AspirantGoal is an independent app. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Testing Agency or any exam authority. This page repeats what the exam body’s own documents print, as checked on 23 October 2026. The exam body’s current notice is the authority, so read it before you plan around any figure.
UGC NET in brief
UGC-NET is a test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for award of Junior Research Fellowship and appointment as Assistant Professor, appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D., and admission to Ph.D. only, in Indian universities and colleges.
UGC-NET test (Paper I and Paper II in one sitting)
| Item | What the document says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Computer based test (CBT) mode only | [1] Chapter 3, paras 3 and 3.1 (printed p. 17) |
| Papers | Two papers shown as two sections of a single test: Paper I, also called Part I, and Paper II, also called Part II | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.2 (printed p. 17); Annexure IX, para 2(a) (printed p. 60) |
| Duration | 180 minutes, which is three hours, for both papers together, without any break | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.2 table (printed p. 17); Important Information (printed p. 4) |
| Time limit per paper | No separate time limit for each paper; the candidate may move between sections and questions at any time | [1] Annexure IX, para 2(a) (printed p. 60) |
| Question type | Objective type, multiple choice; the candidate chooses one option as the correct option | [1] Chapter 3, paras 3.2 and 3.5 item 1 (printed p. 17) |
| Choice of questions | All questions are compulsory | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.2 table (printed p. 17) |
| Marks per question | Each question carries two marks, and each correct response earns two marks | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.5 items 2 and 3 (printed p. 17) |
| Negative marking | None. There is no negative marking for an incorrect response | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.5 item 4 (printed p. 17) |
| Evaluation | Only questions with a saved answer are evaluated, whether or not they are marked for review | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.5 item 5, as updated by the corrigendum of 16 October 2026 (printed p. 17); Annexure IX, para 4 (printed p. 60) |
| Language or medium | Question papers are bilingual, English and Hindi, except language papers, which are in the concerned language | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.4 (i) and (ii) (printed p. 17) |
| Translation | If a question is ambiguous in translation, the English version is treated as final | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.4 (iv) (printed p. 17) |
| Maximum marks | 300 marks in aggregate for Paper I and Paper II taken together | [1] Annexure X, para 3(ii) (printed p. 62); Chapter 3, para 3.2 table (printed p. 17) |
Paper I (Part I): General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude
| Item | What the document says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Questions and marks | 50 questions, 100 marks | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.2 table (printed p. 17); Annexure IX, para 2(a) (printed p. 60) |
| What it assesses | Teaching and research aptitude of the candidate: reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.2 table (printed p. 17) |
| Who takes it | Compulsory for all candidates | [1] Annexure II, note at the end (printed p. 47) |
| Questions per unit | Five questions of two marks each are to be set from each module | [2] Syllabus p. 4, note (i) |
Paper II (Part II): subject chosen by the candidate
| Item | What the document says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Questions and marks | 100 questions, 200 marks | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.2 table (printed p. 17); Annexure IX, para 2(a) (printed p. 60) |
| What it assesses | Based on the subject selected by the candidate; assesses domain knowledge | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.2 table (printed p. 17) |
| Number of subjects | 87 subjects, serial numbers 1 to 87, each with a subject code, are listed in Annexure II | [1] Annexure II (printed pp. 45 to 47) |
| Syllabus | NTA does not provide a syllabus; subject syllabi are on the UGC website page ugcnetonline.in/syllabus-new.php | [1] Chapter 3, para 3.3 (printed p. 17); Annexure II, note at the top (printed p. 45) |
Paper II subjects and codes (Annexure II)
| Subject | Code |
|---|---|
| Adult Education/ Continuing Education/ Andragogy/ Non-Formal Education. | 46 |
| Anthropology | 07 |
| Arab Culture and Islamic Studies | 49 |
| Arabic | 29 |
| Archaeology | 67 |
| Assamese | 36 |
| Bengali | 19 |
| Bodo | 94 |
| Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies | 60 |
| Chinese | 32 |
| Commerce | 08 |
| Comparative Literature | 72 |
| Comparative Study of Religions | 62 |
| Computer Science and Applications | 87 |
| Criminology | 68 |
| Defence and Strategic Studies | 11 |
| Dogri | 33 |
| Economics / Rural Economics /Co-operation / Demography / Development Planning/Development Studies / Econometrics/ Applied Economics / Development Economics /Business Economics | 01 |
| Education | 09 |
| Electronic Science | 88 |
| English | 30 |
| Environmental Sciences | 89 |
| Folk Literature | 71 |
| Forensic Science | 82 |
| French (French Version) | 39 |
| Geography | 80 |
| German | 44 |
| Gujarati | 37 |
| Hindi | 20 |
| Hindu Studies | 102 |
| History | 06 |
| Home Science | 12 |
| Human Rights and Duties | 92 |
| Indian Culture | 50 |
| Indian Knowledge System | 103 |
| Japanese | 45 |
| Kannada | 21 |
| Kashmiri | 84 |
| Konkani | 85 |
| Labour Welfare / Personnel Management / Industrial Relations/ Labour and Social Welfare / Human Resource Management | 55 |
| Law | 58 |
| Library and Information Science | 59 |
| Linguistics | 31 |
| Maithili | 18 |
| Malayalam | 22 |
| Management (including Business Admn. Mgt./Marketing / Marketing Mgt./ Industrial Relations and Personnel Mgt./ Personnel Mgt./Financial Mgt. /Co- operative Management) | 17 |
| Manipuri | 35 |
| Marathi | 38 |
| Mass Communication and Journalism | 63 |
| Museology & Conservation | 66 |
| Music | 16 |
| Nepali | 34 |
| Oriya | 23 |
| Pali | 83 |
| Performing Art - Dance/Drama/Theatre | 65 |
| Persian | 42 |
| Philosophy | 03 |
| Physical Education | 47 |
| Political Science | 02 |
| Politics including International Relations/International Studies including Defence / Strategic Studies, West Asian Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, African Studies, South Asian Studies, Soviet Studies, American Studies. | 90 |
| Population Studies | 15 |
| Prakrit | 91 |
| Psychology | 04 |
| Public Administration | 14 |
| Punjabi | 24 |
| Rajasthani | 43 |
| Russian | 41 |
| Sanskrit | 25 |
| 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). | 73 |
| Santali | 95 |
| Sindhi | 101 |
| Social Medicine & Community Health | 81 |
| Social Work | 10 |
| Sociology | 05 |
| Spanish | 40 |
| Tamil | 26 |
| Telugu | 27 |
| Tourism Administration and Management. | 93 |
| Tribal and Regional Language/Literature | 70 |
| Urdu | 28 |
| Visual Art (including Drawing & Painting/Sculpture Graphics/Applied Art/History of Art) | 79 |
| Women Studies | 74 |
| Yoga | 100 |
| Disaster Management | 104 |
| Ayurveda Biology | 105 |
| Forestry | 106 |
| Statistics | 107 |
Where: [1] Annexure II, S. No. 1 (printed p. 45)
Qualifying rules
- A candidate must appear in both papers. Qualification and qualifying cut-offs are decided on the aggregate marks of Paper I and Paper II. [1] Para 11.3(1) Step III and para 11.3(2)(a) (printed pp. 38 to 39); Annexure X, para 2 (printed p. 62)
Syllabus, as the National Testing Agency prints it
NTA does not supply the syllabus. Paper I is taken from the UGC NET Bureau syllabus, and the Paper II syllabus of each subject is a separate document on the same page.
Paper 1
General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude
- Teaching Aptitude
- Research Aptitude
- Comprehension
- Communication
- Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
- Logical Reasoning
- Data Interpretation
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- People, Development and Environment
- Higher Education System
A free tracker for these 10 units
Download the UGC NET tracker as a CSV file. It has one row for each unit above, in the same columns as the printable syllabus tracker: minutes studied and the date you finish the first pass sit in separate columns, so a long session cannot pass for a finished unit. Add a row with Round 2 when you go through a stage again. It is free and needs no sign-up.
The file holds the ten Paper I units. For Paper II, add the units of your subject from the UGC NET Bureau syllabus page listed in the sources.
How AspirantGoal handles UGC NET
AspirantGoal ships a syllabus template for UGC NET, checked against app version 1.0.0 on 22 October 2026. It is an editable study aid built from published exam information, so compare it with the units above and edit what differs. You can also set the exam up as a goal of your own, which plans, times and tracks the same way.
Questions
How many papers are in UGC NET, and how many questions and marks does each have?
The test has two papers, shown as two sections of a single test. Paper I, also called Part I, has 50 questions for 100 marks. Paper II, also called Part II, has 100 questions for 200 marks. Each question carries two marks. [1] Chapter 3, paras 3.2 and 3.5 (printed p. 17); Annexure IX, para 2(a) (printed p. 60)
Is UGC NET conducted online?
Yes. The bulletin says the examination is conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode only. Answers are given by clicking with the mouse, and the keyboard, if any, is disabled for the whole test. [1] Chapter 3, para 3.1 (printed p. 17); Annexure IX, para 2(c) (printed p. 60)
How long is UGC NET, and is there a break between Paper I and Paper II?
The test lasts 180 minutes, which is three hours, with no break between the papers. There is no separate time limit for each paper, so the candidate may move between sections and questions at any time. All questions are compulsory. [1] Chapter 3, para 3.2 (printed p. 17); Annexure IX, para 2(a) (printed p. 60)
Is there negative marking in UGC NET?
No. Each correct response earns two marks, and there is no negative marking for an incorrect response. [1] Chapter 3, para 3.5 items 3 and 4 (printed p. 17)
Are questions marked for review evaluated in UGC NET?
A question with a saved answer is evaluated, whether or not it is marked for review. A question left unanswered is not evaluated, even if it is marked for review. [1] Chapter 3, para 3.5 item 5, as updated by the corrigendum of 16 October 2026 (printed p. 17); Annexure IX, para 4 (printed p. 60)
In which language is the UGC NET question paper?
Question papers are bilingual, in English and Hindi, except language papers, where the questions are in the concerned language. If there is any ambiguity in translation, the English version is final. [1] Chapter 3, para 3.4 (printed p. 17)
How many subjects are there for Paper II, and where do I find the syllabus?
Annexure II of the bulletin lists 87 subjects with their codes, and Paper I is compulsory for all. NTA does not provide a copy of the syllabus; subject syllabi are on the UGC website page ugcnetonline.in/syllabus-new.php. [1] Annexure II and its notes (printed pp. 45 to 47); Chapter 3, para 3.3 (printed p. 17)
What are the Paper I units in the UGC NET syllabus?
The UGC syllabus for Paper I, Code 00, has ten units: Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude, Comprehension, Communication, Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), People, Development and Environment, and Higher Education System. [2] Syllabus pp. 1 to 4
How many Paper I questions come from each unit?
The UGC syllabus note says five questions carrying two marks each are to be set from each module, and the syllabus lists ten units. [2] Syllabus p. 4, note (i)
What happens if a UGC NET question has more than one correct option or is dropped?
If more than one option is correct, two marks go to those who marked any correct option. If all options are correct, two marks go to all who attempted it. If none is correct, or the question is wrong or dropped, two marks go only to those who attempted it. [1] Chapter 3, para 3.5 item 6 (printed p. 18)
Can I use a calculator in the UGC NET exam hall?
No. The bulletin lists calculators, mobile phones, earphones, log tables, slide rules, watches, any paper or textual material and other electronic devices among the items candidates may not carry into the examination hall. Blank sheets for rough work are provided in the hall. [1] Para 8.11 (printed p. 30); Annexure IX, para 7 (printed p. 61)
What this page leaves out
Dates, fees, age limits, attempts, eligibility and cut-offs change every cycle, so this page does not repeat them. Read them in the current notice.
Notes on the documents:
- The bulletin is used in its updated version of 16 October 2026. An earlier version of 8 October 2026 is also posted, and NTA’s public notice of 16 October 2026 says the updated bulletin prevails if the two differ.
- The bulletin states no total number of Paper II subjects. 87 is the highest serial number in Annexure II, and several rows group related disciplines under one code.
- The Annexure II table prints two digit codes such as 15 and 74, while the notes under it write Population Studies as 015 and Women Studies as 074. The UGC syllabus page prints 15 and 74.
- The pattern table calls the two parts Part I and Part II, and other places call them Paper I and Paper II. Annexure IX says they are two sections of a single test.