UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026: UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 is important for candidates preparing for the UGC NET December 2026 examination. Psychology is one of the subjects included in the UGC NET examination under Subject Code 04. The syllabus for Paper 2 covers major areas such as the emergence of psychology, research methodology, psychological testing, biological bases of behaviour, cognition, intelligence, personality, social psychology, developmental psychology and applied psychology.
Candidates preparing for Assistant Professor or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) should understand the complete syllabus before starting their preparation. Paper 1 is common to all subjects, while Paper 2 tests subject-specific knowledge of Psychology. This page covers the UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026, Paper 1 and Paper 2 syllabus, unit-wise topics, exam pattern, marking scheme, important topics, best books, coaching options and PYQs.
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 Overview
The UGC NET Psychology examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The examination consists of two papers. Paper 1 assesses teaching and research aptitude, while Paper 2 tests the candidate’s knowledge of Psychology. Paper 2 is divided into 10 major units covering both fundamental and applied areas of Psychology.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | UGC NET December 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Subject | Psychology |
| Subject Code | 4 |
| Purpose | Eligibility for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) |
| Papers | Paper 1 and Paper 2 |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Medium | English and Hindi |
| Total Duration | 3 Hours / 180 Minutes |
| Paper 1 Questions | 50 |
| Paper 1 Marks | 100 |
| Paper 2 Questions | 100 |
| Paper 2 Marks | 200 |
| Total Questions | 150 |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Negative Marking | No |
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UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 PDF Download
Candidates should download the latest UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 PDF and use it as a checklist during their preparation. The syllabus helps candidates identify the topics that need to be studied for Paper 1 and Paper 2.
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 – Download Here
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 – in Hindi
UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus 2026 PDF
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.
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UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 – Paper 1 Unit-Wise
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.
| Unit | Paper 1 Topic | Important Topics / Areas |
| Unit 1 | Teaching Aptitude | Nature and objectives of teaching; learner characteristics; teaching methods; teaching aids; evaluation systems |
| Unit 2 | Research Aptitude | Types and methods of research; research steps; thesis writing; ICT in research; research ethics |
| Unit 3 | Comprehension | Reading comprehension passages and interpretation-based questions |
| Unit 4 | Communication | Types of communication; characteristics; barriers; effective classroom communication |
| Unit 5 | Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude | Number and letter series; coding; percentages; time and work; profit and loss |
| Unit 6 | Logical Reasoning | Argument structure; deductive and inductive reasoning; analogies; Indian logic |
| Unit 7 | Data Interpretation | Data sources; classification; quantitative and qualitative data; charts and graphs |
| Unit 8 | Information and Communication Technology (ICT) | Computers; internet; ICT in education; digital initiatives |
| Unit 9 | People, Development and Environment | Environmental issues; human-environment interaction; hazards; sustainable development |
| Unit 10 | Higher Education System: Governance, Polity & Administration | Higher education policies; governance structure; commissions; reforms |
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 – Paper 2 Unit-Wise
UGC NET Psychology Paper 2 is the subject-specific paper. It contains 100 questions for 200 marks. The Psychology syllabus is divided into 10 units covering fundamental concepts, research methods, testing, cognition, personality, social psychology, development and applied psychology.
| 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 Complete UGC NET Syllabus 2026
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) |
View UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026 for Paper 1, Paper 2
UGC NET Psychology Marking Scheme 2026
The UGC NET Psychology marking scheme is the same as the general UGC NET marking scheme. Because there is no negative marking, candidates can attempt questions after carefully eliminating incorrect options.
- Each question carries 2 marks.
- A correct answer carries 2 marks.
- There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
- No marks are awarded for unanswered questions.
- Paper 1 carries 100 marks.
- Paper 2 carries 200 marks.
- The total examination carries 300 marks.
Important NTA UGC NET Psychology Topics 2026
NTA doesn’t have any prescribed weightage of questions unit-wise for Psychology. Hence, the students need to prepare for the entire syllabus. But following topics are essential from the point of view of preparation:
| Area | Important Topics |
| Emergence of Psychology | Schools of Psychology; Structuralism; Functionalism; Behaviorism; Gestalt; Psychoanalysis; Humanistic and Cognitive Psychology; Indian Psychology |
| Research and Statistics | Research methods; Hypothesis; Sampling; Validity; Reliability; Measurement scales; Parametric and non-parametric tests; Qualitative methods |
| Psychological Testing | Test construction; Reliability; Validity; Intelligence; Aptitude; Attitude; Interest; Personality assessment |
| Biological Basis | Neurons; Neurotransmitters; Nervous system; Endocrine system; Brain; Sleep; Biological rhythms |
| Cognition and Learning | Attention; Perception; Classical conditioning; Operant conditioning; Insight learning; Memory; Forgetting |
| Intelligence and Creativity | Spearman; Thurstone; Gardner; Sternberg; Emotional intelligence; Creativity; Problem-solving |
| Personality and Motivation | Freud; Jung; Adler; Allport; Eysenck; Maslow; McClelland; Emotion |
| Social Psychology | Attitude; Conformity; Groups; Leadership; Prejudice; Aggression; Prosocial behavior; Social cognition |
| Developmental Psychology | Piaget; Erikson; Kohlberg; Cognitive, social and emotional development |
| Applied Psychology | Clinical; Counseling; Organizational; Educational; Health; Sports Psychology; Psychological well-being |
UGC NET Best Books for December Exam 2026
Choosing the right study material is an important part of UGC NET December 2026 preparation. JRFAdda Books offers study resources for Paper 1 and Paper 2, including subject-wise books, handwritten notes, MCQs and solved Previous Year Questions (PYQs). The books are presented as being aligned with the latest UGC NET syllabus and exam pattern.
Best UGC NET Psychology Coaching Online and Offline 2026
For candidates preparing for the UGC NET Psychology December 2026 exam, joining a structured coaching course can help with syllabus coverage, concept building, revision and question practice. JRFAdda offers Psychology courses for both Paper 1 and Paper 2, with live classes, practice support, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) and counselling support.
JRFAdda UGC NET Psychology Online Coaching 2026
JRFAdda currently offers two ATOM courses for UGC NET Psychology December 2026 preparation:
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| ATOM 2026 Batch Psychology December 2026 | Paper 1 + Paper 2 | 12 Months | ₹11,999 |
| ATOM Dec 2026 Psychology Batch | Paper 2 | 12 Months | ₹9,999 |
UGC NET Psychology Offline Coaching 2026
Offline coaching can be useful for candidates who prefer classroom-based preparation, fixed schedules and direct interaction with teachers. Before selecting a coaching programme, candidates should compare:
- Faculty
- Syllabus coverage
- Study material
- PYQ practice
- Test series
- Class schedule
- Doubt-solving support
- Mentorship
UGC NET Psychology Previous Year Question Papers
Previous Year Question Papers are an important part of UGC NET Psychology preparation. Candidates should solve PYQs after completing each major unit to understand the question pattern and identify frequently tested concepts. Candidates should practise questions from areas such as research methodology, psychological testing, biological basis of behavior, learning, memory, intelligence, personality, social psychology, developmental psychology and applied psychology.
UGC NET Previous Year Question Papers 2026 Download PDF
Conclusion
The UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 covers 10 units in Paper 2, along with the common Paper 1 syllabus. Candidates preparing for the December 2026 exam should understand the unit-wise topics, follow the exam pattern and revise regularly. Practising Previous Year Questions (PYQs) and mock tests can help identify weak areas and improve preparation. Download the syllabus PDF and make a study plan that gives proper attention to both papers.
UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2026 FAQs
