Vishwanath Bite

UGC NET English Syllabus: Official Paper I and Paper II (Code 30)

By Dr Vishwanath Bite, Associate Professor of English · First published · Rewritten and verified against official sources on

Official syllabus PDFs

From the official UGC NET portal, ugcnetonline.in/syllabus-new.php, headed “Updated Syllabi of UGC-NET (Applicable from June 2019 UGC-NET Onwards)”. Last verified 2 November 2026.

What the UGC NET syllabus covers

UGC NET has two papers taken in one sitting. Paper I (Subject Code 00) is common to every candidate and tests teaching and research aptitude. Paper II tests the subject you choose; for English it is Subject Code 30. The University Grants Commission publishes both syllabi, and the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the examination, directs candidates to the same official page to download them.

This guide gives the official syllabus text first, exactly as published, followed by the examination pattern from the latest NTA Information Bulletin and some practical notes. Official text marks wording taken from the official documents; Editorial note marks our explanations and suggestions.

Paper I · Subject Code 00

General Paper on Teaching & Research Aptitude

Official text The main objective is to assess the teaching and research capabilities of the candidates. The test aims at assessing the teaching and research aptitude as well. Candidates are expected to possess and exhibit cognitive abilities, which include comprehension, analysis, evaluation, understanding the structure of arguments, deductive and inductive reasoning. The candidates are also expected to have a general awareness about teaching and learning processes in higher education system. Further, they should be aware of interaction between people, environment, natural resources and their impact on the quality of life.

Unit-ITeaching Aptitude6 topics
  • Teaching: Concept, Objectives, Levels of teaching (Memory, Understanding and Reflective), Characteristics and basic requirements.
  • Learner's characteristics: Characteristics of adolescent and adult learners (Academic, Social, Emotional and Cognitive), Individual differences.
  • Factors affecting teaching related to: Teacher, Learner, Support material, Instructional facilities, Learning environment and Institution.
  • Methods of teaching in Institutions of higher learning: Teacher centred vs. Learner centred methods; Off-line vs. On-line methods (Swayam, Swayamprabha, MOOCs etc.).
  • Teaching Support System: Traditional, Modern and ICT based.
  • Evaluation Systems: Elements and Types of evaluation, Evaluation in Choice Based Credit System in Higher education, Computer based testing, Innovations in evaluation systems.
Unit-IIResearch Aptitude6 topics
  • Research: Meaning, Types, and Characteristics, Positivism and Post-positivistic approach to research.
  • Methods of Research: Experimental, Descriptive, Historical, Qualitative and Quantitative methods.
  • Steps of Research.
  • Thesis and Article writing: Format and styles of referencing.
  • Application of ICT in research.
  • Research ethics.
Unit-IIIComprehension1 topic
  • A passage of text be given. Questions be asked from the passage to be answered.
Unit-IVCommunication4 topics
  • Communication: Meaning, types and characteristics of communication.
  • Effective communication: Verbal and Non-verbal, Inter-Cultural and group communications, Classroom communication.
  • Barriers to effective communication.
  • Mass-Media and Society.
Unit-VMathematical Reasoning and Aptitude3 topics
  • Types of reasoning.
  • Number series, Letter series, Codes and Relationships.
  • Mathematical Aptitude (Fraction, Time & Distance, Ratio, Proportion and Percentage, Profit and Loss, Interest and Discounting, Averages etc.).
Unit-VILogical Reasoning7 topics
  • Understanding the structure of arguments: argument forms, structure of categorical propositions, Mood and Figure, Formal and Informal fallacies, Uses of language, Connotations and denotations of terms, Classical square of opposition.
  • Evaluating and distinguishing deductive and inductive reasoning.
  • Analogies.
  • Venn diagram: Simple and multiple use for establishing validity of arguments.
  • Indian Logic: Means of knowledge.
  • Pramanas: Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (Inference), Upamana (Comparison), Shabda (Verbal testimony), Arthapatti (Implication) and Anupalabddhi (Non-apprehension).
  • Structure and kinds of Anumana (inference), Vyapti (invariable relation), Hetvabhasas (fallacies of inference).
Unit-VIIData Interpretation5 topics
  • Sources, acquisition and classification of Data.
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Data.
  • Graphical representation (Bar-chart, Histograms, Pie-chart, Table-chart and Line-chart) and mapping of Data.
  • Data Interpretation.
  • Data and Governance.
Unit-VIIIInformation and Communication Technology (ICT)4 topics
  • ICT: General abbreviations and terminology.
  • Basics of Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio and Video-conferencing.
  • Digital initiatives in higher education.
  • ICT and Governance.
Unit-IXPeople, Development and Environment7 topics
  • Development and environment: Millennium development and Sustainable development goals.
  • Human and environment interaction: Anthropogenic activities and their impacts on environment.
  • Environmental issues: Local, Regional and Global; Air pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Noise pollution, Waste (solid, liquid, biomedical, hazardous, electronic), Climate change and its Socio-Economic and Political dimensions.
  • Impacts of pollutants on human health.
  • Natural and energy resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear and Forests.
  • Natural hazards and disasters: Mitigation strategies.
  • Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate Change, International agreements/efforts -Montreal Protocol, Rio Summit, Convention on Biodiversity, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance.
Unit-XHigher Education System6 topics
  • Institutions of higher learning and education in ancient India.
  • Evolution of higher learning and research in Post Independence India.
  • Oriental, Conventional and Non-conventional learning programmes in India.
  • Professional, Technical and Skill Based education.
  • Value education and environmental education.
  • Policies, Governance, and Administration.

Official note

  1. Five questions each carrying 2 marks are to be set from each Module.
  2. Whenever graphical/pictorial question(s) are set for sighted candidates, a passage followed by equal number of questions and weightage be set for visually impaired candidates.

Paper II · Subject Code 30

English

Official text The official English syllabus names ten units. It does not list sub-topics under them.

  1. Unit-IDrama
  2. Unit-IIPoetry
  3. Unit-IIIFiction, short story
  4. Unit-IVNon-Fictional Prose
  5. Unit-VLanguage: Basic concepts, theories and pedagogy. English in Use.
  6. Unit-VIEnglish in India: history, evolution and futures
  7. Unit-VIICultural Studies
  8. Unit-VIIILiterary Criticism
  9. Unit-IXLiterary Theory post World War II
  10. Unit-XResearch Methods and Materials in English

Official note

The first four units must also be tested through comprehension passages to assess critical reading, critical thinking and writing skills. These four units will cover all literatures in English.

Editorial note Because the official document gives only unit titles, any list of authors, texts or theorists under these units (including in our own study notes) is an interpretation for preparation, not part of the official syllabus. Our unit-by-unit reading guide is UGC NET English syllabus: a unit-by-unit breakdown.

Examination pattern

How the examination is set

From the NTA bulletin The pattern below is from the Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026 (updated as on 16.10.2026), section 3. It is separate from the syllabus and can change from one cycle to the next, so check the bulletin for your own cycle on the NTA UGC-NET website.

Pattern of examination (UGC-NET December 2026)
PaperQuestionsMarksWhat it assesses (bulletin wording)
Paper I50100“intends to assess the teaching/ research aptitude of the candidate. It will primarily be designed to test reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness of the Candidate.”
Paper II100200“based on the subject selected by the candidate and will assess domain knowledge.”
  • Mode Computer Based Test (CBT) only
  • Duration 03 hours (180 minutes), Paper I and Paper II with no break between them
  • Questions objective multiple-choice; all questions are compulsory
  • Marking 2 marks per correct response; no negative marking for an incorrect response
  • Medium English and Hindi, except language papers (the English paper is set in English)

Eligibility (summary)

Who can take UGC NET

From the NTA bulletin In brief, for the December 2026 cycle (bulletin section 2):

  • A Master’s degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third gender candidates), without rounding off. Final-year candidates may apply provisionally.
  • Candidates with a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree need at least 75% marks in aggregate or the equivalent grade, with a 5% relaxation for the categories specified in the bulletin.
  • JRF: not more than 30 years on the date set in the bulletin, with relaxations for specified categories. Assistant Professor and Admission to PhD: no upper age limit.
  • Results are declared in three categories: (1) JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD admission; (2) Assistant Professor and PhD admission; (3) PhD admission only.

Editorial note This is a summary. The bulletin’s full conditions, relaxations and dates apply, so read section 2 of the bulletin for your cycle before applying.

Using the syllabus

Turning the syllabus into a preparation plan

Editorial note Suggestions from teaching and mentoring NET candidates, not official requirements:

  1. Work from the official units. Make one page per unit (ten for Paper I, ten for English) and file every note and practice question under a unit. Anything that fits no unit is probably outside the syllabus.
  2. Treat Paper I by topic. The official note says five questions are set from each of the ten Paper I modules, so no unit can be skipped. Go through the bullet points above and check off each one.
  3. Read the English units widely. The official text says Units I–IV “cover all literatures in English” and are also tested through comprehension passages, so practise reading unseen extracts as well as recalling facts.
  4. Practise with official question papers, starting with papers set under this updated syllabus (the portal says it applies from June 2019 onwards), and note which unit each question belongs to.
  5. Re-check the official pages every cycle. Download the syllabus and bulletin from the official sites rather than from copies with a year in the title.

Free resources

Where to study next

Paper I topic pagesFree unit-wise study pages on Literary RidesPaper II English study pagesFree Learn pages on Literary RidesSolved English papers (PYQ archive)Every question with its answer key, on Literary RidesPrevious question papersSolved papers on this siteUGC NET Paper 1 complete guideTopic-wise notes on this siteEnglish syllabus, unit by unitReading guide on this site

Sources: UGC NET official syllabus portal (Paper I and Code 30 PDFs); NTA Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026. Last verified 2 November 2026. Literary Rides is founded by Dr Madhuri Bite; Dr Vishwanath Bite is Co-Founder and Academic Author.