The National Eligibility Test (NET), otherwise called UGC NET or NTA-UGC-NET, is the examination for deciding the qualification for the post of assistant professor as well as for the Junior Research Fellowship grant in Indian colleges and universities. The exam is led by the National Testing Agency for the University Grants Commission.
UGC NET is considered as one of the hardest exams in India, with a victory rate of only 6%. Teaching is a profession that requires commitment and dedication. In order to pass the NET exam, the same qualities are necessary.
Until July 2018, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) led the UGC NET test and since December 2018 , NTA has been directing the UGC National Eligibility Test.
The National eligibility Test is conducted two times every year in the month of June and December. It is an online test and the people who register can choose where to write the exam from, i.e., they can choose their cities. The center will be allocated by the council accordingly.
UGC NET Syllabus
As per the latest notification of NTA, only 6% of the candidates appearing for the NET qualifies the exam and become eligible for the entry-level post of Assistant Professor. There is a category wise reservation policy that will be applied to these 6% qualified candidates during the final selection.
UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus
Paper 1 syllabus comprises of nine units that aim to understand where the candidate stands in terms of knowledge related to the teaching strategies, aptitude, communication skills, and likewise. This is common for all the candidates appearing for the exam. Paper 2 is based on the subject that the candidate has chosen. There are wide variety of subjects such as Mass communication, English, Public Administration, Commerce and likewise. Candidates appearing for NET must have a post graduate degree with a minimum of 50% marks or should be appearing for the post graduate degree exam.
Unit-I
Teaching 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 centered vs. Learner-centered 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.
Unit-II
Research 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.
Unit-III
Comprehension
A passage of text will be provided. Questions are asked based on the passage provided and the best answer has to be chosen from the options given.
Unit-IV
Communication
- 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.
Unit-V
Mathematical 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.).
Unit-VI Logical Reasoning
- Understanding the structure of arguments: argument forms, the 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 uses for establishing the 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).
Unit-VII
- Data 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.
Unit-VIII Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- ICT: General abbreviations and terminology.
- Basics of the Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio, and Video-conferencing.
- Digital initiatives in higher education.
- ICT and Governance.
Unit-IX People, Development and Environment
- Development and environment: Millennium development and Sustainable development goals.
- Human and environment interaction: Anthropogenic activities and their impacts on the 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.
Unit-X Higher 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 programs in India.
- Professional, Technical, and Skill-Based education.
- Value education and environmental education. Policies, Governance, and Administration.
Based on the subject that you have chosen to appear for, the syllabus will change. You can see the subject wise syllabus in the official site.
Conclusion
NET is an esteemed examination and with the proper preparation, you can crack it easily. As mentioned, Paper 1 is common and paper 2 is based on the subject that you are appearing for. We wish you the best of luck with the exams. Preparing for exams can be stressful, you have to stay motivated and focused. There are a lot of online teaching sites and channels that are providing NET classes and coaching. You can check them out if you feel that you need the additional nudge.
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