The UGC NET Public Administration 2025 exam is a reputable national-level test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to determine the candidates’ eligibility for the role of Assistant Professor and for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in the field of Public Administration. With increasing competition and growing interest of aspirants in academic and research careers, qualifying for the UGC NET 2025 Exam has become a significant milestone to contribute to the fields of governance, administration, and public policy. Candidates can check detailed insights into the eligibility criteria, syllabus, exam pattern, previous year question papers (PYQs), preparation tips, and career opportunities related to the UGC NET Public Administration exam. Aspirants appearing for the first time or reattempting the UPSC Exam 2025, the below-mentioned content will help to build a solid preparation strategy and stay updated with the latest exam information for UGC NET Public Administration 2025.
What is UGC NET Public Administration?
UGC NET Public Administration is a subject-specific examination conducted as part of the UGC NET Exam by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for postgraduate students who want a teaching position as Assistant Professor or pursue a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in the field of Public Administration. The UGC NET Public Administration Exam 2025 evaluates candidates’ understanding of administrative theories, governance, public policy, Indian administration, and research aptitude in the discipline. The UGC NET Public Administration 2025 exam comprises two papers—Paper 1 (general teaching and research aptitude) and Paper 2 (subject-specific: Public Administration). By qualifying for this exam, candidates open up academic career opportunities in universities and colleges, along with research positions in government organizations, think tanks, and policy institutions.Also Read: UGC NET Application Form 2025
UGC NET Public Administration Eligibility Criteria 2025
To apply for the UGC NET Public Administration 2025, candidates have to meet the following eligibility criteria:Educational Qualification
- Must have a Master’s Degree or equivalent in Public Administration or a related subject (like Political Science with a specialization in Public Administration) from a recognized university.
- Minimum marks required:
- For General/Unreserved/EWS: 55% marks
- For OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: 50% marks
- Candidates who are in the final year of their Master’s degree or awaiting results are also eligible to apply for the UGC NET Public Administration Exam 2025. However, they must complete their degree within 2 years of the result declaration.
Age Limit
- For Junior Research Fellowship (JRF):
- Maximum Age: 30 years as on 1st June 2025
- Age Relaxation:
- OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, Women, Third Gender: 5 years
- Candidates with research experience or armed forces service: As per UGC norms
- For Assistant Professor: No upper age limit
Also Read: UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2025
UGC NET Public Administration Exam Pattern 2025
The UGC NET Public Administration 2025 exam is conducted in an online Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode and consists of two papers: Paper 1 (General) and Paper 2 (Subject-specific: Public Administration). Each paper is held in a single session without any break. The exam carries a total of 300 marks (Paper 1 + Paper 2), and there is no negative marking.| Paper | Number of Questions | Marks | Time Duration |
| UGC NET Paper I—General Teaching & Research Aptitude | 50 | 100 | 1 hour |
| UGC NET Paper II—Subject Specific: Public Administration | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
Also Read: UGC NET Exam Pattern 2025
UGC NET Public Administration Marking Scheme 2025
The UGC NET 2025 Public Administration exam follows a uniform marking scheme for both Paper I and Paper II. Here are the key details:- Total Questions: 150 (50 in Paper I + 100 in Paper II)
- Total Marks: 300
- Each Question Carries: 2 marks
- Marking Type: +2 marks for each correct answer
- Negative Marking: No negative marking for incorrect answers
| Paper | Total | Mark Per Question | Total Marks |
| Paper I | 50 | 2 marks | 100 |
| Paper II | 100 | 2 marks | 200 |
| Total | 150 | 300 |
UGC NET Public Administration Minimum Qualifying Marks 2025
Candidates have to secure the minimum qualifying marks set by the NTA to qualify for the UGC NET Public Administration 2025 exam. The UGC NET Public Administration cut-off marks vary according to candidates’ categories. The UGC NET qualifying marks are calculated on the combined score of Paper 1 and Paper 2. The final cutoff marks are based on different factors such as the number of candidates, difficulty level, and available slots for JRF or Assistant Professor.| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks (%) | Minimum Marks (Out of 300) |
| General/Unreserved (UR) | 40% | 120 |
| OBC | 35% | 105 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender | 35% | 105 |
UGC NET Public Administration Syllabus 2025 Paper 2
The UGC NET Public Administration Paper 2 syllabus is designed to evaluate candidates’ deep understanding of the core subjects. The UGC NET Public Administration paper includes various topics in Public Administration, theories, Indian administration, governance, and more.Unit-Wise UGC NET Public Administration Syllabus for Paper 2
| Unit | Syllabus |
| Unit I – Introduction to Public Administration |
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| Unit II – Administrative Thought |
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| Unit III – Administrative Behaviour |
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| Unit IV – Organisations |
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| Unit V – Public Personnel Administration |
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| Unit VI – Financial Administration |
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| Unit VII – Union Government and Administration in India |
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| Unit VIII – State and Local Government in India |
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| Unit IX – Public Policy and Governance |
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| Unit X – Comparative and Development Administration |
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Read More: UGC NET Syllabus 2025
UGC NET Public Administration Syllabus 2025 Download
Candidates preparing for the UGC NET Public Administration Exam must have a thorough understanding of the official and updated syllabus released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on the official website. Candidates can directly download the UGC NET Public Administration Syllabus PDF from the below-mentioned links in both English and Hindi.| Language | Download Direct Link |
| English | Download Link |
| Hindi | Download Link |
UGC NET Public Administration Preparation Tips 2025
The UGC NET Public Administration 2025 exam requires a reliable, consistent effort and the standard study material to qualify with good marks. Here are some effective and practical UGC NET Public Administration Preparation Tips for 2025 for candidates to perform well in the UGC NET Home Science 2025 exam.- Candidates need to understand the Exam Pattern & Syllabus Thoroughly and focus more on Paper II (subject-specific), as it carries 200 marks.
- Divide your preparation time by making a strategic timetable between Paper I (General Aptitude) and Paper II (Public Administration) by allocating time for each unit and keeping weekly revision slots.
- Aspirants should include mock tests, at least the last 5 years of PYQs, and revision in their schedule.
- Candidates should refer to standard books for UGC NET Public Administration, such as Mohit Bhattacharya’s New Horizons of Public Administration, Prasad & Prasad’s Administrative Thinkers, Avasthi & Maheshwari’s Public Administration Theory and Practice, and IGNOU MA Public Administration notes—for clarity and depth.
- Candidates should strengthen Paper I (General Paper) by focusing on Teaching & Research Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Reading Comprehension, and ICT & Higher Education. Using books like KVS Madan or Trueman’s UGC NET Paper 1.
- Read and stay updated about current government schemes, administrative reforms, and governance trends. And relate theoretical topics to real-world examples to improve conceptual clarity.
- Make short notes for each topic or unit to revise strategically, and use flowcharts, tables, and mnemonics to retain thinkers and theories.
Read More: UGC NET Preparation Tips 2025
UGC NET Public Administration Career Opportunities
Qualifying for the UGC NET Public Administration 2025 exam opens up various academic, research, and professional career opportunities in both government and private sectors. Some of the most promising career options available to qualified candidates are listed below:- Clearing UGC NET makes candidates eligible to apply for the teaching position of Assistant Professor in Public Administration at various government and private colleges or universities across India.
- Candidates who qualify for JRF can pursue a Ph.D. or M.Phil. in Public Administration while receiving a monthly stipend.
- Qualified candidates can also join research institutions, think tanks, NGOs, or government-funded bodies like ICSSR, NITI Aayog, or IIPA. These organizations work on areas such as policy formulation, administrative efficiency, urban planning, and rural development.
- UGC NET-qualified candidates can choose their careers in various state and central government departments, particularly in areas related to public administration, personnel management, rural development, and administrative reforms.
UGC NET Public Administration Question Paper 2024
Solving previous years’ question papers is an important part of strategic preparation for the UGC NET Public Administration exam 2025. This helps the candidates to understand the exam pattern, question types, and difficulty level for both Paper 1 and Paper 2. The UGC NET Public Administration 2024 question paper includes a total of 150 multiple-choice questions—50 questions from Paper 1 (Teaching & Research Aptitude) and 100 questions from Paper 2 (Public Administration). Practicing previous year question papers builds familiarity with the actual exam format and also improves candidates’ time management and accuracy while boosting confidence. This also helps candidates to identify important topics and areas that require more focus, making the preparation more strategic and effective.| Exam | Shift | Exam Date | Download PDF |
| UGC NET Public Administration 2024 Exam | Shift 2 | 22/08/2024 | Download Link |
UGC NET Public Administration PYQs
Solving UGC NET Public Administration Previous Year Questions (PYQs) is one of the best ways for aspirants to prepare for the exam. These question papers help them to understand the question trends, repeated topics, and exam difficulty level over the years. Practicing regularly also boosts confidence and minimizes errors.| Exam Name | Year | UGC NET Public Administration Previous Year Papers (Paper 1) | UGC NET Public Administration Previous Year Papers (Paper 2) |
| UGC NET Public Administration | 2023 | Download Link | Download Link |
| UGC NET Public Administration | 2022 | Download Link | Download Link |
| UGC NET Public Administration | 2021 | Download Link | Download Link |
| UGC NET Public Administration | 2020 | Download Link | Download Link |
| UGC NET Public Administration | 2019 | Download Link | Download Link |
| UGC NET Public Administration | 2018 | Download Link | Download Link |
| UGC NET Public Administration | 2014 | Download Link | Download Link |
Conclusion
Candidates who are preparing for the UGC NET Public Administration 2025 exam must have a thorough understanding of the syllabus, exam pattern, and marking scheme. They should also practice with previous year question papers and focused revision. Solving PYQs not only strengthens conceptual clarity but also helps candidates to familiarize themselves with the real exam pattern and improves their speed and accuracy. Candidates, whether aiming for Assistant Professor roles, a Junior Research Fellowship, or broader opportunities in government, research, and corporate sectors, consistent preparation is key to cracking the UGC NET Exam 2025. Aspirants should stay disciplined, follow a structured study plan, and regularly evaluate their progress to achieve success in the UGC NET Public Administration exam.UGC NET Public Administration 2025 FAQs
The UGC NET Public Administration exam is conducted twice a year to evaluate the candidates’ eligibility for the role of Assistant Professor and/or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges.
Interested candidates must have a Master’s degree in Home Science or a related subject with at least 55% marks (50% for reserved categories). Final-year appearing students can also apply.
No, there will be no negative marking in the UGC NET Public Administration exam 2025.
Candidates can download the UGC NET Public Administration 2025 syllabus PDF from the official website or the above-mentioned direct links.
The UGC NET Public Administration exam is conducted twice a year in June and December sessions.
