The UGC NET 2026 syllabus is divided into two distinct papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2, each with a different focus and structure.
Paper 1 is a general paper designed to test teaching and research aptitude. It contains 10 comprehensive units that assess abilities such as reasoning, general awareness, analytical thinking, and understanding of higher education systems. The main units are
Units
Topics
Teaching Aptitude
Teaching concepts, objectives, learner characteristics, methods, teaching aids, evaluation systems.
Research Aptitude
Research types and methods, steps of research, research ethics, paper/thesis writing, application of ICT in research.
Comprehension
Reading comprehension passages with questions to assess interpretation skills.
Communication
Communication theories, types, characteristics, barriers, classroom communication.
Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
Number series, codes, relationships, percentage, profit and loss, algebra, probability.
Logical Reasoning
Analogies, syllogisms, Venn diagrams, deductive and inductive reasoning.
Data Interpretation
Sources, tabulation, data representation, statistics, percentage analysis.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Computer basics, internet, e-mail, digital initiatives in higher education.
People, Development, and Environment
Environment issues, sustainable development, environmental protection, policies.
Higher Education System
Governance, structure, policies, and management in the Indian education system
Paper II will be based on the subject chosen by the candidate (e.g., Commerce, Management, Economics, History, English, Education, Computer Science, Political Science, etc.).
Subjects
Commerce
Accounting, Business Finance, Marketing, HRM, Taxation, International Business
English
Drama, Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Literary Criticism, Contemporary Literature.
Economics
Micro, Macro, Development, Public Economics, Econometrics.
Political Sciences
Theories, Comparative Politics, Indian Government & Politics, Public Administration.
Computer Science
Programming, Database Management, Algorithms, Data Structures, Software Engineering.
Education
Philosophical, Sociological, and Psychological foundations, Curriculum Studies, Teacher Education.
Ques.1 How many papers are there in UGC NET 2026?
Ans. There are two papers:
Ques.2 What is included in UGC NET Paper II?
Ans. Paper II is subject-specific and based on the postgraduate level syllabus of the chosen subject. There are 83 subjects to choose from (e.g., Commerce, Management, Economics, History, English, Computer Science, Political Science, Education, etc.)
Ques.3 Is the syllabus available in multiple languages?
Ans. Yes, the syllabus and exam are offered in both English and Hindi (except for language-specific subjects), making them accessible to a wider group of candidates.
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Type: Private
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Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE)
Lovely Professional University (LPU)
Jalandhar, Punjab
KL University
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Type: Deemed to be University
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Hyderabad Business School, GITAM University
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MIT-WPU
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MIT Vishwaprayag University (MIT VPU)
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Universal AI University
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SRM University
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Sathyabama University, Chennai