ICAR NET, CSIR NET and UGC NET, SET offer significant opportunities for those aspiring to excel in higher education teaching roles. The differences between these exams are frequently asked by candidates. This article intends to clear such uncertainties for individuals aspiring to pursue a career as a lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor and professor. Through this detailed article, you can gain a complete understanding of these exams, which will help you make a well-informed choice about your teaching career.
UGC NET Exam
UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) is an eligibility test conducted twice a year by NTA (National Testing Authority). It is mostly conducted in the month of June and December. Following are the main features of the exam:
- UGC NET is conducted in 83 different subjects.
- Held on All India Basis
- Only candidates having post graduate degree can apply for the exam.
- Candidates can choose to become Assistant Professor after clearing UGC NET or join the university as a researcher after clearing JRF (Junior Research Fellowship).
ICAR NET Exam
ICAR Net (Indian Agricultural Research National Eligibility Test) is organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. ACRB (Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board). Like UGC NET exam, by clearing ICAR NET candidates become eligible to be selected as Assistant Professor in Agricultural Universities. ICAR NET is an online exam conducted on computer based mode at 32 centers across India. Following are the main points of the exam:
- ICAR NET exam is conducted by ASRB (Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board) once a year.
- Candidates having postgraduate degree in any subject related to agriculture can appear in ICAR NET exam.
- Some of the relevant subjects for this are: Agricultural Biotechnology, Nematology, Agricultural Science and Process Engineering, Animal Biochemistry, Dairy Chemistry, Fish Nutrition and Agroforestry etc.
CSIR NET Exam
CSIR NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) is conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency). CSIR NET is an examination for Indian citizens to determine eligibility for the post of Lecturer in the field of Science and for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). Following are the salient features of CSIR NET:
- CSIR NET is conducted twice a year
- Candidates having postgraduate degree in science stream are eligible to appear for CSIR NET, whereas UGC NET is offered only to candidates having postgraduate degree.
SET Exam
SET means State Eligibility Test (SET) which is conducted by the respective state agencies. Candidates who qualify for SET are eligible for the post of Assistant Professor only in the universities and colleges of the same state in which they have passed the SET exam. The important features of the SET exam are as follows:
- The SET exam will provide state level recognition and the candidate will become eligible to serve as a lecturer in the particular state
- The application fee for the SET exam is usually lower than that of the UGC NET exam, making it a more cost-effective option for candidates.
- This is more convenient as in SET exam candidates do not have to travel to different parts of the country to take the exam.
Difference between UGC NET and UGC NET ICAR Net vs CSIR NET vs set
Candidates are always curious to know which exam they are eligible for. To make this point clear, following are the main differences between the three exams. Candidates must understand these differences between UGC NET vs ICAR NET vs CSIR NET vs SET before applying for any of the exams:
| Difference between UGC NET vs ICAR NET vs CSIR NET vs SET | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The basis of the differences | UGC NET | ICAR Net | CSIR NET | set | |
| Operating Authority | NTA(National Testing Agency) | ASRB (Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board) | NTA(National Testing Agency) | state educational authority | |
| Related Sections | Social sciences and languages | Agriculture | math and science | All topics related to UGC NET and CSIR NET | |
| Number of exams conducted | twice a year | once a year | twice a year | once a year | |
| total marks | 300 | 150 | 200 | 300 | |
| total time | 3 hours | 2 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours | |
| Eligibility | Master Degree in relevant subject with 55% marks | Candidates must have a master’s degree in any subject related to agriculture from a recognized university | Candidates having Master degree with 55% passing percentage in relevant subject from a recognized University | Master’s degree from any University in relevant subject of Social Science and Language with 55% marks for General Category candidate | |
| Age Limit | The maximum age to apply for JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) is 30 years and there is no age limit for Lectureship. | No upper age limit | The maximum age to apply for JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) is 28 years and there is no age limit for lecturership | There is no age limit. | |
career opportunities
Candidates who are curious to know what career opportunities they will get after clearing these exams must read the following points. Candidates can follow the following career paths after clearing these exams:
- UGC NET certification will help the candidate to make lecturership their career. They can also apply for it. PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) and enroll for further research
- CSIR NET qualified candidates can work on research projects in research laboratories and can also pursue teaching as a career after doing post-graduation.
- ICAR NET exam helps the candidates to work as Lecturer/Assistant Professor in the field of Agriculture in State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and other Agricultural Universities (AUs).
- Candidates who qualify the SET exam can apply for the post of lecturer in universities and colleges under the respective state government.
Career after UGC NET and JRF exam
Therefore, the above points help candidates to know the major differences between CSIR NET, UGC NET, ICAR NET and SET exams. All of these are eligibility exams for professional teaching. Candidates must read the above article to understand and gain information about these exams.
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