UGC NET Political Science 2023: Syllabus, Books & Question Papers

Last Updated On: December 3, 2023 / By

UGC NET Political Science Exam 2023: If you want to start your career as a JRF or Assistant Professor in Political Science then you should go for the UGC NET 2023 Exam.

This subject is very popular among students who have a keen interest in systems of governance, associated constitutions, political behavior, activities, thoughts, etc.

In this article, you will get a detailed guide on UGC NET Political Science Exam 2023. And, also detailed Syllabus, Study Material, & Preparation Tips to crack the exam.

Why Choose UGC NET Political Science?

UGC NET exam is quite popular among many postgraduate students. Before starting the complete guide, you should know why to select UGC NET Political Science and a list of other Career Scopes.

With these career options as JRF & Lectureship, you will also get the other scopes and opportunities offered by various prestigious organizations.

The following list will help you know the amazing career scopes available after clearing UGC NET Political Science Exam.

  • Researcher in government institutes with advantages like many wonderful Scholarships & Fellowships offered by UGC to financially smoothen your journey.
  • Doctorate degree in Political Science
  • Lecturer in any of the UGC Approved Universities.
  • Counsellor by developing your expertise in Political Science
  • Government jobs

UGC NET Political Science Eligibility Criteria 2023

You must check the UGC NET Eligibility Criteria for Political Science before filling out the online Application Form.

You should meet all essential criteria as mentioned in Educational Qualification & Age Limit.

Educational Qualification

  • You have to complete Post-Graduation in Political Science or another equivalent subject.
  • If you are belonging to General Category, then you have to secure 55% in Political Science or an equivalent subject, and for ST/SC/OBC/PWD/Transgenders, the percentage criteria are 50%.

Age Limit

  • For JRF: 30 Years for the General Category & Up to 5 Years of Age Relaxation in Other Categories.
  • For Lectureship: No Upper Age Limit for NET Exam 2023 Political Science Lectureship.

UGC NET Political Science Syllabus 2023

UGC NET Political Science Syllabus lets you know about the topics covered in the exam. You should know that the UGC NET Political Science exam is divided into two parts, i.e., UGC NET Paper 1 & Paper 2.

UGC NET Paper 1 syllabus is common for all candidates, but paper 2 is based on Political Science.

  • Paper-I Syllabus covers teaching and reasoning ability, research aptitude, comprehension, divergent thinking, and general awareness.
  • Paper-II Syllabus is based on the Political Science subject. It tests your depth of knowledge and expertise in the respective subject.

For your upcoming exam, you must go through the UGC NET Syllabus for Political Science. So don’t miss out on anything.

UGC NET Political Science Syllabus for Paper 1

Here is the UGC NET Political Science Exam Syllabus for Paper 1-

Unit Topic
Unit 1 Teaching Aptitude
Unit 2 Research Aptitude
Unit 3 Reading Comprehension
Unit 4 Communication
Unit 5 Reasoning (including Maths)
Unit 6 Logical Reasoning
Unit 7 Data Interpretation
Unit 8 Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
Unit 9 People & Environment
Unit 10
Higher Education System: Governance, Polity & Administration

UGC NET Political Science Syllabus for Paper 2

The University Grants Commission (UGC) NET revised its syllabus for UGC NET in Political Science in June 2019 and the same syllabus will be applicable for the upcoming UGC NET / JRF and SET or SLET examination.

Following is the list of important topics for UGC NET Political Science Paper 2-

Unit Name

Important Topics

Political Theory

  • Political Traditions (Postmodernism, Multiculturalism, Ecologism, Feminism, Marxism, Socialism, Conservatism, Liberalism)

  • Concepts (Citizenship, Power, Democracy, Rights, Justice, Equality, Liberty)

Political Thought

  • John Rawls

  • Mao Zedong

  • Frantz Fanon

  • Hannah Arendt

  • Gramsci

  • Karl Marx

  • John Stuart Mill

  • Mary Wollstonecraft

  • Hegel

  • Rousseau

  • Locke

  • Hobbes

  • Machiavelli

  • Aristotle

  • Plato

  • Confucius

Indian Political Thought

  • Deen Dayal Upadhyaya

  • Jaya Prakash Narayan

  • Ram Manohar Lohia

  • Jawahar Lal Nehru

  • Dr B R Ambedkar

  • V D Savarkar

  • Manabendra Nath Roy

  • Muhammad Iqbal

  • Periyar E V Ramasamy

  • Sri Aurobindo

  • M K Gandhi

  • Rabindranath Tagore

  • Swami Vivekananda

  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak

  • Pandita Ramabai

  • Kabir

  • Barani

  • Aggannasutta

  • Kautilya

  • Dharamshashtra

Comparative Political Analysis

  • Actor and Processes (Revolutions, NGOs and Civil Society Campaigns, New Social Movements, Social Movements, Interest Groups, Political Parties and Party System, Electoral Systems)

  • Structures of Power (Democratic Elitism, Power Elites, Ruling Class)

  • Development (Development and Democracy, World Systems Theory, Modernization, Dependency, Underdevelopment)

  • Democratisation (Consolidation and Democratic Transition)

  • Constitutions and Constitutionalism (Emergency Powers and Crisis of Constitutionalism, Judicial Independence and Liberal Constitutionalism, Rule of Law, Forms of Constitutions

  • Political Regimes (Non-Democratic Regimes – Fascism, Totalitarianism, Military Dictatorship, Bureaucratic Authoritarianism, Patrimonialism), (Democratic Regimes – Electoral, Liberal and Majoritarian & Participatory)

  • State Theory (Globalisation and Nation-States, Welfare State, Post-Colonial State, debate over the nature of the state in capitalist and socialist societies)

  • Nationalism (European and Non-European)

  • Colonialism and Decolonization (Anti-Colonial Struggles and Decolonization, Forms of Colonialism)

  • Approaches (Comparative Methods, Political Economy and New Institutionalism, Political Culture, Institutional)

International Relations

  • Contemporary Challenges (Culture and Identity Politics, Role of Religion, Poverty and Development, Migration and Refugees, Human Rights, Climate Changes and Environmental Concerns, International Terrorism)

  • Regional Organisations (ASEAN, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, African Union, European Union)

  • Political Economy of IR (BRICS, G-20, WTO, North-South Dialogue, Global Governance and Bretton Woods System, Globalisation)

  • United Nations (Aims, Objectives, International Criminal Court, International Law, Humanitarian Intervention, Peace and Development Perspectives, Structure and Evaluation of the Working of UN)

  • Conflict and Peace (Conflict Transformation, Conflict Resolution, Deterrence, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Changing Nature of Warfare)

  • Concepts (Security – Traditional and Non-Traditional, Sovereignty, Power, State System and Non-State Actors, State)

  • Approaches to the Study of International Relations (Postmodernism, Feminism, Critical International Theory, Social Constructivism, Neorealism, Neoliberalism, Structural Marxism, Realism, Idealism

India’s Foreign Policy

  • Contemporary Challenges

  • India’s Negotiation Strategies in International Regimes

  • India’s Relations with Neighbourhood

  • India’s Engagement with Multipolar World

  • India’s Relations with Major Powers

  • Continuity and Change in India’s Foreign Policy

  • Perspectives on India’s Foreign Policy

Political Institutions in India

  • Constitutional and Statutory Bodies

  • Local Government Institutions

  • Electoral Process and Electoral Commission of India

  • Federalism in India

  • Executive and Legislature in the States

  • Judiciary

  • Union Parliament

  • Union Executive

  • Constitutionalism in India

  • Philosophy of Constitution

  • Constituent Assembly

  • Making of the Indian Constitution

Political Processes in India

  • Electoral Politics

  • Ideology and Social Basis of Political Parties

  • Gender and Politics in India

  • Regionalisation of Indian Politics

  • Civil Society Groups

  • Social Movements

  • Identity Politics

  • Process of Globalisation

  • State, Economy and Development

Public Administration

  • Management by Objectives – Peter Drucker

  • Managing Conflict in the Organisation – Mary Parker Follett

  • Organisational Communication

  • Managing the Organisation

  • Theories and Principles of Organisation

  • Public Administration and Theories and Concepts

  • Public Administration

Governance and Public Policy in India

  • Planning and Development

  • Grassroots Governance

  • Institutional Mechanisms for Good Governance

  • Accountability and Control

The details of the syllabus of Paper 2 can be downloaded in pdf format from the following link:

UGC NET Political Science Exam Pattern 2023

UGC NET Exam is a computer-based test having multiple-choice questions. UGC NET 2023 Exam pattern will consist of details related to the UGC NET 2023 Exam mode, the number of questions asked, sections, marking scheme, and more.

Check out the table below for a quick overview of the NTA NET Political Science paper pattern:

Particulars UGC NET Paper-I Overview
UGC NET Paper-II Overview
Exam mode Online Online
Exam duration 3 hours (180 minutes)
Type of paper Common for all candidates Subject-specific questions
Total questions 50 100
Type of questions MCQs; 4 options with only 1 correct option
MCQs; 4 options with only 1 correct option
Total marks 100 200
Marking scheme 2 marks for the correct answer
0 for an incorrect answer
2 marks for the correct answer
0 for an incorrect answer
Language of paper English and Hindi English and Hindi

UGC NET Political Science Old Exam Pattern

You should know that till November 2017, UGC NET in Political Science consists of three papers, i.e. paper-1, paper-2 and paper-3. Paper-1 was general and compulsory for all subjects, and paper-2 and paper-3 were based on Political Science.

However, from June 2018, UGC NET in Political Science consists of only two papers, i.e. paper-1 and paper-2 (merging the previous paper-2 and paper-3 into the current paper-2).

So, you are requested to go through the previous Paper 2 and Paper 3 to better prepare yourself for the current Paper 2 in Political Science.

UGC NET examination in Political Science was conducted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) till June 2014. From December 2014 to June 2018 UGC NET exam was conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

NTA started to conduct the exam from Dec. 2018 onwards.

UGC NET Political Science Previous Year Question Papers With Solutions

Previous Year Question Papers are one of the best study materials for the UGC NET Political Science 2023 Exam.

After solving the questions from past year question papers, you will get a clear idea about the questions asked in UGC NET, tricks involved, topic-wise marks distribution, etc.

When you go through the past year’s question papers for UGC NET, you will figure out the important topics and how you must revise them.

It will save time in the long run and keep you focused.

UGC NET Political Science answer key 2023

National Testing Agency releases the UGC NET Political Science answer key online at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. You can download the UGC NET answer key 2023 with Question Paper and Response Sheet from the direct link given below. Get here complete details for UGC NET answer key including the process to download the answer key, objection process, marking scheme, and other information.

In order to download the UGC NET Political Science answer key, login with your application number and either date of birth or password. The conducting body first publishes the provisional answer key followed by the final answer key.

Candidates who appeared for the UGC NET 2023 Political Science exam can download the provisional answer key now and submit objections if they are not satisfied with any answer or question. UGC NET result is prepared based on the final answer key. For challenging the UGC NET answer key for Political Science, candidates need to pay a fee of INR 1,000 per challenge.

How to download UGC NET Political Science answer key 2023?

  • Step 1: Log on to the official website of NTA UGC NET – https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in
  • Step 2: Click on the answer key link available for the UGC NET exam
  • Step 3: Click on any one of the login links:
    • Through the application number and password
    • Through application number and date of birth
  • Step 4: Enter the following details:
    • Application number
    • Date of birth or password
    • Security pin as shown on the screen
  • Step 5: Click on the Sign In button
  • Step 6: Download the UGC NET answer key, response sheet and question paper

Best Books For UGC NET Political Science & Study Materials

It is important to start your Political Science Exam preparation with high-quality UGC NET study materials. It will assist you in learning fundamental concepts easily and developing a depth base.

The right preparation book for Political Science at the right time of preparation can be helpful to crack the exam.

Selecting the proper books for Political Science is a kind of confusing task. First, you need to check the topics covered by the book. Then, make sure that it has covered the latest UGC NET Political Science Syllabus.

You can also refer to the UGC NET Books for Political Science Exam from the below link:

UGC NET Political Science Mock Test

Revision is the key to remember all that you have studied. Mock tests help you revise the entire syllabus in the simulated setting of the actual exam. This way, you remember what you have learned and thus perform well on the final day.

Through mock tests, you also get the opportunity to solve every question with a positive attitude. This way, you can also remember what you have learned and perform well in the actual exam.

UGC NET Political Science Exam Cut Off Marks

NTA releases the UGC NET Political Science Cut Off marks after the declaration of results.

You have to obtain the minimum cut-off marks to get selected for the merit list. The merit list will be prepared category-wise and subject-wise for each subject.

Only the top 6% qualified candidates will be considered for the Junior Research Fellowship program.

Go through the UGC NET cut-off for Political Science Paper 2020 from the table below (official) to get an idea for this year.

UGC NET Political Science Cut Off for Assistant Professor 2020 June

Political Science Cut Off for Assistant Professor 2020 June
Category Cutoff Marks Percentage Total
UNRESERVED 60 1231
EWS 55.33 331
OBC(NCL) 55.33 752
SC 50.67 596
ST 50 327
PWD‐VI‐UR 51.33 18
PWD‐HI‐UR 44.67 11
PWD‐LM‐UR 52.67 16
PWD‐OD&AO‐UR 40.67 19
PWD‐VI‐OB 43.33 13
PWD‐HI‐OB 36 9
PWD‐LM‐OB 50 12
PWD‐OD&AO‐OB 35.33 6
PWD‐VI‐SC 40.67 8
PWD‐HI‐SC 38 1
PWD‐LM‐SC 45.33 7
PWD‐OD&AO‐SC ‐‐‐‐ ‐‐‐‐
PWD‐VI‐ST 36 4
PWD‐HI‐ST 39.33 1
PWD‐LM‐ST 35.33 13
PWD‐OD&AO‐ST ‐‐‐‐ ‐‐‐‐
PWD‐VI‐EW 42 5
PWD‐HI‐EW ‐‐‐‐ ‐‐‐‐
PWD‐LM‐EW 48 3
PWD‐OD&AO‐EW ‐‐‐‐ ‐‐‐‐

NTA UGC NET Political Science Cut Off for JRF & Assistant Professor 2020 June

Political Science Cut Off for JRF & Assistant Professor 2020 June
Category Cutoff Marks Percentage Total
UNRESERVED 68 115
EWS 64.67 40
OBC(NCL) 64 79
SC 59.33 55
ST 60 30
PWD‐VI‐UR 61.33 2
PWD‐HI‐UR 52 1
PWD‐LM‐UR 64 1
PWD‐OD&AO‐UR 58 3
PWD‐VI‐OB 58 1
PWD‐HI‐OB 48.67 1
PWD‐LM‐OB 57.33 1
PWD‐OD&AO‐OB 48 2
PWD‐VI‐SC 50 1
PWD‐HI‐SC 38 1
PWD‐LM‐SC 56 1
PWD‐OD&AO‐SC ‐‐‐‐ ‐‐‐‐
PWD‐VI‐ST 48.67 1
PWD‐HI‐ST ‐‐‐‐ ‐‐‐‐
PWD‐LM‐ST 48.67 1
PWD‐OD&AO‐ST ‐‐‐‐ ‐‐‐‐
PWD‐VI‐EW 58 1
PWD‐HI‐EW ‐‐‐‐ ‐‐‐‐
PWD‐LM‐EW 56.67 1
PWD‐OD&AO‐EW 56.67 1

NTA UGC NET Political Science Preparation Tips

You already know that when you are preparing for UGC NET Political Science Exams, it’s a milestone that needs to be achieved.

With a proper study plan and essential materials, you can score a better mark in the NTA UGC NET Political Science Exam.

We are providing the complete guide below to enhance your UGC NET 2023 Exam preparation.

  • Start Preparation Early
  • Know the Complete Political Science Syllabus and Exam Pattern
  • Select The Best Political Science Books For Paper I & Paper II
  • Make a Solid NTA UGC NET Political Science Study Plan
  • Be Specific & Break into Achievable Target
  • Make NTA Political Science Notes & Solve More Problems
  • Take Breaks & Stay Calm
  • Stay Focused and Say No to distractions
  • Eat Hygienically and Stay Healthy
  • Solve UGC NET Political Science Question Papers
  • Learn Time Management and Boost Your Speed

We have covered the detailed guide on NTA UGC NET Political Science Exam 2023. Feel free to ask us any questions in the comment section below.

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