CSIR JSA Cut Off: Previous Year Paper I and Paper II Marks by Category

The CSIR JSA cut-off works at two levels. First, the Selection Committee sets a minimum threshold in Paper I, and only candidates who reach it have Paper II evaluated. Second, Paper II scores decide who is called for the typing test and who makes the final merit list. Each CSIR lab, or nodal lab in a combined cycle, sets its own cut-offs.

The figures below come from official notices of the 2025 combined cycle (Advertisement No. CRRI/02/PC/JSA-JST/2025, 177 JSA posts) and from lab-level notices. Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Treat these figures as a benchmark only, and aim for a clear margin above them rather than a bare pass.

CSIR JSA minimum threshold marks, 2025 combined cycle

CSIR-CRRI declared these minimum threshold marks on 10 May 2025, before the CBT held from 13 to 20 May 2025.

Marks in brackets are calculated from the notified percentages.

CSIR JSA cut-off for typing test shortlisting, 2025

The CBT result notice of 18 June 2025 called candidates to the typing test at a ratio of about 1:20 against vacancies. The table shows the lowest normalised Paper II score called in each category.

The final result of 9 July 2025 selected 172 JSA candidates across CSIR Headquarters, CSIR-NIScPR, CSIR-IGIB, CSIR-NPL and CSIR-CRRI. Final selection marks differ by lab and stream, so the shortlisting cut-off is the most useful single benchmark.

Lab-level cut-off examples

Small lab cycles with only a few posts can have much higher final cut-offs than large combined cycles, because many candidates compete for one or two seats.

What affects the CSIR JSA cut-off

• Number of posts: A combined cycle with 177 posts has lower final cut-offs than a lab with two posts.

• Paper difficulty: A harder General Awareness section pulls Paper II cut-offs down.

• Number of applicants: Delhi combined cycles draw very large applicant pools.

• Normalisation: Multi-shift CBTs use normalised scores, so raw scores from different shifts are not directly comparable.

• Category vacancies: Categories with few reserved posts can show unusual cut-offs.

How to set your target score

• Paper I: Aim for at least 50% (100 out of 200) in mocks so that you clear any lab's threshold with room to spare.

• Paper II for large cycles: Aim for 230 or more out of 300 in mocks if you are in the UR category, which is roughly 80 correct answers with few errors.

• Paper II for small lab cycles: Aim higher, around 240 or more, because one or two seats attract strong candidates.

• Watch negative marks: Fewer wrong answers both lift your score and win the first tie-breaker.

Official sources: CSIR-CRRI recruitment notices (2025 threshold, CBT result and final result) and the CSIR website for lab notices.