Are you aspiring to become a Junior Research Fellow or Assistant Professor? Then you are familiar with UGC NET. In 2021, 12,66,509 people registered for this exam, and only 43,730 qualified.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the UGC NET exam. The UGC NET subject list is released every year along with the syllabus by the NTA. You must carefully review the UGC NET Subject list before applying for the exam.
The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is a nationwide examination held twice a year—in June and December. With the recent inclusion of ‘Ayurveda Biology’ by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the UGC NET Subject List now features 85 subjects for the December session, compared to 83 in the June session. This update reflects the growing scope of disciplines covered under the exam. The UGC NET 2025 December cycle is scheduled to be conducted from January 3 to January 16, 2025.
The official website: University Grants Commission – NET (ugcnetonline.in)
It is crucial to refer to high-quality and reliable study material for thorough and effective exam preparation, as it plays a significant role in achieving excellent scores. Good study material is well-structured and includes all the important topics based on the updated UGC NET Subjects List. It also provides access to a collection of UGC NET Previous Year Question Papers, Mock Test Papers, and sample questions to help candidates practice extensively and understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. Additionally, the study material should be written in an easy-to-understand format with clear explanations and examples. Investing in the right study resources can significantly boost confidence, enhance preparation strategies, and ultimately lead to success in the UGC NET Exam.
Eduncle offers complete guidance and support with a wide range of expertly curated UGC NET study materials, tailored to help you prepare effectively for the UGC NET March 2025 Exam. These resources are designed to meet the needs of all aspirants and include detailed subject-wise notes, practice papers, and previous years’ question papers, all aligned with the updated UGC NET Subject List available on the official website. This comprehensive approach enhances conceptual understanding, sharpens your preparation strategy, and builds the confidence needed to achieve success in the exam.
From the following table, you can download the complete UGC NET Study Material for your subject.
The UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) covers a wide range of subjects across various academic disciplines, including Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, Commerce, and Computer Applications. For the 2025 cycle, the UGC NET Subject List includes 85 subjects, each identified by a unique subject code.
Candidates are required to choose one subject for the UGC NET exam, ideally matching their postgraduate specialization and academic interests. Refer to the UGC NET Subject List below, which includes all subjects along with their respective codes for UGC NET 2025:
S. No. | Subject | Subject Code |
---|---|---|
1 | Adult/Continuing Education, Andragogy, Non-Formal Education | 46 |
2 | Anthropology | 7 |
3 | Arab Culture and Islamic Studies | 49 |
4 | Arabic | 29 |
5 | Archaeology | 67 |
6 | Assamese | 36 |
7 | Bengali | 19 |
8 | Bodo | 94 |
9 | Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian & Peace Studies | 60 |
10 | Chinese | 32 |
11 | Commerce | 8 |
12 | Comparative Literature | 72 |
13 | Comparative Study of Religions | 62 |
14 | Computer Science and Applications | 87 |
15 | Criminology | 68 |
16 | Defence and Strategic Studies | 11 |
17 | Dogri | 33 |
18 | Economics and related fields | 1 |
19 | Education | 9 |
20 | Electronic Science | 88 |
21 | English | 30 |
22 | Environmental Sciences | 89 |
23 | Folk Literature | 71 |
24 | Forensic Science | 82 |
25 | French | 39 |
26 | Geography | 80 |
27 | German | 44 |
28 | Gujarati | 37 |
29 | Hindi | 20 |
30 | Hindu Studies | 102 |
31 | History | 6 |
32 | Home Science | 12 |
33 | Human Rights and Duties | 92 |
34 | Indian Culture | 50 |
35 | Indian Knowledge System | 103 |
36 | Japanese | 45 |
37 | Kannada | 21 |
38 | Kashmiri | 84 |
39 | Konkani | 85 |
40 | Labour Welfare / HR Management / Industrial Relations / Social Welfare | 55 |
41 | Law | 58 |
42 | Library and Information Science | 59 |
43 | Linguistics | 31 |
44 | Maithili | 18 |
45 | Malayalam | 22 |
46 | Management (including Business Admin., Marketing, HR, Finance, etc.) | 17 |
47 | Manipuri | 35 |
48 | Marathi | 38 |
49 | Mass Communication and Journalism | 63 |
50 | Museology and Conservation | 66 |
51 | Music | 16 |
52 | Nepali | 34 |
53 | Odia | 23 |
54 | Pali | 83 |
55 | Performing Arts – Dance/Drama/Theatre | 65 |
56 | Persian | 42 |
57 | Philosophy | 3 |
58 | Physical Education | 47 |
59 | Political Science | 2 |
60 | Politics, International Relations, Strategic/Area Studies | 90 |
61 | Population Studies | 15 |
62 | Prakrit | 91 |
63 | Psychology | 4 |
64 | Public Administration | 14 |
65 | Punjabi | 24 |
66 | Rajasthani | 43 |
67 | Russian | 41 |
68 | Sanskrit | 25 |
69 | Sanskrit Traditional Subjects (Jyotisha, Vyakarna, Mimansa, etc.) | 73 |
70 | Santali | 95 |
71 | Sindhi | 101 |
72 | Social Medicine and Community Health | 81 |
73 | Social Work | 10 |
74 | Sociology | 5 |
75 | Spanish | 40 |
76 | Tamil | 26 |
77 | Telugu | 27 |
78 | Tourism Administration and Management | 93 |
79 | Tribal and Regional Language/Literature | 70 |
80 | Urdu | 28 |
81 | Visual Art (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Applied Art, History of Art) | 79 |
82 | Women Studies | 74 |
83 | Yoga | 100 |
84 | Disaster Management | 104 |
85 | Ayurveda Biology | 105 |
Choosing the right subject from the UGC NET Subject List PDF is a key step for thorough preparation and aligning your choice with future career aspirations. Here are some useful tips to help you decide wisely:
Candidates planning to appear for the UGC NET exam should have a thorough understanding of the exam structure and requirements. The key points outlined below, along with insights from the UGC NET Subject List, will help applicants gain a clear understanding of the exam.
To successfully clear the UGC NET exam, thorough preparation, a smart strategy, and regular revision are essential. Start by understanding the syllabus based on your chosen subject from the UGC NET Subject List, and strengthen your preparation by solving previous years’ papers and taking mock tests to evaluate your performance.
1. Be thorough with the exam pattern and syllabus
Get thorough with the exam pattern, marking scheme, syllabus, and the UGC NET subject list to have a clear understanding of the topics you need to cover. Ensure you review the UGC NET subject list carefully to identify the important topics that must be addressed before the exam. Understand topics in-depth, referring to the UGC NET subject list as your guide, so you don’t have to stress at the last moment. Clarify all your doubts on time and make the most of the UGC NET subject list to streamline your preparation effectively.
2. Refer to recommended books
Refrain from wasting time by referring to several books. Instead, consult the UGC NET subject list to identify the relevant topics and focus on studying from the recommended books aligned with the UGC NET subject list. This will save you from getting confused and ensure your preparation remains streamlined and effective.
3. Work on your problem-solving skills
Multiple-choice questions will be provided to assess your problem-solving ability, analytical efficiency, capacity to interpret context, and how you analyse situations, evaluate options, make informed decisions, and apply theoretical elements and principles linked to the subject’s technical and domain knowledge. Therefore, practice as many problems as possible to strengthen your grasp of topics.
4. Create a study timetable
A schedule is very important in planning your topics daily. Check the number of days remaining for the exam and allocate topics accordingly, followed by practice questions. Focus on solving questions once your theory part is done. This ensures your fair understanding of the concepts and helps you boost your speed and accuracy.
5. Concentrate on your strengths
Don’t try anything new in the last few days. It’s just not the right time. Instead, aspirants must try to concentrate on working on their strengths. The focus should be on the important topics and chapters, so they don’t skip any questions in those areas. The initial days are good for a lot of studying and revising, but the last few days must be dedicated to revising key topics, any doubts, and chapters that need more attention. Refine and polish those concepts in which aspirants feel they excel and have a good command.
6. Revise important theories and related formulas
Use the short notes you made during revision time to go through all of the relevant formulae and theories again. Studying these brief notes will allow students to completely review all of the chapters’ main themes in a short period of time. Reading through the brief notes allows candidates to easily scan all of the main formulae and theories in each topic without skipping any areas. Examine the portions of the CSIR NET and UGC NET exam that have been given additional weightage and plan appropriately.
7. Practice previous year’s questions and mock tests
It is highly recommended to practice the previous year’s questions and mock tests if you have a goal of qualifying for the CSIR NET and UGC NET exam. Usually, candidates only solve one or two mock tests before the examination. So the optimum strategy for all applicants is to take one mock exam every day, analyse the results, and then thoroughly revise the mistakes.
It guarantees that candidates rectify their errors on time and do not repeat them throughout the exam, which is important. However, you should not allow a poor mock exam result to demotivate or reduce your focus.
8. Do not doubt your preparation
Stay confident in your preparation and avoid comparing yourself with others, especially when following your personalized study plan based on your chosen subject from the UGC NET Subject List. Trust the effort you’ve put in and approach the exam with self-assurance. Low scores in practice tests or differing strategies from fellow aspirants shouldn’t shake your confidence. Maintaining a positive mindset and believing in yourself is just as important as academic preparation for success in the UGC NET exam.
9. Take breaks between your preparation
Do not sit for long hours at a stretch. Take frequent breaks during revision to avoid information overload. Excessive studying during the last few days can stress you out and lead to confusion. It’s best to always take a 5 to 10 break every hour to start afresh for your next set of preparation. This also helps in improving your retention power.
10. Get proper sleep and eat healthily
While dedicated studying is essential, it shouldn’t come at the expense of your health. Candidates preparing for the exam—especially after choosing their subject from the UGC NET Subject List—should maintain a nutritious diet, particularly on and before exam days. Nutritious foods help sustain energy levels consistently, unlike junk or packaged foods that may offer a temporary boost but can lead to fatigue or illness. A balanced diet supports better concentration and focus, helping aspirants perform well and achieve their UGC NET goals.
11. Avoid discussing your preparation with fellow aspirants
Discussing topics and concepts to clarify doubts can be helpful at some point. Limit your discussions to only clarification of doubts on important topics. Too much discussion on strategies and exam preparation can lead to unnecessary stress due to incompetence. Every individual follows a unique preparation strategy that is useful for them. Do not compare your preparation with fellow aspirants, as this might lead to self-doubt in your preparation.
Based on the above insights, you can make an informed decision on selecting the right subject for the UGC NET exam using the UGC NET Subject List 2025. It’s essential to choose a subject that aligns with your academic background and area of expertise. Entering the correct subject code is crucial, as Paper 2 is entirely based on the selected subject and significantly impacts your overall score. This section evaluates your deep understanding of the specific field, making your subject choice a key factor in your exam performance.
It is essential to double-check and accurately enter the subject name and code from the UGC NET subject list to avoid any errors that could impact your eligibility or exam preparation. Remember, once the subject is selected from the UGC NET subject list, it cannot be changed later, so you must make this decision with careful consideration. Analyze your strengths, review the UGC NET syllabus, and ensure that the subject aligns with your career goals. The UGC NET subject list is a vital resource that helps candidates make informed choices, so select your subject wisely and prepare with dedication to maximize your chances of success in the UGC NET examination.
Ans. The UGC NET exam is conducted for 85 subjects to ascertain candidates’ eligibility for Assistant Professor and/or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) positions in Indian universities and colleges.
Ans. You can choose only your post-graduation specialization as your subject for UGC NET. You can select a related subject if your subject is not available in the UGC NET subject list.
Ans. The salary for a UGC NET qualified candidate depends on the position (Assistant Professor or Junior Research Fellow) and the institution (government, private, or PSU), with starting salaries ranging from around ₹45,000 to ₹65,000 per month for Assistant Professors.
Ans. All the subjects are equally tough. You can check the UGC NET exam paper analysis to know more about each subject’s difficulty level.
Ans. All the subjects are equally challenging. Moreover, you cannot choose your subject based on the difficulty level. You can only select your post-graduation specialization from the UGC NET subject list.
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Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.