UGC NET Exam 2021 Details – About, Dates, Syllabus, Timing, Pattern

About UGC NET Exam 2021

UGC NET Exam 2021: The National Eligibility Test (NET), also known as UGC NET or NTA-UGC-NET, is the examination for determining the eligibility for the post of assistant professor and/or Junior Research Fellowship award in Indian universities and colleges. The examination is conducted by National Testing Agency on behalf of the University Grants Commission. Till July 2018, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the UGC NET exam, which the NTA has been conducting since December 2018. Currently, the exam is being conducted twice a year in the months of June and December in online mode. 

In this article candidates can find all the details regarding UGC NET Exam 2021. And it is suggested to have a nice look at this before preparing for this test.  

UGC NET Exam 2021 Exam Basic Info

The table below lists the basic details of UGC NET Exam 2021.

Exam name	University Grants Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test (NET)
Conducted by	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Frequency	Twice a year (June & December)
Exam level	National
Purpose	For posts of Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)
Application mode	Online
Exam mode	Online
Exam duration	180 minutes (3 hours)
Average no of test-takers (single session)	Over 8 lakhs
Official website	ugcnet.nta.nic.in
NTA helpdesk	0120-6895200

UGC NET Exam Date 2021: Important Dates

The dates for UPTET 2021 have been declared by UPBEB, which can be found in the official notification. The exams will be conducted between 6 to 8 October and 17 to 19 October 2021.

UGC NET 2021 Events	Date
UGC NET Notification	10 August 2021
Release of Application form	10 August 2021
Last date to Submit UGC NET Application	05 September 2021
Last date to Pay Fee	06 September 2021 (upto 11:50 pm)
Correction of Application Form	07 September to 12 September 2021
Downloading of UGC NET Admit Card	September 2021 [Last Week]
UGC NET 2021 Exam Dates	06 to 08 October 2021 (Wednesday to Friday)17 to 19 October 2021 (Sunday to Tuesday)
Duration of UGC Exam	180 minutes (03 hours) No break between Paper 1 & Paper 2
Timing of Examination	First Shift: 9.00 am to 12.00 pm Second Shift: 03.00 pm to 06.00 pm
UGC NET Result Date	To be Notified

UGC NET 2021 Exam Eligibility Criteria

All the candidates must fulfill the eligibility criteria to be able to sit in this exam. Below, we have mentioned the eligibility criteria related to Educational Qualification and Age.

Educational Qualification

– Candidates must have a Master’s degree or equivalent from UGC-recognized Universities/Institutions.
– The qualifying exam has to be passed in Humanities (including languages) and Social Science, Computer Science & Applications and Electronic Science.
– Candidates should have scored 55% marks and 50% marks for reserved category students.
– Candidates, appearing in the final semester of the master’s degree can also apply.
– 5% relaxation is given to Ph.D degree holders in aggregate marks. Such candidates should have a Master’s degree examination which shall be completed by 19th September 1991.

Age Limit and Relaxation

Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) – Not more than 31 years as on 01 October 2021. (This age limit is applicable for the current examination only).

– Relaxation of 5 years is provided in the upper age limit for OBC-NCL, SC, ST and PwD category.
– Three years of relaxation in age will be permissible to the candidates with L.L.M. degree. A relaxation of upto 5 years is provided to the candidates who have served in the armed forces subject to the length of service in the armed forces up to the first day of the month in which the concerned UGC-NET is to be held.
– Total age relaxation on the above ground(s) shall not exceed five years under any circumstances.

Assistant Professor: There is no upper age limit in applying for UGC-NET for Assistant Professor.

Reservation Policy

The reservation policy of the Government of India is applicable to UGC-NET. According to this, in the Central Universities and Institutions which are deemed to be Universities, 10% of the seats are reserved for the category General-Economically Weaker Section (GEN-EWS), 15% of the seats are reserved for the category Scheduled Caste (SC), 7.5% for the category Scheduled Tribe (ST) and 27% for the category Other Backward Classes belonging to the Non-Creamy layer” (OBC-NCL).

Each category will have 4 (four)% reservations horizontally for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) as defined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act,2016) (source-Press Release by UGC).

UGC NET 2021 Exam Pattern 

UGC NET 2021 June Examination shall be conducted as Computer Based Test (CBT) only. The Online Test will consist of two papers. both the papers will consist of objective type, multiple-choice questions. There will be no break between two papers.

Paper	Number of Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper 1	50	100	03 hours (180 minutes)
Paper 2	100	200

Note: For each correct response the candidate will get 2 marks but there is no negative marking for incorrect answer.

UGC NET Paper Details

In the table below, we have laid down all the important details regarding the UGC NET 2021 Exam Pattern.

Exam Mode	The entrance test will be organized in Online CBT mode.
Number of Papers	There will be two papers for the exam – Paper-I and Paper-II.
Number of Questions	A total of 150 questions will be there in the exam paper. 50 questions in Paper I and 100 questions in Paper-II.
Type of Questions	The question paper will contain multiple-choice type questions.
Language Medium	The question paper will be available in the medium language of English and Hindi.
Time Duration	Paper I will be of 1-hour duration while Paper II will be of 2 hours.
Total Marks	Paper 1 will be 100 marks and Paper-II will be 200 marks.
Marking Scheme	For every correct answer, 2 marks will be given. There will be no provision of negative marking for incorrect answers.

UGC NET 2021 Exam Syllabus

UGC NET Syllabus for Paper 1

The UGC NET Paper 1 will test a candidate’s teaching and research ability, logical abilities, general awareness about teaching and learning processes in the higher education system. Below, we have mentioned the complete and detailed syllabus for UGC NET 2021 Exam.

I. Teaching Aptitude Syllabus

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.

II. Research Aptitude Syllabus

1. Research: Meaning, Types, and Characteristics, Positivism and Postpositivistic approach to research.
2. Methods of Research: Experimental, Descriptive, Historical, Qualitative and Quantitative methods, Steps of Research.
3. Thesis and Article writing: Format and styles of referencing.
4. Application of ICT in research.
5. Research ethics.

III. Comprehension Syllabus

1. A passage of text be given. Questions be asked from the passage to be answered.

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.

V. Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude Syllabus

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.).

VI. Logical Reasoning Syllabus

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).

VII. Data Interpretation Syllabus

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.

VIII. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Syllabus

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.

IX.  People, Development and Environment Syllabus

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.

X. Higher Education System Syllabus

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.

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

UGC NET Syllabus for Paper 2

UGC NET Paper 2 will be subject-specific test, where all the candidates will have to take a test on the subject of their interest, which will be examining their expertise in that discipline. Paper-II will consist of 100 objective-type questions (MCQs) for 200 marks. A total of 101 subjects will be covered in the UGC NET Exam. Candidates will have to select one subject for the NET Exam preferably the subject of their post-graduation. 

Subject Code	Subject
01	Economics / Rural Economics /Co-operation / Demography / Development Planning/ Development Studies / Econometrics/ Applied Economics/Development Economics /Business Economics
02	Political Science
03	Philosophy
04	Psychology
05	Sociology
06	History
07	Anthropology
08	Commerce
09	Education
10	Social Work
11	Defence and Strategic Studies
12	Home Science
14	Public Administration
15	Population Studies
16	Music
17	Management (including Business Admn. Mgt./Marketing/ Marketing Mgt./Industrial Relations and Personnel Mgt./ Personnel Mgt./Financial Mgt./Co-operative Management)
18	Maithili
19	Bengali
20	Hindi
21	Kannada
22	Malayalam
23	Oriya
24	Punjabi
25	Sanskrit
26	Tamil
27	Telugu
28	Urdu
29	Arabic
30	English
31	Linguistics
32	Chinese
33	Dogri
34	Nepali
35	Manipuri
36	Assamese
37	Gujarati
38	Marathi
39	French (French Version)
40	Spanish
41	Russian
42	Persian
43	Rajasthani
44	German
45	Japanese
46	Adult Education/ Continuing Education/ Andragogy/ Non- Formal Education.
47	Physical Education
49	Arab Culture and Islamic Studies
50	Indian Culture
55	Labour Welfare/Personnel Management/Industrial Relations/ Labour and Social Welfare/Human Resource Management
58	Law
59	Library and Information Science
60	Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies
62	Comparative Study of Religions
63	Mass Communication and Journalism
65	Performing Art – Dance/Drama/Theatre
66	Museology & Conservation
67	Archaeology
68	Criminology
70	Tribal and Regional Language/Literature
71	Folk Literature
72	Comparative Literature
73	Sanskrit traditional subjects (including) Jyotisha/Sidhanta Jyotish/ Navya Vyakarna/ Vyakarna/ Mimansa/ Navya Nyaya/ Sankhya Yoga/ Tulanatmaka Darsan/ Shukla Yajurveda/ Madhav Vedant/ Dharmasasta/ Sahitya/ Puranotihasa /Agama).
74	Women Studies
79	Visual Art (including Drawing & Painting/Sculpture Graphics/Applied Art/History of Art)
80	Geography
81	Social Medicine & Community Health
82	Forensic Science
83	Pali
84	Kashmiri
85	Konkani
87	Computer Science and Applications
88	Electronic Science
89	Environmental Sciences
90	Politics including International Relations/International Studies including Defence/Strategic Studies, West Asian Studies, South East Asian Studies, African Studies, South Asian Studies, Soviet Studies, American Studies.
91	Prakrit
92	Human Rights and Duties
93	Tourism Administration and Management.
94	Bodo
95	Santali
100	Yoga
101	Sindhi

UGC NET 2021 Application Process

Documents/Information to Keep Ready Before Filling UGC NET Application Form

To avoid any inconvenience at the time of UGC NET registrations, candidates are advised to keep the following documents/information ready beforehand.

• Board/University certificate
• Ration card/Passport number/Aadhaar card number/Voter ID card number/other Government ID
• Qualifying degree certificate
• Category certificate (if applicable)
• Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificate (if applicable)
• Person with Disability (PwD) certificate (if applicable)
• Scanned images of photo and signature in JPG format (file size of photo: 10 kb to 200 kb, file size of signature: 4 kb to 30 kb)
• A valid email ID and mobile number
• Permanent and correspondence address with pin code
• Four exam cities in order of preference
• Code of NET subject for which the candidate plans to take the exam (available in information brochure)
• Code of post-graduation course (available in information brochure)

UGC NET 2021 Application Process  

Candidates need to follow the below-mentioned steps to apply online for UGC NET 2021 exam.

Step 1: Fill UGC NET Registration Form

For UGC NET 2021 registrations, candidates first need to visit the official website of the exam. Thereafter, candidates need to click on Fill Application Form UGC NET June 2021 button available at the bottom of the page. On clicking the button, a new page will open. Candidates need to click on the New Registration button and download the information brochure. Once done, candidates need to click on the checkbox at the bottom of the page and click on ‘Click Here to Proceed’ button. On clicking the button, UGC NET registration page will open on the screen. Details to be filled in the registration form are.

Personal Details
Candidate’s name	Father’s name	Mother’s name
Date of birth	Gender	Identification number

Contact Details
Complete postal address	Email address	Mobile number
Choose Password
Password (to be chosen)	Security question (to be chosen)	Security answer
Security Pin (as shown on the screen)

Once all details are filled in, candidates can click on the Submit button. Thereafter, candidates need to review the information given on the page and click on the Final Submit button to proceed further with the application process. Once all details are submitted, an application number will be generated on the screen. Candidates need to note the system generated application number for future reference. 

Step 2: Fill UGC NET Application Form

Next, candidates need to click on the Complete Application Form button and start filling the remaining details in the online application form. Details to be filled in UGC NET application form include.

Personal Details	Apply For	Education Details
NameGenderNationalityPwD category optionMinority community optionDate of birthSingle girl child optionCategoryDiabetic optionSubject name in post-graduation exam	Post name (Assistant Professor or JRF)Four choices of exam centre (in order of priority)Subject opted for UGC NET	Post-graduation pass statusPost-graduation qualifying exam from (India or outside India)Post-graduation board/university namePost-graduation result modePost-graduation course/stream namePost-graduation qualifying exam statePost-graduation year of passing/appearing
Research/MPhil/PhD/Ex-Service Details	Doctorate Details	Security Pin
Research specialisation, if anyWhether MPhil passed/appearingWhether an ex-serviceman?Whether you possess research experience in the subject of post-graduationWhether PhD passes/appearing	Whether already a doctorate student?	Security Pin (as shown on the screen)

After all the details are filled in, candidates need to click on the Submit button and review the details entered in the form. Thereafter, candidates need to click on the Final Submit button. 

Step 3: Upload Images and Signature

Next, candidates need to upload their scanned images and signature as per the specifications mentioned in the table below. The scanned images and signature should be in JPEG format.

Feature	Size
Size of photo image	Greater than 10 kb and less than 200 kb
Size of signature image	Greater than 4 kb and less than 30 kb

Step 4: Pay UGC NET Application Fee

Candidates can pay UGC NET 2021 application fee through SBI/HDFC/Syndicate/ICICI/Paytm payment gateway (debit card/credit card/net banking/UPI).

Category	UGC NET Application Fee (in Rs)
General	1,000
General-EWS/OBC-NCL	500
SC/ST/PwD/Transgender	250

Step 5: Download the Confirmation Page

On successful payment of the application fee, a confirmation page will be generated. Candidates need to take at least four printouts of the confirmation page and keep it for future reference. Thereafter, UGC NET 2021 application process will be complete.

UGC NET Application Form: Important Points to Note

• Candidates can submit the application form in online mode on the official website of the exam only. UGC NET applications submitted in any other mode will not be accepted
• Candidates can submit only one application form
• Candidates must enter their email ID and mobile number in the application form correctly as all the important communication regarding the exam will be done by NTA through email or SMS
• All the four steps of the application process (registration, application form filling, uploading of photo and signature, and application fee payment) can be done together or at separate times 
• Candidates do not need to upload any document other than scanned photo and signature in the application form
• In case, the confirmation page is not generated after the payment of the application fee, this means that the transaction has been cancelled. In such cases, the amount will be refunded to the candidate’s account. However, the candidate has to make another transaction of fee payment
• Candidates must retain the printed copies of the confirmation page for future reference
• Since the entire UGC NET application process is online, candidates do not need to send any document through post/fax/by hand/email to 

UGC NET Application Form Correction 2021

Once the registration process is over, NTA offers a one-time facility to candidates for correction of the application form. Steps to avail of the UGC NET 2021 application form correction facility are mentioned below:

• Visit the official website of the exam
• Click on the application form correction button
• Login using application number and password
• Click on the link/button available for application form correction
• Read the instructions and click on the ‘I Agree’ checkbox
• Click on Proceed for Application button
• Make the necessary changes in the application form
• Click on Submit button
• Review the corrections made and click on the checkboxes given at the bottom of the page
• Click on the Final Submit button
• Take a printout of the revised Confirmation Page

Application Particulars in which Corrections can be Made

UGC NET application form particulars in which candidates can make corrections if required include:

• Personal details
• Choice for exam centre
• Educational details
• Scanned photo and signature

Conclusion 

This article discusses UGC NET 2021 Exam in detail. Every candidate is suggested to go through the aforementioned information very carefully. It is hoped that the contents of this article result to be helpful to all the candidates.  

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