc net or csir net

    T
    eduncle-logo-app

    Hello Nafees,
    Greetings from Eduncle!
    You are eligible to apply for UGC NET Computer science.
    Thanks for asking your query with us!

  • Zaid

    Hi sir , i am completing my M.sc pg in comp sci, now which exam is for me nta ugc net or csir net ?? Plz guide

    T
    eduncle-logo-app

    Hello Zaid,
    Greetings from Eduncle!
    The candidates are allowed to apply for their post graduation and its related subjects only. You should apply for the UGC NET exam for computer Science Subject.
    Thanks for asking your query with us!

  • Karthi

    Now I'm pursuing my 4th M.Sc applied Geography & Geoinformatics. So am I capable to write UGC NET or CSIR NET in current year...

    T
    eduncle-logo-app

    Hello Karthi,
    Yes, You can applyf or the CSIR NET Exam, The final year in PG candidates can appli for the CSIR NET exam. CSIR NET exam is held for the science stream students.
    Thanks for asking your query with us!

  • Vijay kumar

    I am in MSC botany and I pershuing net in botany . so what I do tell me . I appear in ugc net or csir net what will be better for become a proffesor

    T
    eduncle-logo-app

    Hello Vijay,
    Greetings from Eduncle!
    You should apply for CSIR NET Life Science subject after completion of postgraduation in botany or you must be appearing in final exams of masters degree to become eligible for CSIR NET.
    Thank You!

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