CSIR NET 2021 Topper Interview: Know How Kapil Kumar secured AIR 2 in Physical Sciences
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test 2025 ( CSIR NET )
Registration - 25 Sep '25 - 24 Oct '25
Kapil Kumar scored 160/200 in the CSIR NET 2021 exam. Shiksha got in touch with Kapil to know the preparation strategy that fetched him AIR 2 in CSIR NET Physical Sciences.
CSIR NET 2021 Topper Interview of Kapil Kumar, AIR 2 in Physical Sciences
A postgraduate in Physics from Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, Kapil Kumar cracked the Joint CSIR UGC NET June 2021 exam for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) with a 99% percentile score. With 160 scores out of the total 200, Kapil secured the All India Rank (AIR) 2 in the Physical Sciences subject.
For CSIR NET 2021 exam preparation, Kapil took coaching from UGC Point Academy. Going forward, he wishes to become a Professor at a Central University. As of now, Kapil is pursuing PhD from National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi.
Belonging to Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Kapil likes playing outdoor games such as volleyball and badminton. Check below the CSIR NET preparation strategy and study plan he followed to crack the exam:
Q. Congratulations! Did you expect to qualify CSIR NET for JRF?
A big thank you! yes, I was expecting to qualify the CSIR NET 2021 exam only. However, I did not expect the rank.
Q. Which subjects you chose for CSIR NET 2021 and What rank did you get?
I got AIR 2 in CSIR NET JUNE 2021 exam in Physical Sciences (Physics) subject.
Q. Tell us about your educational background.
I did BSc and MSc (Physics) from Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University. Agra. Currently, I am pursuing PhD from National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi.
Q. Can you tell us your CSIR NET preparation strategy that helped you crack the exam?
Minimum seven hours of study is required on a daily basis for the CSIR NET exam. According to me, class notes and CSIR NET previous year question papers are sufficient to crack this exam.
Q. How did you start preparing for the CSIR NET exam?
I undertook the CSIR NET preparations during my MSc (Physics). I began by going through the CSIR NET syllabus in detail and prepared accordingly.
Q. Did you take any coaching for the exam?
Yes, I took coaching for the CSIR NET exam from the UGC Point Academy.
Q. What study plan did you follow for the CSIR NET exam?
I devoted minimum of seven hours for self-study every day with the focus on practicing more and more questions along with attending the coaching classes.
Q. Which CSIR NET books did you refer to prepare for the exam?
If you are taking coaching, then classroom notes are sufficient for this exam. Moreover, previous year question papers of different exams for Physics subjects such as CSIR, GATE, JEST, TIFR also prove beneficial.
Q. Which study material is best for CSIR NET exam?
Your MSc class notes and coaching study material is enough for the CSIR NET exam.
Q. Is coaching necessary for CSIR NET?
It depends on the students. There is no need of coaching for those who are studying MSc from a Central University and also in IIT. However, I did my MSc from a State University so I needed the coaching.
Q. How did you deal with your strengths and weaknesses while preparing for the CSIR NET exam?
For any competitive exam, some topics are difficult and some topics are easy. So, I suggest regular revision of all the topics to improvise further.
Q. What as per you are the mistakes one should avoid while preparing for the CSIR UGC NET exam?
Aspirants should not avoid practicing questions while preparing for the exam.
Q. What are the important things that aspirants should not skip while preparing for CSIR NET exam?
As I said earlier, you cannot skip questions practice and regular revision of the syllabus.
Q. Any advice to manage time while giving the CSIR NET exam?
Yes, aspirants should start attempting the paper from Part C and then B and A. This was my strategy as well.
Also Read: CSIR NET Last Minute Preparation Tips 2022: Check Strategy to Score High Marks
Q. Which as per you was the most difficult part of the CSIR NET exam?
For me, the Part A of the CSIR NET question paper is very difficult. However, usually it is not like that.
Q. Any points that students should keep in mind on the day of the CSIR NET exam?
Yes, aspirants should take proper sleep and should avoid junk food. You can have some sweet before the exam such as a little bit of chocolate.
Q. Was clearing the CSIR NET exam always your first preference?
I decided to clear the CSIR NET exam when I took admission in MSc (Physics).
Q. How CSIR UGC NET certificate would benefit you?
It is an eligibility for Assistant Professor exams in states. And if you qualify the JRF NET, then you get an opportunity to pursue PhD and may also get the scholarship.
Also Read: CSIR NET Eligibility Criteria 2022: Educational Qualification, Age Limit, Reservations
Q. Any success mantra that you would like to share with our readers who are planning to appear for the CSIR NET exam in the future?
Do hard work and be regular in your preparations.
Q. What are your future plans?
I want to become a Professor at a Central University.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
Candidates should follow a balanced approach. No doubt books help in conceptual clarity, and a candidate can study in detail. On the other hand, online platforms provide lectures through video, have updated notes, cover current affairs as well, etc. It also depends upon the candidate's feasibility a
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
No. The syllabus of CSIR NET is the same for JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) and Lectureship (Assistant Professor). The difference that lies is only in the cut-off marks and not in the syllabus.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
To pass the CSIR NET 2025 exam, candidates must score a minimum of 33 per cent in the General, EWS, and OBC categories and 25 per cent in the SC, ST, and PwD categories for both fellowship and Lectureship/Assistant Professor.
I
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 2 months ago
As per the official website, stipend of a JRF selected through CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) will be Rs 37,000/ p.m for the first two years. In addition, annual contingent grant of Rs. 20,000/- per fellow will also be provided to the fellow.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
Yes. Several candidates have cleared the CSIR NET examination in three months by following a proper study plan, focusing on the important topics, frequent revision, mock test practice, previous year questions, etc.
C
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
The CSIR UGC NET 2025 exam comprises subjects including Earth Science, Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. It is crucial for a candidate to select one subject from the CSIR NET subject list to clear the examination.
M
Contributor-Level 6