UGC NET Political Science Syllabus 2026, Exam Pattern, Exam Date 2026
Detail Information about NTA UGC NET has published notification 2026 for this exam of Political Science. Those Candidates who are Interested to the following Entrance exam and completed all Eligibility Criteria can read the Notification & Apply Online. In this page we provide the Complete Syllabus of this Notification with Latest Update Exam Pattern and the Exam Date also.
UGC NET Syllabus 2026 - Highlights
| Particulars |
Details |
| Name of the Exam |
UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) |
| Conducting Authority |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Level |
National Level |
| Exam Frequency |
Twice a year |
| Exam Mode |
Online |
| Category |
Syllabus and Exam Pattern |
| Language |
Hindi and English |
| Purpose of the exam |
Determine the eligibility of candidates for posts of only Assistant Professor or both Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges |
| Official Website |
https://ntanet.nic.in |
NTA UGC NET Political Science Syllabus 2026
Paper I : Teaching/ Research Aptitude
Unit-I Teaching Aptitude
1. Teaching: Concept, Objectives, Levels of teaching (Memory, Understanding and Reflective), Characteristics and basic requirements.
2. Learner’s characteristics: Characteristics of adolescent and adult learners (Academic, Social, Emotional and Cognitive), Individual differences.
3. Factors affecting teaching related to: Teacher, Learner, Support material, Instructional facilities, Learning environment and Institution.
4. Methods of teaching in Institutions of higher learning: Teacher centred vs. Learner centred methods; Off-line vs. On-line methods (Swayam, Swayamprabha, MOOCs etc.).
5. Teaching Support System: Traditional, Modern and ICT based.
6. Evaluation Systems: Elements and Types of evaluation, Evaluation in Choice Based Credit System in Higher education, Computer based testing, Innovations in evaluation systems.
Unit-II Research Aptitude
1. Research: Meaning, Types, and Characteristics, Positivism and Postpositivistic approach to research.
2. Methods of Research: Experimental, Descriptive, Historical, Qualitative and Quantitative methods.
3. Steps of Research.
4. Thesis and Article writing: Format and styles of referencing.
5. Application of ICT in research.
6. Research ethics.
Unit-III Comprehension
A passage of text be given. Questions be asked from the passage to be answered.
Unit-IV Communication
1. Communication: Meaning, types and characteristics of communication.
2. Effective communication: Verbal and Non-verbal, Inter-Cultural and group communications, Classroom communication.
3. Barriers to effective communication.
4. Mass-Media and Society.
Unit-V Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
1. Types of reasoning.
2. Number series, Letter series, Codes and Relationships.
3. Mathematical Aptitude (Fraction, Time & Distance, Ratio, Proportion and Percentage, Profit and Loss, Interest and Discounting, Averages etc.).
Unit-VI Logical Reasoning
1. 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.
2. Evaluating and distinguishing deductive and inductive reasoning.
3. Analogies.
4. Venn diagram: Simple and multiple use for establishing validity of arguments.
5. Indian Logic: Means of knowledge.
6. Pramanas: Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (Inference), Upamana (Comparison), Shabda (Verbal testimony), Arthapatti (Implication) and Anupalabddhi (Non-apprehension).
7. Structure and kinds of Anumana (inference), Vyapti (invariable relation), Hetvabhasas (fallacies of inference).
Unit-VII Data Interpretation
1. Sources, acquisition and classification of Data.
2. Quantitative and Qualitative Data.
3. Graphical representation (Bar-chart, Histograms, Pie-chart, Table-chart and Line-chart) and mapping of Data.
4. Data Interpretation.
5. Data and Governance.
Unit-VIII Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
1. ICT: General abbreviations and terminology.
2. Basics of Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio and Video-conferencing.
3. Digital initiatives in higher education.
4. ICT and Governance.
Unit-IX People, Development and Environment
1. Development and environment: Millennium development and Sustainable development goals.
2. Human and environment interaction: Anthropogenic activities and their impacts on environment.
3. 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.
4. Impacts of pollutants on human health.
5. Natural and energy resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear and Forests.
6. Natural hazards and disasters: Mitigation strategies.
7. 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-X Higher Education System
1. Institutions of higher learning and education in ancient India.
2. Evolution of higher learning and research in Post Independence India.
3. Oriental, Conventional and Non-conventional learning programmes in India.
4. Professional, Technical and Skill Based education.
5. Value education and environmental education.
6. Policies, Governance, and Administration.
Paper II : Domain knowledge (Political Science)
Unit 1 – Political Theory :
1. Concepts
2. Liberty, Equality, Justice, Rights, Democracy, Power, Citizenship, Political Traditions
3. Liberalism
4. Conservatism
5. Socialism
6. Marxism
7. Feminism
8. Ecologism
9. Multiculturalism
10. Postmodernism
Unit 2 – Political Thought
Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, Mary Wollstonecraft, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt, Frantz Fanon, Mao Zedong, John Rawls
Unit 3 – Indian Political Thought
Dharamshastra, Kautilya, Aggannasutta, Barani, Kabir, Pandita Ramabai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Swami Vivekanand, Rabindranath Tagore, M.K Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo, Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, Muhammad Iqbal, M.N.Roy, V D Savarkar, Dr. B.R.Ambedkar, J L Nehru, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jaya Prakash Narayan, Deendayal Upadhyaya
Unit 4 – Comparative Political Analysis
1. Approaches: Institutional, Political Culture, Political Economy and New Institutionalism; Comparative Methods
2. Colonialism and decolonization: forms of colonialism, anti-colonial struggles and decolonization
3. Nationalism: European and non-European
4. State theory: debate over the nature of state in capitalist and socialist societies; post-colonial state; welfare state; globalization and nations-states
5. Political regimes: democratic (Electoral, Liberal, Majoritarian and Participatory) and non-democratic regimes (Patrimonialism, Bureaucratic authoritarianism, Military dictatorship, Totalitarianism, and fascist)
6. Constitutions and Constitutionalism: forms of constitutions, rule of law, judicial independence and liberal constitutionalism; emergency powers and crisis of constitutionalism
7. Democratisation: democratic transition and consolidation
8. Development: Underdevelopment, Dependency, Modernization, World Systems Theory, development and democracy
9. Structures of Power: ruling class, power elites, democratic elitism Actor and Processes: Electoral Systems, Political Parties and Party System, Interest groups, Social movements, new social movements, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society campaigns; Revolutions
Unit 5 – International Relations
1. Approaches to the study of International relations: Idealism, Realism, Structural Marxism, Neoliberalism, Neorealism, Social Constructivism, Critical International Theory, Feminism, Postmodernism.
2. Concepts: State, state system and non-state actors, Power, Sovereignty, Security: traditional and non- traditional
3. Conflict and Peace: Changing Nature of Warfare; Weapons of mass destruction; deterrence; conflict resolution, conflict transformation
4. United Nations: Aims, Objectives, Structure and Evaluation of the Working of UN; Peace and Development perspectives; Humanitarian intervention. International law; International Criminal Court
5. Regional Organisations: European Union, African Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN
6. Contemporary Challenges: International terrorism, Climate change and Environmental Concerns, Human Rights, Migration and Refugees; Poverty and Development; Role of Religion, Culture and Identity Politics
7. Political Economy of IR; Globalisation; Global governance and Bretton Woods system, North-South Dialogue, WTO, G-20, BRICS
Unit 6 – India’s Foreign Policy
1. Perspectives on India’s Foreign Policy: India’s Identity as postcolonial development, rising power and as emerging political economy
2. Continuity and change in India’s Foreign Policy: Principles and determinants; Non-Alignment movement: historical background and relevance of Non Aligned Movement; India’s Nuclear Policy
3. India’s relations with major powers: USA, USSR/Russia, People’s Republic of China
4. India’s Engagement with multipolar world: India’s relations with European Union, BRICS, ASEAN, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, African Union, Southern African Development Community, Gulf Cooperation Council
5. India’s relations with neighbourhood: SAARC, Gujaral doctrine, Look Eas t/ Act East, Look West
6. India’s Negotiation Strategies in International Regimes: The United Nations, World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
7. Contemporary challenges: maritime security, energy security, environmental security, migrants and refugees, water resources, international terrorism, cyber security
Unit 7 – Political Institutions in India
1. Making of the Indian Constitution: Colonialism heritage and the contribution Indian National Movement to the making of the Indian Constitution
2. Constituent Assembly: Composition, Ideological Moorings, Constitutional Debates
3. Philosophy of the Constitution: Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles
4. Constitutionalism in India: Democracy, Social Change, National Unity, Checks and Balances, Basic Structure Debate, Constitutional Amendments
5. Union Executive: President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
6. Union Parliament: Structure, Role and Functioning, Parliamentary Committees
7. Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Court, Judicial Review, Judicial Activism, Judicial Reform
8. Executive and Legislature in the States: Governor, Chief Minister, State Legislature
9. Federalism in India: Strong Centre Framework, Asymmetrical Federal Provisions and Adaption, Role of Intergovernmental Coordination Mechanisms, Inter-State Council, Emerging Trends
10. Electoral Process and Election Commission of India: Conduct of Elections, Rules, Electoral Reforms
11. Local Government Institutions: Functioning and reforms
12. Constitutional and Statutory Bodies: Comptroller and Auditor General, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Human Rights, National Commission for Women, National Commission for Minorities
Unit 8 – Political Processes in India
1. State, Economy and Development: Nature of Indian State, Development Planning model, New Economic Policy, Growth and Human Development
2. Process of globalisation: social and economic implications
3. Identity Politics: Religion, Tribe, Caste, Region, Language
4. Social Movements: Dalit, Tribal, Women, Farmers, labour
5. Civil Society Groups: Non-Party Social Formations, Non-Governmental Organisations, Social Action Groups
6. Regionalisation of Indian Politics: Reorganisation of Indian States, States as Political and Economic Units, Sub-State Regions, Regional disparities, Demand for New States
7. Gender and Politics in India: Issues of Equality and Representation
8. Ideology and Social basis of Political Parties: National Parties, State Parties
9. Electoral Politics: Participation, Contestation, Representation, Emerging trends
Unit 9 – Public Administration
1. Public Administration: meaning and evolution; public and private administration Approaches: System Theory, Decision Making, Ecological Approach
2. Public administration theories and concepts: Scientific Management Theory, Rational Choice theory, New Public Administration, Development Administration
3. Comparative Public Administration, New Public Management, changing nature of Public Administration in the era of liberalisation and Globalisation
4. Theories and Principles of Organization: Scientific Management Theory, Bureaucratic Theory, Human Relations Theory
5. Managing the organization: Theories of leadership and motivation
6. Organisational Communication: Theories and Principles, Chester Bernard Principles of Communication, Information Management in the organization
7. Managing Conflict in the Organization: Mary Parker Follett
8. Management by Objectives- Peter Drucker
Unit 10 – Governance and Public Policy in India
1. Governance, good governance and democratic governance, role of state, civil society and individuals
2. Accountability and control: Institutional mechanism for checks and balances, legislative control over executive, administrative and budgetary control, control through parliamentary committees, judicial control over legislature and executive, administrative culture, corruption and administrative reforms
3. Institutional mechanisms for good governance: Right to Information, Consumer Protection Act, Citizen Charter; Grievance redress system: Ombudsman, Lokpal, Lokayukta
4. Grassroots Governance: Panchayati Raj Institutions and their functioning
5. Planning and Development: Decentralised planning, planning for development, sustainable development, participatory development, e-governance; NITI Aayog
6. Public policy as an instrument of socio-economic development: public policies with special reference to housing, health, drinking water, food security, MNREGA, NHRM, RTE
7. Monitoring and evaluation of public policy; mechanisms of making governance process accountable: jansunwai, social audit
NTA UGC NET Political Science Exam Pattern 2026
Duration : 03 hours (180 minutes)
|
Paper
|
Subject |
No. of Question |
Marks |
| Paper I |
Teaching/ research aptitude of the candidate.
It will primarily be designed to test reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness |
50 |
100 |
| Paper II |
Domain knowledge (Political Science) |
100 |
200 |
| |
Total |
150 |
300 |
UGC NET Exam Date 2026 : 14th December to 18th December and 21st December 2026
Starting Date of Application Form : 08th October 2026
Last Date of Application Form : 28th October 2026
