CSIR-UGC NET June 2026 Answer Key Released; Candidates Can Challenge Provisional Key

New Delhi: The Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026 exam provisional answer key and question papers with responses have been released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday. The Candidates can download the answer key and response sheets from the official CSIR-NET portal and can challenge the Provisional answer key on time frame notified.

When did exam happen?

NTA conducted the Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2026 exam on July 17 and 18 in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode at 224 cities and 352 centres. The total number of the candidates registered for the examination is 1,87,739.

How to check the answer key?

The answer key has been shared on the official website of the NTA, and candidates can download it from there. Students will be able to use these two websites to access the answer key:

UGC NET: ugcnet.nta.nic.in

CSIR NET: csirnet.nta.nic.in

How to download answer key?

Students are advised to go to the official website (ugcnet.nta.nic.in) and click on UGC NET/ CSIR NET answer key link. Afterwards, type in your application number and password. The answer key and response sheet will appear upon logging in. Save the PDF and print for future reference. 

What about the challenge window for the answer key of CSIR NET?

If a candidate is not happy with the provisional answer, they may appeal between 16th and 18th August 2026. The challenge facility will stay until 11:00 PM on August 18. Rs 200 is a non-refundable processing fee and is to be paid for every question challenged. The candidates can pay the fee via credit card/ debit card or net banking / UPI till 11:00 PM on August 18th. NTA has explained that any challenge that is not accompanied by successful payment will not be accepted.

How to challenge?

The candidates may seek to challenge the provisional answer key by logging on the official website of CSIR-NET and clicking the “Challenge(s) regarding Answer Key” link.

They have to login with their Application Number and Password and type the captcha which is displayed.

Once logged in, candidates will be able to click on the option “View Question Paper” which will display their written answers. The provisional key is available via the “Click to view / Challenge Answer Key” option.

Candidates are required to use the Question ID to identify the question(s) they wish to challenge and choose the option(s) to challenge. You may submit supporting documents in one 500KB file in PDF format.

Once candidates have read the claims they have selected, they should save the claims and continue to payment. NTA has announced that the challenge facility will only be offered once. Modification or further challenge is not allowed after successful payment.