UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 for the December Session has been prescribed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for candidates preparing for the UGC NET examination. Psychology (Subject Code: 04) is one of the most concept-oriented subjects in the UGC NET, covering foundational theories, research methodology, psychological assessment, biological processes, cognitive psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, personality, and applied branches of psychology.
Candidates aspiring to qualify for Assistant Professor, Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), and PhD Admission should thoroughly understand the latest syllabus before beginning their preparation. The Psychology syllabus is divided into Paper 1 (Teaching & Research Aptitude) and Paper 2 (Psychology). While Paper 1 is common for all subjects, Paper 2 evaluates the candidate’s conceptual and applied knowledge of Psychology.
Check UGC NET Psychology 2026 here
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 Overview
The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the UGC NET Psychology exam 2026, a national eligibility test for applicants hoping to advance to Assistant Professorships or be eligible for a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in psychology.
There are two papers on the test:
- All candidates take Paper I, which assesses their capacity for teaching and research.
- The subject-specific Paper II will evaluate the candidate’s psychological knowledge.
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | UGC NET December 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Purpose | Eligibility for Assistant Professor & Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) |
| Exam Frequency | Twice a year |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Medium of Exam | English and Hindi |
| Total Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| Papers | Paper I (General) & Paper II (Subject-specific) |
| Subject Code for Psychology | 04 |
| Official Website | https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
Enroll Now- UGC NET Psychology Batch(Paper1+Paper2)
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 PDF Download in English
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 for the exam. Candidates can concentrate on high-priority topics and accelerate their preparation by downloading the UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 PDF and getting a thorough understanding of the syllabus.
Download UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 PDF in Hindi
Candidates who are preparing in Hindi can now download the UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 PDF in Hindi. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will be conducting the UGC NET 2026 exam. Paper 2 for Psychology will assess in-depth conceptual knowledge across ten comprehensive units.
यूजीसी नेट मनोविज्ञान पाठ्यक्रम 2026 डाउनलोड करें
UGC NET Syllabus Paper 1 PDF Download
The UGC NET Paper 1 is the same for all applicants, including psychology candidates. Its purpose is to assess candidates’ research and teaching skills. Reasoning skills, comprehension, general awareness, divergent thinking, and teaching/research aptitude are all covered in the syllabus. Since Paper 1 is equally important and affects the final cutoff, candidates preparing for the UGC NET Psychology exam shouldn’t ignore it. For organized preparation, you can use the link below to download the official UGC NET Paper 1 syllabus PDF.
UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus PDF Download
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 Breakdown (Subject Code: 04)
The purpose of the UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 for Paper 2 is to assess a candidate’s complete understanding of both fundamental and applied psychology topics. Each of the ten major units that make up the syllabus covers fundamental ideas, theoretical frameworks, experimental methodologies, and applications that are pertinent to psychology. The UGC NET Paper 1 is conducted along with Paper 2, and in a total duration of 3 hours.
IGNITION BATCH PYP Last 10 Years PYPs with Detailed Video Solutions Paper1
UGC NET Paper 1 Topic Wise Syllabus
UGC NET Paper 1 is common for all subjects and focuses on assessing the teaching and research aptitude of the candidate. It includes reasoning ability, comprehension, general awareness, and divergent thinking. The paper is conducted in an objective (MCQ) format, consisting of 50 questions, carrying a total of 100 marks, and is to be completed in 1 hour. It is conducted along with Paper 2, and the total duration for both papers is 3 hours.
Know About UGC NET Psychology Important Topics
| Unit No. | Topics | Key Areas Covered |
| 1 | Teaching Aptitude | Teaching nature, objectives, learner characteristics, teaching methods, aids, and evaluation systems |
| 2 | Research Aptitude | Research types and methods, steps, thesis writing, ICT in research, ethics |
| 3 | Comprehension | Reading comprehension passages with interpretation-based questions |
| 4 | Communication | Types, characteristics, barriers, effective classroom communication |
| 5 | Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude | Number/letter series, coding, percentages, time-work, profit-loss |
| 6 | Logical Reasoning | Argument structure, deductive/inductive reasoning, analogies, Indian logic |
| 7 | Data Interpretation | Data sources, classification, quantitative & qualitative data, charts, graphs |
| 8 | Information and Communication Technology (ICT) | Basics of computers, internet, ICT in education, digital initiatives |
| 9 | People, Development and Environment | Environment issues, interaction, hazards, sustainable development |
| 10 | Higher Education System: Governance, Polity & Administration | Higher education policies, governance structure, commissions, reforms |
UGC NET Psychology Paper 2 Topic-Wise Syllabus
UGC NET Psychology Paper 2 is subject-specific and tests the candidate’s deep understanding of core psychological concepts, theories, and research methodologies.
The UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 for Paper 2 is divided into ten major units:
| Unit No. | Topics Covered |
| Unit 1 | Emergence of Psychology – Historical foundations, schools of psychology (Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism, Gestalt, Psychoanalysis, Humanistic, Cognitive), and Indian Psychology. |
| Unit 2 | Research Methodology and Statistics – Types of research, hypothesis, sampling, validity, reliability, scales of measurement, parametric and non-parametric tests, and qualitative methods. |
| Unit 3 | Psychological Testing – Principles, types of tests, reliability and validity, test construction, intelligence tests, aptitude, attitude, interest, personality assessment tools. |
| Unit 4 | Biological Basis of Behavior – Neurons, neurotransmitters, endocrine system, nervous system, brain structure and function, sleep, biological rhythms, and psychophysiology. |
| Unit 5 | Attention, Perception, Learning, Memory, and Forgetting – Theories and models of attention and perception, classical and operant conditioning, insight learning, memory systems, models, and theories of forgetting. |
| Unit 6 | Thinking, Intelligence, and Creativity – Concept formation, problem-solving, decision-making, models of intelligence (Spearman, Thurstone, Gardner, Sternberg), emotional intelligence, and creativity. |
| Unit 7 | Personality, Motivation, and Emotion – Theories of personality (Freud, Jung, Adler, Allport, Eysenck), motivation theories (Maslow, McClelland), and physiological/psychological aspects of emotion. |
| Unit 8 | Social and Cultural Psychology – Attitude, conformity, group dynamics, leadership, prejudice, aggression, prosocial behavior, cultural influences, social cognition. |
| Unit 9 | Developmental Psychology – Theories of development (Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg), lifespan development, cognitive, social, and emotional development across ages. |
| Unit 10 | Applied Psychology – Areas like clinical, counseling, organizational, educational, health, sports psychology, psychological well-being, and interventions. |
Check UGC NET Syllabus 2026 Here
UGC NET Psychology Exam Pattern 2026
To determine eligibility for Assistant Professor and/or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) positions in Indian universities and colleges, the National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the UGC NET Psychology exam. The exam is held in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode and consists of two papers. The candidates need to be aware of the UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026 before starting their preparation:
| Parameter | Paper 1 (General) | Paper 2 (Psychology) |
| Type of Paper | Common for all subjects | Subject-specific (Psychology) |
| Number of Questions | 50 MCQs | 100 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 100 marks | 200 marks |
| Duration | 1 hour (part of combined 3 hours) | 2 Hours (included in the 3 hours) |
| Nature of Questions | Objective (Multiple Choice Questions) | Objective (Multiple Choice Questions) |
| Negative Marking | No | No |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (Online) | Computer-Based Test (Online) |
Download UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026
Enroll UGC NET Offline Coaching in Jaipur
Conclusion
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 (December Session) provides a comprehensive framework for candidates preparing for Assistant Professor, Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), and PhD Admission. Since Psychology is a concept-driven subject, candidates should emphasize conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization. Prioritizing high-weightage units such as Research Methodology, Psychological Testing, Cognitive Psychology, Personality, Social Psychology, and Biological Basis of Behaviour, along with consistent revision, mock tests, and previous year question papers, can significantly improve the chances of qualifying in the UGC NET Psychology examination.
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 FAQs
How many papers are there in the UGC NET Psychology 2026 exam?
The exam consists of two papers: Paper 1 (general teaching and research aptitude) and Paper 2 (subject-specific Psychology syllabus).
Is there negative marking in the UGC NET Psychology 2026 exam?
No, there is no negative marking in either Paper 1 or Paper 2 of the UGC NET Psychology 2026 exam.
How many questions are there in Paper 2 of the UGC NET Psychology 2026 exam?
The UGC NET Psychology 2026 Paper 2 consists of a total of 100 multiple-choice questions, carrying 2 marks each.
Where can I download the official UGC NET Psychology syllabus 2026 PDF?
You can download the official UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 PDF from the National Testing Agency’s website or from the link given in this article.
