1Political Theory
- Concepts Liberty, Equality, Justice, Rights, Democracy, Power, Citizenship, Political Traditions Liberalism Conservatism Socialism Marxism Feminism Ecologism Multiculturalism Postmodernism
UGC-NET Dec 2026
UGC-NET Political Science syllabus
All 10 units of the official syllabus, plus the common Paper-I — in the board's own words. Free, no login.
2Political 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
3Indian 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
4Comparative Political Analysis
- Approaches: Institutional, Political Culture, Political Economy and New Institutionalism, Comparative Methods Colonialism and decolonization: forms of colonialism, anti-colonial struggles and decolonization Nationalism: European and non-European. State theory: debate over the nature of state in capitalist and socialist societies, post-colonial state, welfare state, globalization and nations-states Political regimes: democratic (Electoral, Liberal, Majoritarian and Participator, and non-democratic regimes (Patrimonialism, Bureaucratic authoritarianism, Military dictatorship, Totalitarianism, and fascist). Constitutions and Constitutionalism: forms of constitutions, rule of law, judicial independence and liberal constitutionalism, emergency powers and crisis of constitutionalism. Democratisation: democratic transition and consolidation. Development: Underdevelopment, Dependency, Modernization, World Systems Theory, development and democracy. 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 (NGO, and civil society campaigns, Revolutions
5International Relations
- Approaches to the study of International relations: Idealism, Realism, Structural Marxism, Neoliberalism, Neorealism, Social Constructivism, Critical International Theory, Feminism, Postmodernism. Concepts: State, state system and non-state actors, Power, Sovereignty, Security: traditional and non- traditional. Conflict and Peace: Changing Nature of Warfare, Weapons of mass destruction, deterrence, conflict resolution, conflict transformation. United Nations: Aims, Objectives, Structure and Evaluation of the Working of UN, Peace and Development perspectives, Humanitarian intervention. International law, International Criminal Court Political Economy of IR, Globalisation, Global governance and Bretton Woods system, North-South Dialogue, WTO, G-20, BRICS. Regional Organisations: European Union, African Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN. Contemporary Challenges: International terrorism, Climate change and Environmental Concerns, Human Rights, Migration and Refugees, Poverty and Development, Role of Religion, Culture and Identity Politics
6India’s Foreign Policy
- India's Foreign Policy Perspectives on India's Foreign Policy: India's Identity as postcolonial, development, rising power and as emerging political economy 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 India's relations with major powers: USA, USSR/Russia, People's Republic of China 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 India's relations with neighbourhood: SAARC, Gujaral doctrine, Look Eas t/ Act East, Look West. India's Negotiation Strategies in International Regimes: The United Nations, World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Contemporary challenges: maritime security, energy security, environmental security, migrants and refugees, water resources, international terrorism, cyber security
7Political Institutions in India
- Making of the Indian Constitution: Colonialism heritage and the contribution Indian National Movement to the making of the Indian Constitution Constituent Assembly: Composition, Ideological Moorings, Constitutional Debates Philosophy of the Constitution: Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles Constitutionalism in India: Democracy, Social Change, National Unity, Checks and Balances, Basic Structure Debate, Constitutional Amendments Union Executive: President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Union Parliament: Structure, Role and Functioning, Parliamentary Committees Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Court, Judicial Review, Judicial Activism, Judicial Reform. Executive and Legislature in the States: Governor, Chief Minister, State Legislature Federalism in India: Strong Centre Framework, Asymmetrical Federal Provisions and Adaption, Role of Intergovernmental Coordination Mechanisms, Inter-State Council, Emerging Trends. Electoral Process and Election Commission of India: Conduct of Elections, Rules, Electoral Reforms. Local Government Institutions: Functioning and reforms. 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
8Political Processes in India
- State, Economy and Development: Nature of Indian State, Development Planning model, New Economic Policy, Growth and Human Development. Process of globalisation: social and economic implications. Identity Politics: Religion, Tribe, Caste, Region, Language. Social Movements: Dalit, Tribal, Women, Farmers, labour Civil Society Groups: Non-Party Social Formations, Non-Governmental Organisations, Social Action Groups. Regionalisation of Indian Politics: Reorganisation of Indian States, States as Political and Economic Units, Sub-State Regions, Regional disparities, Demand for New States, Gender and Politics in India: Issues of Equality and Representation. Ideology and Social basis of Political Parties: National Parties, State Parties. Electoral Politics: Participation, Contestation, Representation, Emerging trends
9Public Administration
- Public Administration: meaning and evolution, public and private administration Approaches: System Theory, Decision Making, Ecological Approach Public administration theories and concepts: Scientific Management Theory, Rational Choice theory, New Public Administration, Development Administration, Comparative Public Administration, New Public Management, changing nature of Public Administration in the era of liberalisation and Globalisation Theories and Principles of Organization: Scientific Management Theory, Bureaucratic Theory, Human Relations Theory Managing the organization: Theories of leadership and motivation. Organisational Communication: Theories and Principles, Chester Bernard Principles of Communication, Information Management in the organization Managing Conflict in the Organization: Mary Parker Follett Management by Objectives- Peter Drucker
10Governance and Public Policy in India
- Governance, good governance and democratic governance, role of state, civil society and individuals. 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 Institutional mechanisms for good governance: Right to Information, Consumer Protection Act, Citizen Charter, Grievance redress system: Ombudsman, Lokpal, Lokayukta Grassroots Governance: Panchayati Raj Institutions and their functioning Planning and Development: Decentralised planning, planning for development, sustainable development, participatory development, e-governance, NITI Aayog Public policy as an instrument of socio-economic development: public policies with special reference to housing, health, drinking water, food security, MNREGA, NHRM, RTE Monitoring and evaluation of public policy, mechanisms of making governance process accountable: jansunwai, social audit
Paper-I — common to every subject
1Teaching Aptitude
- 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.
2Research Aptitude
- 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.
3Comprehension
- A passage of text be given. Questions be asked from the passage to be answered.
4Communication
- 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.
5Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
- 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.).
6Logical Reasoning
- 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).
7Data Interpretation
- 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.
8Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- ICT: General abbreviations and terminology.
- Basics of Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio and Video-conferencing.
- Digital initiatives in higher education.
- ICT and Governance.
9People, Development and Environment
- 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.
10Higher Education System
- 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 UGC-NET syllabus (ugcnet.nta.ac.in), Paper-II subject units, verbatim.
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UGC-NET Dec 2026 · Political Science
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