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    UGC NET English Syllabus 2025 - Check Paper 1 & 2 Topic wise Syllabus

    UGC NET English Syllabus 2025 - Check Paper 1 & 2 Topic wise Syllabus

    Meghana Mohana KrishnanUpdated on 08 Oct 2025, 10:18 AM IST

    The National Testing Agency (NTA) prescribed the UGC NET syllabus 2025 for English for all those opting for the English subject. Candidates can choose English as their subject while filling the UGC NET 2025 application form among the 85 subject options. Candidates must go through the UGC NET English syllabus before starting off with their preparation. By going through the UGC NET 2025 syllabus for English, candidates can know the topics that will be asked in the UGC NET exam.

    This Story also Contains

    1. UGC NET English Syllabus Paper 1
    2. UGC NET English Syllabus Paper 2
    3. UGC NET Exam Pattern 2025
    4. UGC NET 2025 Best books
    5. Best Books for UGC NET 2025 Paper 1
    UGC NET English Syllabus 2025 - Check Paper 1 & 2 Topic wise Syllabus
    UGC NET English Syllabus for Paper 1 and 2

    However, as per the exam pattern of 2025 UGC NET, English is asked in paper 1, which is common for all candidates. Candidates opting for English as their main subject have to take Paper II in English containing questions from the topics mentioned in the UGC NET English syllabus. Ensuring to have completed all topics and subjects mentioned in the syllabus, candidates can easily crack the UGC NET exam 2025. To know more about the UGC NET syllabus for English, go through the article below.

    The UGC NET 2025 test is held for two papers – paper I and II wherein paper I is common for all while paper II is based on the subjects opted by the candidates. The exam is conducted to determine the eligibility of the candidates for assistant professors and award junior research fellowship positions.

    UGC NET English Syllabus 2025 Overview

    Name of exam

    UGC NET

    Conducting authority

    National Testing Agency (NTA)

    Mode of exam

    Online

    Papers

    Two papers:

    Paper I

    Paper II

    Subjects

    101 subjects

    Total Marks

    Paper I - 100 marks

    Paper II - 200 marks

    UGC NET English Syllabus Paper 1

    The UGC NET paper 1 is common for all the candidates appearing for the exam of UGC NET. Candidates can check the UGC NET English syllabus paper 1 given below:

    • Teaching Aptitude
    • Research Aptitude
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Communication
    • Reasoning
    • Logical Reasoning
    • Data Interpretation
    • Information and Communication Technology
    • People and Environment
    • Higher Education System: Governance, Polity and Administration

    UGC NET English Syllabus Paper 2

    As per the syllabus of UGC NET for English, there are a total of 10 units from where questions will be asked. The first four units will be tested through comprehension passages. As per the UGC NET English syllabus paper 2, candidates will be tested for the following:

    • Critical Reading

    • Critical Thinking

    • Writing Skills

    Along with it, the first four units also cover the UGC NET English Literature syllabus.

    UGC NET Syllabus 2025 - English (First Four Units)

    Units

    Topics

    Unit I

    Drama

    Unit II

    Poetry

    Unit III

    Fiction, short story

    Unit IV

    Non-Fictional Prose

    UGC NET English Syllabus 2025

    Units

    Topics

    Unit V

    Language: Basic concepts, theories and pedagogy. English in Use

    Unit VI

    English in India: history, evolution and futures

    Unit VII

    Cultural Studies

    Unit VIII

    Literary Criticism

    Unit IX

    Literary Theory post World War II

    Unit X

    Research Methods and Materials in English

    Read More:

    UGC NET Exam Pattern 2025

    Candidates must go through the exam pattern along with the UGC NET syllabus. The exam pattern contains the sections from where the questions are asked in the exam, the total number of questions, marking schemes, duration, etc. The table below contains the exam pattern of NTA UGC NET for both paper I and II.

    UGC NET Exam Pattern 2025

    Papers

    Paper I

    Paper II

    Subject

    Generic

    Subject selected by candidate

    No. of Questions

    50

    100

    Marks

    100

    200

    Duration

    Consolidated 3 hours

    Mode of Exam

    Online

    Negative Marks

    No negative marks for wrong answers

    UGC NET 2025 Best books

    To crack the exam, candidates must go through the list of UGC NET 2025 best books to pick the best one for themselves. The table below contains the list of books for paper I as per UGC NET English syllabus.

    Best Books for UGC NET 2025 Paper 1

    Book Name

    Author/Publisher Name

    NTA UGC NET/SET/JRF - Paper 1: Teaching and Research Aptitude

    KVS Madaan /Pearson Education

    NTA UGC NET / SET / JRF - Paper 1 Teaching and Research Aptitude

    Harpreet Kaur /Oxford University Press

    Trueman's UGC NET/SET General Paper I - Teaching & Research Aptitude

    Sajit Kumar, M. Gagan

    UGC NET Best Books For English

    English

    UGC NET/SET (JRF & LS) English Literature by Arihant Experts

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Where can I download the UGC NET syllabus English?
    A:

    Candidates can download the UGC NET syllabus 2025 from the official brochure available on the website – ugcnetonline.in.

    Q: Who is eligible to apply for UGC NET 2025?
    A:

    As per the UGC NET eligibility criteria 2025, a candidate for JRF needs to be within the age of 30 years. However, no age limit is prescribed for assistant professors. In order to be eligible for UGC NET 2025, an aspirant must have scored at least 55% marks in post graduation from a recognised university. There certainly exists some relaxation for the reserved sections.

    Q: Are any negative marks cut for wrong answers marked?
    A:

    No, marks are not cut for any wrong answers marked in UGC NET paper I and paper II.

    Q: Which book should I refer for UGC NET Paper 1?
    A:

    Candidates can refer books on NTA UGC NET/SET/JRF - Paper 1: Teaching and Research Aptitude by authors like KVS Madaan, Harpreet Kaur, Sajit Kumar, Arihant Experts etc.

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    Questions related to UGC NET

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to UGC NET ?

    No, since you have already cleared the General Category cutoff of CSIR UGC-NET , you are considered a meritorious candidate, and you can apply for a PhD seat in the General Category without any issues regarding your OBC-NCL declaration.

    For the UGC NET examination, only a Central OBC-NCL certificate is considered valid. Submitting a State OBC certificate may create complications during document verification and could lead to your candidature being treated under the General (Unreserved) category. You can immediately obtain a valid Central OBC-NCL certificate from the concerned Tehsil

    If you filled the UGC NET form under EWS but you don’t have a valid EWS certificate, then forget using the EWS category. They won’t accept it. You’ll automatically be treated as General category during document verification.


    And no, this won’t make your form “invalid” or “illegal.” It just means

    Hello,

    If you have entered the wrong annual income but belong to the OBC NCL category and have a valid certificate, it should not cause a problem during verification, as long as your certificate supports your category and income criteria.

    Make sure:

    1. Your OBC NCL certificate is valid and matches

    Hello,

    Not clearing UGC NET is not a big problem unless you want to become an Assistant Professor or apply for a PhD with fellowship.

    You can still apply for PhD without NET in many universities, but you may need to clear their entrance test. For teaching jobs in colleges