All You Need to Know About UGC NET 2021

Synopsis

• UGC NET examination 2021 information
  • Application
  • Eligibility
  • Examination Syllabus
  • Examination pattern
• How to prepare for UGC NET examination
• Frequently Asked questions related to UGC NET

The University Grants Commission came into existence in 1953 with the sole aim of maintaining quality standards in teaching, examination and research in University education.

The National Eligibility Test is conducted on behalf of the University Grants Commission to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for programs such as Assistant Professors of Junior Research Fellowships.

In a recent development, in 2018, The UGC NET is now conducted by the National Testing Agency. The National Testing Agency is a premiere, autonomous organisation established to conduct entrance examinations for admissions or fellowships in higher educational Institutions.

A Sneak Peek Into the Origin of The University Grants Commission

The situation post the war in 1944 urged the then Government to set up a committee called the University Grants Committee to oversee the establishment of three main central universities in the country. The same committee also supervised the functioning of the existing universities during that time.

Immediately after independence, in 1948, Dr S Radhakrishnan was made the chairman of the University Education Commission.

The commission was set up with the purpose of suggesting improvements and developments to the educational system of the time.

This led to the establishment of the University Grants commission, which was inaugurated by late Shri Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the then Minister of Education, Natural Resources and Scientific Research in 1953.

In 1956, The Union Grants Commission became a statutory body of the Government of India, through an Act of Parliament.

Now, the University Grants Commission is responsible for ensuring constructive and fruitful university education in India.

For operative effectiveness, the UGC has decentralised its operations and created six UGC regional centres in the country with its Head Office in New Delhi.

UGC NET

The UGC National Eligibility Test for admissions for Assistant Professor of Junior Research Fellowship is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The UGC NET eligibility depends on the performance of the candidates in both the examination papers conducted by NTA.

Candidates who have completed post-graduation or master’s degree in Humanities, Languages, Social Science, Computer Science & Applications, Electronic Science etc are eligible to appear for the UGC NET. Candidates must have secured a minimum of 55% marks in the preceding post-graduation examination.

It may also be noted that candidates who are appearing for final year post graduate examinations may also appear for the UGC NET examinations.

The National Testing Agency vide its Public Notice dated August 10th 2021 has revised the UGC NET eligibility criteria with regards to the upper age limit of candidates appearing for the Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship.

For Junior Research Fellowship, the candidate shall not be more than 31 years of age as on 1st October 2021. (applicable for this current year examination only)

For Assistant Professor the candidate shall have no upper age limit.

How to apply for UGC NET 2021

UGC NET 2021 Application Form

Candidates interested in appearing for UGC NET examinations may submit the application form online through the UGC NET portal.

In this regard an UGC NET 2021 notification has been issued for the information of candidates.

Application forms can be accessed directly from the UGC NET portal.

Applications for the UGC NET examination opened on August 10 2021. Acceptance of UGC NET application form 2021 last date is September 5th 2021.

Correction of any particulars in the application form thereto shall be done from from 7th to 12th September only.

When Applications are accepted, candidates are given specific roll numbers and UGC NET Admit cards. These admit cards are usually announced 10 days before the examination date.

Candidates will be able to access the admit card directly from the official website of the UGC NET.

Documents required while submitting UGC NET 2021 Application forms:

• Preceding Qualifying Examination marks card and pass Certificates
• Scanned Passport Size Photograph
• Scanned Signature of candidate
• E-mail ID and Contact Number
• Government certified Identity Card

UGC NET Dates to Remember

The UGC NET exam date 2021 shall be conducted from 6th to 11th October 2021. Application fee for the examination will be accepted at the latest on 6th September 2021.

Due to the ongoing COVID 19 crisis the two cycles of the UGC NET examination of December 2020 and June 2021 have been merged. The UGC NET 2021 notification dated April 10th 2021 stating the postponement of the December 2020 examination.

Other Important UGC NET 2021 Dates

Mode of Examination

The examinations will be conducted in the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The Computer Based Test mode requires candidates to be present in front of a computer allocated to them with their roll number and UGC NET admit card 2021.

Candidates will be able to log in using the given credentials and further instructions on answering the examinations will be given to the candidates.

UGC NET Examination Pattern

• The UGC NET examination pattern consists of two parts- Paper 1 and Paper 2
• Paper 1 consists of 50 questions for 100 marks. The total duration of the exam shall be 1 hour only
• Paper 2 consists of 100 questions. The total duration of the examination shall be not more than 2 hours.
• Totally the UGC NET examination shall be for a total of 150 marks for a duration of 3 hours.
• The questions for both Paper 1 and 2 shall be multiple choice patterns with four options and only 1 correct answer. 2 points shall be granted for every correct answer.
• Candidates must compulsorily attempt all questions.
• The examination timings shall be in two shifts
• First shift 9:00 am to 12:00 am
• Second shift 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

UGC NET 2021 Syllabus

Paper 1

Paper 1 shall be common to all candidates appearing for the UGC NET examination. The paper contains the following sections

• Teaching aptitude
• Research Aptitude
• Reading Comprehension
• Communication
• Mathematical Reasoning and aptitude
• Logical Reasoning
• Data Interpretation
• Information and communications technology
• People, development and environment
• Higher Education Systems

Paper 2

Paper 2 shall be subject relevant. There various subjects’ candidates will be allowed to choose from.

• Economics
• Political Science
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Sociology
• History
• Anthropology
• Commerce
• Education
• Social Work
• Defence and strategic Studies
• Home Science
• Public Administration
• Population Studies
• Music
• Management
• Maithili
• Bengali
• Hindi
• Kannada
• Malayalam
• Oriya
• Punjabi
• Sanskrit
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Urdu
• Arabic
• English
• Linguistic
• Chinese
• Dogri
• Nepali
• Manipuri
• Assamese
• Gujarathi
• Marathi
• French
• Spanish
• Russian
• Persian
• Rajasthani
•  German
• Japanese
• Adult Education/ Non formal education
• Physical Education
• Arab culture and Islamic Studies
• Indian Culture
• Labour welfare/ Industrial relations
• Law
• Library and Information Science
• Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace studies
• Comparative study of Religions
• Mass Communication and =Journalism
• Performing Arts/ Dance/ drama / theatre
• Museology and Conservation
• Archaeology
• Criminology
• Tribal and Regional Language/ Literature
• Folk Literature
• Comparative Literature
• Sanskrit traditional subjects
• Women Studies
• Visual Arts
• Geography
• Social Medicine and community health
• Forensic Science
• Pali
• Kashmiri
• Konkani
• Computer Science and Application
• Electronic Science
•  Environmental Science
• Politics
• Prakrit
• Bodo
• Human RIghts and duties
• Tourism Administration and management
• Santali
• Yoga
• Sindhi

UGC NET Exam Preparation Tips

With UGC NET examinations around the corner, candidates may be feeling the heat. However, a well-crafted learning strategy can help you crack the UGC NET examinations with just a month of preparation.

Let’s look at how to prepare for the UGC NET in one month.

1. Know the Examination Pattern

Knowing the questioning pattern of the UGC NET is very important. The marks allocation and the duration can help you demarcate the right amount of time for studying for Part 1 and Part 2. As mentioned above, Part 1 contains 50 questions for 100 marks and Part 2 contains 100 questions for 200 marks.

2. Cover All Points of The Syllabus

One of the most important UGC NET exam preparation tips is to make sure you cover the entire syllabus while studying for the UGC NET.

Part 1 contains questions that assess your logic and reasoning while Part 2 contains subject specific questions. Be sure to cover all parts of the syllabus and allocate more time to difficult portions

You can download the UGC NET 2021 syllabus of Part 1 and 2 from the official University Grants Commission portal.

3. Solve Preceding Years Question Papers and Mock Papers

Solving previous years question papers and mock papers is one of the best ways of how to prepare for UGC NET in one month.

Preceding year question papers can be accessed online here.

UGC NET portal contains answer key to the previous years examinations.

Be sure to try and solve all the preceding year question papers. This will give you a good idea of what to expect and how much time to allot.

Apart from previously solved question papers, it is advisable to answer some of the mock questions available online. The National Testing Agency has mock questions for candidates to solve.

4. Refer to The Right Books to Prepare

In order to prepare for the UGC NET, it is advisable to refer to the best books. Here are some portals that could help you get the best study material for the UGC NET  Part 1 examinations.

• UGC NET Paper
• Amazon
• Youtube

5. Make Notes Along the Way

As you study, make notes in a separate diary kept solely for the preparation of UGC NET. The purpose of making notes is for quick reference while revising at a later stage.

Making notes serves as a documentation for a quick revision just before the examination. It is more of a time saver and method of orderly studying.

6. Time Management

Another important UGC NET exam preparation tip is to practice time management.  In order to practice time management, solving mock question papers is the best bet.

While solving these question papers, keep track of the time. Your first few attempts may result in unfinished attempts.

However, as you solve more papers, you will be able to keep up with the time and finish the papers within the prescribed time limit of 1 hour for paper 1 and 2 hours for paper 2.

Frequently Asked Questions for UGC NET 2021

1. Does the syllabus of UGC NET remain the same?

The UGC NET syllabus was revised in 2019. As of 2021 the syllabus remains the same.

2. How many hours of studying is sufficient to crack the UGC NET in one month?

With a well-planned timetable and dedicated study strategy, you can easily crack the UGC NET exam with a 10 to 12 hours per day study plan. Take a few minutes of break between every 2 hours of continuous studying.

3. Do I need UGC NET coaching?

Although there are UGC NET coaching centres, it is not necessary to attend coaching classes if you have a dedicated study programme every day and follow UGC NET preparation tips.

4. Can I choose subjects based on my interest in UGC NET?

No, you cannot choose subjects of your interest in the UGC NET. It is mandatory to choose a subject in which you have completed your masters or post-graduation in.

5. Can I take up more than two subjects in UGC NET?

As mentioned above, you have to choose a subject in which you have completed a masters or post-graduation degree. You can choose one subject.

6. How many attempts are possible for UGC NET?

For the position of Junior Research Fellowship only three attempts are permitted. However, there is no limit on the number of attempts for Assistant Professor.

7. What subject should I choose for UGC NET?

You have to choose the subject in which you have completed masters of post-graduation degree. You are not permitted to choose a subject of your choice for them UGC NET.

8. Do I have to appear for both parts of the examination at one time?

Yes, you have to attempt both Part 1 and Part 2 of the UGC NET. No break will be given between Part 1 and Part 2 examinations.

9. What is the difference between Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship?

Awarding Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor depends on performance in the UGC NET. Candidates qualifying for Assistant Professor shall not be considered eligible for Junior Research Fellowship

10. What are the advantages of Junior Research Fellowship?

Candidates qualifying for the Junior Research Fellowship by clearing the UGC NET can apply for M.Phil. or PhD in any college or university with a monthly scholarship of 5 years from University Grants Commission.

Also, candidates who have cleared JRF are given preference as lecturers over candidates who have not cleared the UGC NET for JRF.

Conclusion

Although less competitive than other All India examinations, the UGC NET is an important examination for candidates aspiring for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship.

The performance in these examinations determines if the candidate is eligible for Assistant Professor of Junior Research Fellowship. With a comprehensive learning strategy in hand, it is possible to crack the UGC NET.