Syllabus
UGC NET Syllabus 2026
The exam pattern and the official topic lists for UGC NET, read from the recruiting body’s own notice — with the notice’s own caveats kept, not trimmed.
Paper-I and Paper-II (one sitting)
| Section | Questions | Max marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: General Paper on Teaching & Research Aptitude | 50 | 100 |
| Paper-II: the subject chosen by the candidate | 100 | 200 |
| Total | 150 | 300 |
Syllabus, section by section
Paper-I
Ten units, common to every candidate. Two marks a question, no negative marking, and no break between the papers.
Unit-I: Teaching Aptitude
- Teaching: concept, objectives, levels, characteristics and basic requirements
- Learner’s characteristics
- Factors affecting teaching
- Methods of teaching in institutions of higher learning
- Teaching support system
- Evaluation systems
Unit-II: Research Aptitude
- Research: meaning, types and characteristics
- Methods of research
- Steps of research
- Thesis and article writing
- Application of ICT in research
- Research ethics
Unit-III: Comprehension
- A passage of text with questions asked from it
Unit-IV: Communication
- Communication: meaning, types and characteristics
- Effective communication: verbal and non-verbal, inter-cultural and group, classroom
- 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)
Unit-VI: Logical Reasoning
- Structure of arguments
- Deductive and inductive reasoning
- Analogies
- Venn diagram
- Indian logic: means of knowledge
- Pramanas
- Structure and kinds of Anumana
Unit-VII: Data Interpretation
- Sources, acquisition and classification of data
- Quantitative and qualitative data
- Graphical representation and mapping of data
- Data interpretation
- Data and governance
Unit-VIII: Information and Communication Technology
- ICT: general abbreviations and terminology
- Basics of internet, intranet, e-mail, audio and video-conferencing
- Digital initiatives in higher education
- ICT and governance
Unit-IX: People, Development and Environment
- Development and environment
- Human and environment interaction
- Environmental issues: local, regional and global
- Impacts of pollutants on human health
- Natural and energy resources
- Natural hazards and disasters
- Environmental Protection Act (1986) and international agreements
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
- Professional, technical and skill-based education
- Value education and environmental education
- Policies, governance and administration
Paper-II
The subject the candidate chose in the application form, one of the subjects listed in Annexure-II of the Bulletin. UGC publishes a separate syllabus for each at ugcnetonline.in; the Bulletin states that NTA does not supply copies.
- Domain knowledge of the chosen subject