Syllabus for UGC NET/ JRF General Paper (Teaching & Research Aptitude)

The National Eligibility Test (NET) is an examination for determining the eligibility of lectureship and for award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). The test is conducted to ensure minimum paradigm for the candidates entering in the noble profession of teaching and research. National Educational Testing Bureau of University Grants Commission (UGC) conducts this examination every year in the month of June and December.

The UGC NET/ JRF will comprise of three papers all of which will consist of objective type questions. While Paper I is general in nature and intends to assess research/ teaching aptitude of the candidates; Paper II and III will consist of 50 and 75 compulsory questions respectively based on the subject selected by the candidate. The General Paper will have 60 objective questions on Teaching & Research Aptitude of which only 50 questions are required to be attempted.

The National Educational Testing Bureau of UGC conducts National Eligibility Test (NET) for appointment of Lecturers in colleges and universities and for award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). The test is conducted twice a year in the month of June and December in 94 subjects across 74 centres in the country. The minimum eligibility to take this test is a master’s degree in the chosen subject with at least 55% aggregate marks (50% for ST/ST/PH/VH). The General Paper of Teaching & Research Aptitude (Paper I) is common for all aspirants and consists of the topics given below.

• Teaching Aptitude
  
  a)      Teaching: Nature, objectives, characteristics and basic requirements
  b)      Learner’s characteristics
  c)      Factors affecting teaching
  d)     Methods of teaching
  e)      Teaching aids
  f)       Evaluation systems

• Research Aptitude
  
  a)      Research: Meaning, characteristics and types
  b)      Steps of research
  c)      Methods of research
  d)     Research Ethics
  e)      Paper, article, workshop, seminar, conference and symposium
  f)       Thesis writing: its characteristics and format

• Reading Comprehension: A passage to be set with questions to be answered.
  
• Communication: Nature, characteristics, types, barriers and efiective classroom communication.
  
• Reasoning (Including Mathematical): Number series; letter series; codes; > Relationships; classification
  
• Logical Reasoning
  
  a)      Understanding the structure of arguments
  b)      Evaluating and distinguishing deductive and inductive reasoning
  c)      Verbal analogies: Word analogy– Applied analogy
  d)     Verbal classification
  e)      Reasoning Logical Diagrams: Simple diagrammatic relationship, multidiagrammatic relationship
  f)       Venn diagram
  g)      Analytical Reasoning

• Data Interpretation
  
  a)      Sources, acquisition and interpretation of data
  b)      Quantitative and qualitative data
  c)      Graphical representation and mapping of data.

• Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
  
  a)      ICT : meaning, advantages, disadvantages and uses
  b)      General abbreviations and terminology
  c)      Basics of internet and e-mailing

• People and Environment
  
  a)      People and environment interaction
  b)      Sources of pollution
  c)      Pollutants and their impact on human life, exploitation of natural and energy resources
  d)     Natural hazards and mitigation

• Higher Education System: Governance, Polity and Administration
  
  a)      STRUCTURE of the institutions for higher learning and research in India
  b)      Formal and distance education
  c)      Professional/technical and general education
  d)     Value education: governance, polity and administration
  e)      Concept, institutions and their interactions

For more information on Detailed Syllabus for Paper I with examples