Waseem Ahmmad, UGC NET qualified for JRF & Assistant Professor
A PhD student, Waseem Ahmmad Bhat cracked UGC NET (November) 2017 Geography paper for both JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) and Assistant Professor. He scored a whopping 252/350 marks (72%). His paper-wise scores include 64/100 (64%) in Paper I, 72/100 (72%) in Paper II, and 116/150 (78%) in Paper III.
An extremely dedicated student, Waseem never took any coaching for the exam. However, this is not his first attempt of UGC NET Geography paper. Regarding the same, Waseem stated, “I have qualified UGC NET five to six times before. But what I did different this time as part of my UGC NET (November) 2017 preparation strategy was that I focused on my strengths and tried to look into my weaknesses. I made my strengths stronger and at the same time also erased my weaknesses.” He added, “As part of my prep strategy, I also practiced previous years’ papers a lot more than my previous attempts of the exam.”
When we asked Waseem what as per him was the most difficult part of UGC NET exam, he revealed that he found Human Geography and World Geography to be most difficult. He further talked about the study plan he followed for the exam and shared that he studied for four to five hours regularly for a month. And, those four to five hours were mainly utilised to study Physical and Indian Geography.
Waseem shared that he studied the following books for his preparation for UGC NET 2017:
| Book |
Author |
| Fundamentals of Physical Geography |
Majid Husain |
| Physical Geography |
Savindra Singh |
| India: A Comprehensive Geography |
D R Khullar |
| Evolution of Geographical Thought |
Majid Husain |
| Human Geography |
Majid Husain |
| Geography |
Surender Singh |
| Practical Geography: A Systematic Approach |
Ashis Sarkar |
| NCERT practical books of Classes 11th and 12th |
|
When we questioned Waseem about the mistakes students should avoid while preparing for UGC NET, he answered, “Students usually do not study according to the syllabus formulated by UGC. This is not a good practice to follow.”
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He also advised students on managing time well in the exam and said, “Students usually complain about the lack of time in Paper I of the exam. Time can be managed efficiently if they solve maximum possible number of previous years’ papers.” He added, “Students should work hard and always believe in themselves that they can crack the exam.”
Highly ambitious, Waseem loves studying. Before pursuing PhD, he was a post-graduate Geography student at University of Kashmir. Waseem also shared that playing Cricket is a hobby that he pursues.
In future, Waseem wants to make his career in the field of Research.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
With 88.6 percentile, it is better to shortlist PhD colleges based on the subject, research area, faculty, eligibility and entrance or interview process, not only the NET score. LPU can also be considered if its research areas and faculty match the topic you want to work on. Its PhD structure gives
S
Beginner-Level 1
Answered a month ago
Yes. The NTA conducted the re-exam for three subjects on September 9 and 10. The UGC NET re-exam schedule is provided below:
English: September 9, 2026 Shift 1 - 9 AM to 12 Noon
Commerce : September 9, 2026 Shift 2 - 3 PM to 6 PM
Sociology : September 10, 2026 Shift 1 - 9 AM to 12 Noon
C
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Students can prepare for UGC NET CSIR NET and similar competitive exams while pursuing MA Mathematics at LPU because the course builds a strong base in core subjects such as Algebra Analysis Topology and Differential Equations which are important for these exams. Regular academic guidance library re
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Beginner-Level 1
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, it is possible. The M.A. Sociology curriculum at LPU is manageable enough for students to prepare for exams like UPSC, UGC NET, and other competitive tests alongside regular studies. Sociology itself is a useful subject for many exams, so class learning also supports preparation. With proper ti
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Beginner-Level 1
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, students can prepare for RBI, UPSC, UGC NET, and similar competitive exams while pursuing M.Sc. Economics at LPU. The course builds a strong base in economics, statistics, research, and analytical thinking, which is useful for many exams. With proper time management, regular classes, and self s
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Beginner-Level 1
Answered 2 months ago
The NTA released the UGC NET 2026 provisional answer key on the official portal at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. To download the answer key, candidates required application number, date of birth or password and security pin. The exam was condcuted from June 22 to June 30, 2026.
K
Contributor-Level 7
I scored 164/300 (88.6 percentile) in UGC NET and am eligible for PhD admission. Can you help me shortlist colleges?