CSIR UGC NET Vs GATE: Check key differences between exams

Looking to pursue a career in research? Check key differences between CSIR NET and GATE exams here.

GATE and CSIR UGC NET (popularly known as CSIR NET) are two of the most popular competitive exams when it comes to pursuing research and securing jobs. However, many Science students often get confused between GATE and CSIR UGC NET exams. While both are national-level exams conducted for various Science subjects, their objectives are somewhat different.

This article aims to provide you detailed comparison between GATE and CSIR UGC NET exam with respect to their objectives, eligibility, pattern, JRF opportunities, etc.

CSIR NET Vs GATE: What are the exams all about?

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national-level exam conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology – IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras and IIT Roorkee. The exam is conducted to fulfill the following objectives:

• Offer admission to candidates in MTech, ME, MArch courses
• Offer admission to candidates in PhD programmes in relevant branches of Arts and Science, in the institutions supported by the MoE and other Government agencies
• Help Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) recruit candidates using their GATE scores

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test (CSIR NET) is a national-level exam conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) to fulfill the following objectives:

• Determine the eligibility of candidates for the post of Assistant Professor in Indian colleges and universities
• Award Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) to qualifying candidates for training in methods of research in university departments/national laboratories and institutions in various fields of Science such as IITs, postgraduate colleges, government research establishments including those of the CSIR and recognised public or private sector industrial firms.
• Some PSUs also hire candidates based on their CSIR NET scores

Also Read: UGC NET Vs CSIR NET: Check Key Differences & Similarities

CSIR NET Vs GATE: Subjects

Both GATE and CSIR UGC NET are conducted for Science subjects. While GATE is conducted for about 27 subjects, CSIR NET is held for five subjects.

GATE Subjects

CSIR NET Subjects

CSIR NET Vs GATE: Eligibility

Check out the major differences in the eligibility criteria for both the exams below:

Also Read: Detailed CSIR NET eligibility

CSIR NET Vs GATE: Exam Pattern & Syllabus

The exam pattern for CSIR NET and GATE is completely different. Check out the major CSIR NET and GATE exam pattern and syllabus highlights below:

Also Read:

CSIR NET Vs GATE: Which is a tougher exam?

When it comes to difficulty level, it would not be wrong to say that GATE is a tougher exam than CSIR NET. Let us consider the parameters below:

• Exam pattern: The GATE exam pattern is more complex as compared to that of CSIR NET. As mentioned above, in GATE, three types of questions are asked – MCQs, MSQs and NAT. On the other hand, in CSIR UGC NET, only MCQs are asked, which are the most common and easiest type of questions.
• Exam frequency: GATE is conducted once a year while CSIR UGC NET is conducted twice every year
• Number of test takers: In GATE, every year about 10 lakh candidates appear for the exam. On the other hand, over 2.25 lakh candidates appear for the CSIR NET exam in one session. Therefore, the level of competition is more in GATE.  

CSIR NET Vs GATE: Validity of Scores

• GATE score of a candidate is valid upto three years for admission to master’s programmes. However, PSUs consider only the latest GATE scores of candidates for recruitment.
• The NET-JRF score is valid for two years. However, there is no validity for a lectureship certificate.

CSIR NET Vs GATE: JRF Opportunities

After cracking GATE, students get admission in PhD programmes offered in various top Indian educational institutions and few foreign universities. Candidates with a good GATE score are also eligible for the award of JRF in CSIR laboratories.

After cracking CSIR UGC NET, students get eligible for the award of JRF in top educational institutions including IITs and government research establishments including those of the CSIR and recognised public or private sector industrial firms.   

CSIR NET Vs GATE: Stipend

Both GATE and CSIR NET qualified candidates are eligible for a stipend. However, the stipend that CSIR NET qualified gets is more than what GATE qualified candidates get.

• The stipend of a candidate selected for JRF through CSIR NET is Rs 31,000 per month for the first two years. After the completion of the first two years, the stipend is increased to Rs 35,000 per month.
• The stipend of a GATE qualifying candidate pursuing MTech is Rs 12,400 per month. The stipend of those pursing PhD is Rs 25,000 per month for the first two years and Rs 28,000 per month thereafter.