UGC NET Political Science Syllabus
The UGC NET Paper I is a General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude. This paper is universal across all subjects and aims to assess the candidate’s general knowledge, teaching aptitude, and research skills.The syllabus covers various aspects such as reasoning ability, reading comprehension, and teaching methodology, among others.
UGC NET Paper I Syllabus (Teaching and Research Aptitude)
| Unit/Topic | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| 1. Teaching Aptitude | – Teaching: Nature, Objectives, and Characteristics |
| – Teaching Methods: Lecture, Discussion, Demonstration, Project, and Research-based methods | |
| – Learner Characteristics: Needs and Interests of Learners, Individual Differences, Special Needs | |
| – Evaluation Systems: Formative and Summative Assessment, Continuous Evaluation, Feedback | |
| – Teaching Aids: Use of Audio-Visuals, ICT, Digital Tools | |
| – Teaching and Learning Process: Concept of Teaching, Learning Styles, Pedagogical Methods | |
| 2. Research Aptitude | – Research: Meaning, Characteristics, Objectives, Types of Research (Qualitative and Quantitative) |
| – Research Process: Identification of Research Problem, Hypothesis, Research Design, Data Collection Methods | |
| – Research Tools and Techniques: Surveys, Interviews, Questionnaires, Sampling, Data Analysis | |
| – Research Ethics: Plagiarism, Citation, Research Integrity | |
| – Interpretation of Data: Mean, Median, Mode, Variance, Standard Deviation, Correlation | |
| – Report Writing: Structure, Format, Research Publication, Citation Styles (APA, MLA, etc.) | |
| 3. Reading Comprehension | – Reading: Types of Reading (Skimming, Scanning, Intensive, and Extensive) |
| – Comprehension of Text: Understanding the context, main ideas, arguments, conclusions | |
| – Analyzing and Interpreting Texts: Identifying the tone, purpose, and meaning | |
| 4. Communication | – Communication: Types, Process, Barriers, and Modes (Written, Oral, Non-verbal) |
| – Effective Communication: Clarity, Coherence, and Organizing Ideas | |
| – Role of Communication in Teaching and Learning | |
| 5. Reasoning (Including Mathematical Reasoning) | – Logical Reasoning: Analogies, Venn Diagrams, Statements and Arguments, etc. |
| – Analytical Reasoning: Identifying patterns, sequences, and relationships | |
| – Quantitative Reasoning: Number Series, Data Interpretation, Simple Arithmetic, Ratios | |
| – Mathematical Reasoning: Basic Algebra, Arithmetic, Percentage, Averages, Time and Work, Speed | |
| 6. Logical Reasoning | – Deductive and Inductive Reasoning |
| – Syllogism, Puzzles, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Coding-Decoding, Series Completion | |
| – Logical Connectives: AND, OR, Not, Implication, Equivalence | |
| – Logical Fallacies, Valid and Invalid Arguments | |
| 7. Data Interpretation | – Interpretation of Data in Forms of Tables, Graphs, and Charts |
| – Understanding of Basic Statistical Measures: Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation | |
| – Visualizing Data: Bar, Line, Pie Charts, Histograms | |
| 8. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) | – ICT: Basics, Uses, Applications in Teaching and Learning |
| – Computer Networks: LAN, WAN, Internet, and Intranet | |
| – Web Tools: Search Engines, Digital Libraries, Online Resources, Learning Management Systems | |
| – Tools for Content Development: Word Processors, Spreadsheets, Presentation Software | |
| – Online Education and E-Learning: Concept, Tools, and Platforms | |
| 9. People and Environment | – People and Environment: Impact of Human Activity on Environment (Pollution, Climate Change) |
| – Environmental Issues: Global Warming, Deforestation, Water Conservation, Sustainability | |
| – Social Issues and Environmental Protection: Role of Government, NGOs, and Citizens | |
| 10. Higher Education System | – Structure of Higher Education: Universities, Colleges, Deemed Universities, Autonomy |
| – Policies and Governance in Higher Education: National and International Perspectives | |
| – Regulatory Bodies: UGC, AICTE, NAAC, NCTE, etc. | |
| – Quality Assurance and Accreditation Process in Higher Education |
Key Points about UGC NET Paper I:
- Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- Marks: Each question carries 2 marks.
- Duration: 3 hours (Same as Paper II).
- Negative Marking: There is no negative marking.
- Qualifying Criteria: To qualify, candidates must achieve a minimum of 40% marks for the General category and 35% marks for Reserved categories in Paper I.
Preparation Tips for Paper I:
- Teaching Aptitude: Understand various teaching methods, strategies, and tools. Be familiar with modern educational technologies and classroom management.
- Research Aptitude: Focus on research methods, data collection, and analysis techniques. Study research ethics and writing skills.
- Reasoning and Data Interpretation: Practice logical and mathematical reasoning questions regularly to improve speed and accuracy. Learn to interpret data from graphs, tables, and charts.
- ICT: Get acquainted with various software tools and platforms used in the modern educational setup. Learn basic computer skills.
- Communication Skills: Improve reading comprehension and writing skills. Practice skimming, scanning, and answering questions based on text passages.
- Current Affairs: Stay updated on current events, environmental issues, and policies related to higher education and teaching systems.
By thoroughly covering these topics and grasping the fundamental principles of each, candidates can excel in UGC NET Paper I.
UGC NET Political Science Syllabus (Paper II)
UGC NET Political Science Exam Pattern (Paper II)
- Paper II consists of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- Each question carries 2 marks.
- The duration of the exam is 3 hours.
- The questions are based on the syllabus outlined above and test candidates on their in-depth knowledge of the subject.
Preparation Tips
- Focus on understanding the concepts rather than rote memorization.
- Regularly read current affairs to understand the application of political concepts in contemporary situations.
- Refer to standard textbooks and resources for political theory, Indian politics, and international relations.
- Practice past year question papers and mock tests to understand the pattern and time management.
| Unit/Topic | Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| 1. Political Theory and Indian Politics | Political Theory: |
| – Nature and scope of Political Science | |
| – Approaches: Normative, Behavioral, Post-Behavioral, Feminist, etc. | |
| – Key Concepts: State, Power, Authority, Sovereignty, Equality, Justice, Rights, etc. | |
| – Theories of the State: Liberalism, Marxism, Pluralism, etc. | |
| – Democracy, Representation, Citizenship | |
| – Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism, Communism, Feminism, etc. | |
| – Major Political Thinkers: Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Mill, Gandhi, etc. | |
| Indian Politics: | |
| – Indian Nationalism and Social Reform Movements | |
| – Making of the Constitution of India | |
| – Fundamental Rights, Duties, and Directive Principles of State Policy | |
| – Features of the Indian Constitution | |
| – Indian Federalism: Centre-State Relations | |
| – Indian Political System: Parliament, Judiciary, Executive | |
| – Electoral System and Political Parties in India | |
| – Social Movements and Pressure Groups | |
| – Indian Political Culture and Social Transformation | |
| 2. Comparative Politics | – Nature, Scope, and Approaches (Traditional, Structural-functional, Systems Theory, etc.) |
| – Political Systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Semi-presidential | |
| – Political Parties, Pressure Groups, and Social Movements | |
| – Comparative Politics: USA, UK, France, and China | |
| – Political Development, Revolution, and Democratization | |
| 3. International Relations | – Approaches to International Relations: Realism, Liberalism, Marxism, Constructivism |
| – Theories of International Relations: Power, Balance of Power, Geopolitics, Globalization | |
| – International Organizations: United Nations, WTO, IMF, World Bank, SAARC, EU, etc. | |
| – Global Issues: Environment, Human Rights, Terrorism, Cyber Security, Climate Change | |
| – Foreign Policy Analysis: India’s Foreign Policy and Global Role | |
| – Regionalism and Global Governance | |
| 4. Political Economy | – Economic Systems: Capitalism, Socialism, Mixed Economy, Neoliberalism |
| – Theories of Political Economy: Marxism, Keynesian, Neoliberalism | |
| – Globalization and Political Economy | |
| – International Political Economy (IPE): Trade, Finance, MNCs, etc. | |
| 5. Public Administration | – Nature and Scope of Public Administration |
| – Theories of Administration: Classical, Scientific Management, Human Relations, Behavioral | |
| – Organization of Government: Central and State Administration | |
| – Bureaucracy: Role, Structure, and Issues | |
| – Administrative Reforms in India | |
| – Accountability and Control in Administration | |
| – Public Policy and Public Administration | |
| 6. Political Research and Methodology | – Nature and Scope of Political Science Research |
| – Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods | |
| – Research Design: Sampling, Data Collection, Hypothesis, Variables | |
| – Data Analysis: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics | |
| – Tools for Data Analysis: SPSS, Excel | |
| – Academic Writing, Research Ethics, and Integrity | |
| 7. Issues in Indian Politics | – Caste, Religion, and Politics |
| – Secularism, Regionalism, and Nationalism | |
| – Electoral Reforms, Political Parties, and Coalition Politics | |
| – Media and Politics | |
| – Corruption, Governance, and Anti-Corruption Measures | |
| – National Security, Terrorism, and Internal Conflicts | |
| – Environmental Politics in India |
This table format organizes the UGC NET Political Science syllabus by major themes and topics, making it easier to track the important subjects you need to focus on for the exam.
Political Science syllabus :- Download
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