UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus

Exam Name

UGC NET December 2026

Conducting Body

National Testing Agency (NTA)

Notification Date

October 8, 2026

Application Start Date

October 8, 2026

Last Date to Apply

October 28, 2026 (11:50 pm)

Application Correction Window

November 2 to 4, 2026

Exam Dates

December 14 to 19, 2026

Mode of Exam

Computer Based Test (CBT)

Number of Subjects

87

Subject

General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude

Candidate's chosen subject

Number of Questions

50

100

Maximum Marks

100

200

Type of Questions

Objective, multiple choice

Objective, multiple choice

Marks per Question

2

2

Negative Marking

No

No

Total Duration

3 hours (180 minutes) for both papers together

Unit I

Teaching Aptitude

5

10

Unit II

Research Aptitude

5

10

Unit III

Comprehension

5

10

Unit IV

Communication

5

10

Unit V

Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude

5

10

Unit VI

Logical Reasoning

5

10

Unit VII

Data Interpretation

5

10

Unit VIII

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

5

10

Unit IX

People, Development and Environment

5

10

Unit X

Higher Education System

5

10

Total

50

100

Unit I: Teaching Aptitude

Teaching: concept, objectives, levels (memory, understanding and reflective), characteristics and basic requirements. Learner's characteristics: academic, social, emotional and cognitive; individual differences. Factors affecting teaching: teacher, learner, support material, instructional facilities, learning environment and institution. Methods of teaching in higher learning institutions: teacher-centred vs learner-centred, offline vs online (SWAYAM, SWAYAM Prabha, MOOCs). Teaching support systems: traditional, modern and ICT-based. Evaluation systems: elements and types, evaluation in the Choice Based Credit System, computer-based testing, innovations in evaluation.

Unit II: Research Aptitude

Research: meaning, types and characteristics; positivism and post-positivistic approach. Methods of research: experimental, descriptive, historical, qualitative and quantitative. 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, and questions are asked from the passage.

Unit IV: Communication

Communication: meaning, types and characteristics. Effective communication: verbal and non-verbal, inter-cultural and group communication, 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: fractions, time and distance, ratio, proportion and percentage, profit and loss, interest and discounting, averages, etc.

Unit VI: Logical Reasoning

Structure of arguments: argument forms, categorical propositions, mood and figure, formal and informal fallacies, uses of language, connotation and denotation, classical square of opposition. Deductive and inductive reasoning; analogies; Venn diagrams. Indian Logic: means of knowledge, Pramanas (Pratyaksha, Anumana, Upamana, Shabda, Arthapatti, Anupalabdhi), structure and kinds of Anumana, Vyapti, Hetvabhasas.

Unit VII: Data Interpretation

Sources, acquisition and classification of data; quantitative and qualitative data. Graphical representation (bar chart, histogram, pie chart, table chart, line chart) and mapping of data. Data interpretation. Data and governance.

Unit VIII: ICT

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: Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. Human and environment interaction; anthropogenic activities and their impact. Environmental issues (local, regional, global): air, water, soil and noise pollution; waste; climate change and its socio-economic and political dimensions; impact of pollutants on human health. Natural and energy resources: solar, wind, soil, hydro, geothermal, biomass, nuclear and forest. Natural hazards and disasters: mitigation strategies. Environment Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate Change, international efforts (Montreal Protocol, Rio Summit, Convention on Biodiversity, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance).

Unit X: Higher Education System

Structure of institutions for higher learning and research in India. Formal and distance education. Professional, technical and general education. Value education and environmental education. Policies, commissions, programmes and regulatory bodies: UGC, AICTE, NCTE, CSIR, ICAR, ICMR, DST, DBT, etc.

Teaching Aptitude

Learner-centred methods, evaluation types, ICT-based teaching

Research Aptitude

Types of research, steps of research, research ethics

Comprehension

Passage-based questions (practise reading and accuracy)

Communication

Barriers to communication, verbal and non-verbal communication

Mathematical Reasoning

Number series, percentage, ratio, profit and loss, time and distance

Logical Reasoning

Syllogism, Venn diagrams, Pramanas, fallacies

Data Interpretation

Bar graphs, pie charts, tables, line charts

ICT

Abbreviations, digital initiatives, internet basics

People, Development and Environment

SDGs, pollution, climate agreements, energy resources

Higher Education System

Regulatory bodies (UGC, AICTE, NCTE), education structure