UGC NET 2026 Syllabus PDF – Paper 1 & 2 Topics
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  • UGC NET 2026 Syllabus PDF – Paper 1 & 2 Topics

UGC NET 2026 Syllabus PDF – Paper 1 & 2 Topics

Team Careers360Updated on 23 Feb 2026, 06:56 PM IST

The National Testing Agency will be releasing the UGC NET Syllabus 2026 on the official website. The detailed syllabus of UGC NET can be downloaded at ugcnta.net.nic.in. All the details regarding the syllabus, UGC NET exam pattern and eligibility will be mentioned in the notification. The UGC NET 2026 syllabus is designed in a way to assess candidates' knowledge across various subjects, teaching aptitude and research abilities.

This Story also Contains

  1. UGC NET Syllabus 2026
  2. UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus 2026
  3. UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus 2026:
  4. UGC NET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026
  5. UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026

Every year, approximately 7 lakh candidates appear for the UGC NET exam, making it one of the most challenging exams in India. To crack the exam, aspirants should carefully refer to the UGC NET syllabus for Paper 1 and Paper 2, understand the exam pattern, and review the eligibility criteria, all of which are outlined in detail in the article below.

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UGC NET Syllabus 2026

The UGC NET 2026 syllabus pdf clearly mentions the detailed syllabus for each paper and various subjects. It is divided into two papers, with Paper 1 focusing on teaching and research aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, and general awareness, while Paper 2 tests subject-specific knowledge. The candidates can download the UGC NET 2026 Syllabus Paper 1 PDF at ugcnetonline.in/syllabus-new.php

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UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus 2026

The UGC NET Paper 1 examines candidates' teaching, aptitude and research abilities. The UGC NET exam syllabus for Paper 1 is designed to test candidates' cognitive abilities, including comprehension, analysis, evaluation, and understanding of the structure of arguments, deductive and inductive reasoning.

The UGC NET syllabus 2026 also provides for the testing of candidates' general awareness of teaching and learning processes in the higher education system. Additionally, the UGC NET syllabus assesses whether the candidate is aware of the interaction between people, environment, natural resources and their impact on quality of life.

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UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus 2026:

Paper 1 consists of 10 units, each covering a specific area relevant to teaching and research.

Unit-I Teaching Aptitude

  • Teaching: Concept, Objectives, Levels of teaching (Memory, Understanding and Reflective), Characteristics and basic requirements.

  • Learner’s characteristics: Characteristics of adolescent and adult learners (Academic, Social, Emotional and Cognitive), Individual differences.

  • Factors affecting teaching related to: Teacher, Learner, Support material, Instructional facilities, Learning environment and Institution.

  • Methods of teaching in Institutions of higher learning: Teacher-centred vs. Learner-centred methods; Off-line vs. On-line methods (Swayam, Swayamprabha, MOOCs, etc.).

  • Teaching Support System: Traditional, Modern and ICT based.

  • Evaluation Systems: Elements and Types of evaluation, Evaluation inChoice Based Credit System in Higher education, Computer based testing, Innovations in evaluation systems.

Unit-II Research Aptitude

  • Research: Meaning, Types, and Characteristics, Positivism and Postpositivist approach to research.

  • Methods of Research: Experimental, Descriptive, Historical, Qualitative and Quantitative methods.

  • Steps of Research.

  • Thesis and Article writing: Format and styles of referencing.

  • Application of ICT in research.

  • Research ethics.

Unit-III Comprehension

A passage of text is given. Questions are asked about the passage to be answered.

Unit-IV Communication

  • Communication: Meaning, types and characteristics of communication.

  • Effective communication: Verbal and Non-verbal, Inter-Cultural and group

communications, Classroom communication.

  • Barriers to effective communication.

  • Mass-Media and Society.

Unit-V Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude

  • Types of reasoning.

  • Number series, Letter series, Codes and Relationships.

  • Mathematical Aptitude (Fraction, Time & Distance, Ratio, Proportion and Percentage, Profit and Loss, Interest and Discounting, Averages etc.).

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Unit-VI Logical Reasoning

  • Understanding the structure of arguments: argument forms, structure of categorical propositions, Mood and Figure, Formal and Informal fallacies, Uses of language, Connotations and denotations of terms, Classical square of opposition.

  • Evaluating and distinguishing deductive and inductive reasoning.

  • Analogies.

  • Venn diagram: Simple and multiple uses for establishing the validity of arguments.

  • Indian Logic: Means of knowledge.

  • Pramanas: Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (Inference), Upamana (Comparison), Shabda (Verbal testimony), Arthapatti (Implication) and Anupalabddhi (Non-apprehension).

  • Structure and kinds of Anumana (inference), Vyapti (invariable relation), Hetvabhasas (fallacies of inference).

Unit-VII Data Interpretation

  • Sources, acquisition and classification of Data.

  • Quantitative and Qualitative Data.

  • Graphical representations (Bar chart, Histogram, Pie chart, Table chart, Line chart, and mapping of data).

  • Data Interpretation.

  • Data and Governance.

Unit-VIII Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

  • ICT: General abbreviations and terminology.

  • Basics of Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio and Video-conferencing.

  • Digital initiatives in higher education.

  • ICT and Governance.

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Unit-IX People, Development and Environment

  • Development and environment: Millennium Development and Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Human and environmental interaction: Anthropogenic activities and their impacts on the environment.

  • Environmental issues: Local, Regional and Global; Air pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Noise pollution, Waste (solid, liquid, biomedical, hazardous, electronic), Climate change and its Socio-Economic and Political dimensions.

  • Impacts of pollutants on human health.

  • Natural and energy resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear and Forests.

  • Natural hazards and disasters: Mitigation strategies.

  • Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate Change, International agreements/efforts -Montreal Protocol, Rio Summit, Convention on Biological Diversity, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance.

Unit-X Higher Education System

  • Institutions of higher learning and education in ancient India.

  • Evolution of higher learning and research in post-independence India.

  • Oriental, Conventional and Non-conventional learning programmes in India.

  • Professional, Technical and Skill-Based education.

  • Value education and environmental education.

  • Policies, Governance, and Administration

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UGC NET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026

UGC NET Paper 2 is the subject chosen by the candidate

  • It measures the in-depth knowledge and expertise of the applicant in the respective subject.

  • A Total of 85 subjects are provided by NTA.

  • The candidate has to choose one subject from these 85 subjects.

  • Paper-2 will also consist of only objective-type questions (MCQs)

By thoroughly reviewing the syllabus, one can gain a strategic advantage, allowing them to focus on high-weightage areas, save time, and increase their chances of securing a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or Assistant Professorship. To assist aspirants, the article includes a detailed UGC NET Paper 2 Syllabus for each subject with detailed information.

Candidates can download the subject-wise syllabus in the pdf format.

UGC NET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026

Subject Code

Subjects

UGC NET syllabus in English

UGC NET syllabus in Hindi

1

Economics / Rural Economics /Co-operation / Demography / Development Planning/ Development Studies / Econometrics/ Applied Economics/Development Eco./Business Economics

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2

Political Science

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3

Philosophy

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4

Psychology

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5

Sociology

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6

History

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7

Anthropology

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8

Commerce

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9

Education

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10

Social Work

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11

Defence and Strategic Studies

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12

Home Science

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14

Public Administration

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15

Population Studies

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16

Music

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17

Management (including Business Admn. Mgt./Marketing/ Marketing Mgt./Industrial Relations and Personnel Mgt./ Personnel Mgt./Financial Mgt./Co-operative Management)

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18

Maithili

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19

Bengali

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20

Hindi


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21

Kannada

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22

Malayalam

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23

Oriya

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24

Punjabi

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25

Sanskrit

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26

Tamil

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27

Telugu

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28

Urdu

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29

Arabic

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30

English

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31

Linguistics

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32

Chinese

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33

Dogri

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34

Nepali

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35

Manipuri

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36

Assamese

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37

Gujarati

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38

Marathi

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39

French (French Version)

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40

Spanish

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41

Russian

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42

Persian

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43

Rajasthani

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44

German

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45

Japanese

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46

Adult Education/ Continuing Education/ Andragogy/Non-Formal Education.

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47

Physical Education

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49

Arab Culture and Islamic Studies

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50

Indian Culture

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55

Labour Welfare/Personnel Management/Industrial Relations/ Labour and Social Welfare/Human Resource Management

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58

Law

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59

Library and Information Science

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60

Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies

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62

Comparative Study of Religions

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63

Mass Communication and Journalism

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65

Performing Arts - Dance/Drama/Theatre

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66

Museology & Conservation

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67

Archaeology

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68

Criminology

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70

Tribal and Regional Language/Literature

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71

Folk Literature

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72

Comparative Literature

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73

Sanskrit traditional subjects (including) Jyotisha/Sidhanta Jyotish/ Navya Vyakarna/ Vyakarna/ Mimansa/ Navya Nyaya/ Sankhya Yoga/ Tulanatmaka Darsan/ Shukla Yajurveda/ Madhav Vedant/ Dharmasasta/ Sahitya/ Puranotihasa /Agama).


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74

Women Studies

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79

Visual Art (including Drawing & Painting/Sculpture, Graphics/Applied Art/History of Art)

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80

Geography

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81

Social Medicine & Community Health

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82

Forensic Science

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83

Pali

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84

Kashmiri

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85

Konkani

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87

Computer Science and Applications

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88

Electronic Science

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89

Environmental Sciences

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90

Politics, including International Relations/International Studies, Defence/Strategic Studies, West Asian Studies, South East Asian Studies, African Studies, South Asian Studies, Soviet Studies, and American Studies.

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91

Prakrit

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92

Human Rights and Duties

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93

Tourism Administration and Management.

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94

Bodo


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95

Santali


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100

Yoga

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101

Sindhi

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102

Hindu Studies

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103

Indian Knowledge System

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104

Disaster Management System

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105

Ayurveda Biology

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UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026

The National Testing Agency will release the UGC NET 2026 exam pattern on the official website. The exam is conducted in online mode for both paper 1 and paper 2. The exam pattern is designed in such a way that Paper 1 with 50 questions and paper 2 with 100 question and questions, are objective type for both the papers.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is there negative marking in the UGC NET exam 2026?
A:

No, there is no negative marking for wrong answers in either Paper 1 or Paper 2 2026 exam.

Q: Where to find the official UGC NET syllabus?
A:

The official syllabus is available at ugcnet.nta.nic.in or ugcnet.nta.ac.in

Q: How to download the detailed syllabus for UGC NET Paper 2?
A:

The subject-wise detailed syllabus for Paper 2 (85 subjects) is available for download on the NTA website.

Q: Can I choose any subject for UGC NET Paper 2?
A:

No. You must choose a subject for Paper 2 that corresponds to your master’s degree or a closely related discipline.

Q: What is the total time duration for the UGC NET exam 2026?
A:

3 Hours (180 minutes) for both papers together.

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