CSIR NET Life Science Topper Talk June 2026 I ARITRA KUNDU All India Rank 8

Summary

Aritra Kundu, who earned All India Rank 8 in the CSIR Life Sciences examination, discussed his preparation and what he learned. Although he already held a DBT JRF and was enrolled in a PhD program, he pursued the CSIR examination because qualifying for Lectureship (LS) can be useful or required for future Assistant Professor positions at some universities.

His preparation drew heavily on the overlap between DBT and CSIR Life Sciences. He had thoroughly studied cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, techniques, and cell signalling. He also covered selected additional areas, including ecology, evolution, animal behaviour, and some developmental biology. He began preparing in the final year of his MSc.

Preparation Approach and Advice

• Study the syllabus selectively but deliberately. Identify areas shared across exams, then add the topics required for the target examination. Aritra focused on common subjects and filled in some additional CSIR topics.
• Take mock tests regularly.
  • He generally took about one mock test per week.
  • He used mocks for both DBT- and CSIR-related preparation rather than treating them as entirely separate.
  • He set a timer and worked under exam-like conditions to build time-management skills.
  • He aimed to finish a three-hour paper in roughly two and a half hours, leaving time to review.
  • After each test, he checked his answers and revisited mistakes or uncertain material.
• Use mistakes to identify weak areas. Mock-test errors helped him find topics that needed clarification, revision, or further practice.
• Work through previous-year questions (PYQs). He used a chapter- and topic-wise PYQ book, reviewed the solutions, and considered whether errors came from a conceptual gap or a misunderstanding.
• Practice under realistic time pressure. Aritra advised students to simulate the exam at home. Building a time buffer during practice may help reduce time-management problems when exam-day stress arises.

Aritra said he felt he had done well after the exam but did not expect to achieve Rank 8. The host congratulated him and emphasized the value of consistent preparation, mock tests, and PYQs.

Speakers Featured

• Interviewer/host: The presenter of the IFAS channel’s Topper Talk; the host’s name is not clearly identifiable in the subtitles.
• Aritra Kundu: CSIR Life Sciences LS Rank 8 and DBT JRF holder.