UGC NET Subject List 2025 for the December session offers candidates a wide selection of 85 subjects across diverse academic disciplines and professional fields. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the UGC NET December 2025 examination requires aspirants to choose a subject that aligns with their postgraduate qualification. This article serves as a complete guide to the UGC NET Subject List December 2025, including subject codes, eligibility criteria, subject-wise weightage, and expert tips to help you choose the most suitable subject for better success in the exam.
Also Read: UGC NET Final Answer Key 2025
UGC NET Subject List 2025
The UGC NET examination encompasses a broad spectrum of subjects such as Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, Commerce, and Computer Applications. The UGC NET Subject List 2025 comprises 85 subjects, each having a specific subject code. One subject has to be selected by the candidate on the basis of his/her postgraduate qualification and interest.
| S. No. | Subject | Subject Code |
| 1 | Adult Education/Continuing Education/Andragogy/Non-Formal Education | 46 |
| 2 | Anthropology | 7 |
| 3 | Arab Culture and Islamic Studies | 49 |
| 4 | Arabic | 29 |
| 5 | Archaeology | 67 |
| 6 | Assamese | 36 |
| 7 | Bengali | 19 |
| 8 | Bodo | 94 |
| 9 | Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian, and Peace Studies | 60 |
| 10 | Chinese | 32 |
| 11 | Commerce | 8 |
| 12 | Comparative Literature | 72 |
| 13 | Comparative Study of Religions | 62 |
| 14 | Computer Science and Applications | 87 |
| 15 | Criminology | 68 |
| 16 | Defence and Strategic Studies | 11 |
| 17 | Dogri | 33 |
| 18 | Economics / Rural Economics / Co-operation / Demography / Development Planning / Development Studies / Econometrics / Applied Economics / Development Economics / Business Economics | 1 |
| 19 | Education | 9 |
| 20 | Electronic Science | 88 |
| 21 | English | 30 |
| 22 | Environmental Sciences | 89 |
| 23 | Folk Literature | 71 |
| 24 | Forensic Science | 82 |
| 25 | French (French Version) | 39 |
| 26 | Geography | 80 |
| 27 | German | 44 |
| 28 | Gujarati | 37 |
| 29 | Hindi | 20 |
| 30 | Hindu Studies | 102 |
| 31 | History | 6 |
| 32 | Home Science | 12 |
| 33 | Human Rights and Duties | 92 |
| 34 | Indian Culture | 50 |
| 35 | Indian Knowledge System | 103 |
| 36 | Japanese | 45 |
| 37 | Kannada | 21 |
| 38 | Kashmiri | 84 |
| 39 | Konkani | 85 |
| 40 | Labour Welfare / Personnel Management / Industrial Relations/ Labour and Social Welfare / HR Management | 55 |
| 41 | Law | 58 |
| 42 | Library and Information Science | 59 |
| 43 | Linguistics | 31 |
| 44 | Maithili | 18 |
| 45 | Malayalam | 22 |
| 46 | Management (including Business Admin., Marketing, HR, Financial, and Cooperative Management) | 17 |
| 47 | Manipuri | 35 |
| 48 | Marathi | 38 |
| 49 | Mass Communication and Journalism | 63 |
| 50 | Museology & Conservation | 66 |
| 51 | Music | 16 |
| 52 | Nepali | 34 |
| 53 | Oriya | 23 |
| 54 | Pali | 83 |
| 55 | Performing Art – Dance/Drama/Theatre | 65 |
| 56 | Persian | 42 |
| 57 | Philosophy | 3 |
| 58 | Physical Education | 47 |
| 59 | Political Science | 2 |
| 60 | Politics including International Relations/International Studies, Defence/Strategic Studies, Area Studies | 90 |
| 61 | Population Studies | 15 |
| 62 | Prakrit | 91 |
| 63 | Psychology | 4 |
| 64 | Public Administration | 14 |
| 65 | Punjabi | 24 |
| 66 | Rajasthani | 43 |
| 67 | Russian | 41 |
| 68 | Sanskrit | 25 |
| 69 | Sanskrit traditional subjects (including Jyotisha/Sidhanta Jyotish/Navya Vyakarna/Vyakarna/Mimansa) | 73 |
| 70 | Santali | 95 |
| 71 | Sindhi | 101 |
| 72 | Social Medicine & Community Health | 81 |
| 73 | Social Work | 10 |
| 74 | Sociology | 5 |
| 75 | Spanish | 40 |
| 76 | Tamil | 26 |
| 77 | Telugu | 27 |
| 78 | Tourism Administration and Management | 93 |
| 79 | Tribal and Regional Language/Literature | 70 |
| 80 | Urdu | 28 |
| 81 | Visual Art (including Drawing & Painting/Sculpture Graphics/Applied Art/History of Art) | 79 |
| 82 | Women Studies | 74 |
| 83 | Yoga | 100 |
| 84 | Disaster Management | 104 |
| 85 | Ayurveda Biology | 105 |
Note: The subject ‘Ayurveda Biology’ was introduced from the December 2024 session onwards.
Also Read: UGC NET Result 2025 Date Announced
UGC NET Subject Weightage 2025
The UGC NET exam comprises two papers:
- Paper I: This is an optional paper for general studies which is intended to test the candidate’s teaching and research ability. It includes issues related to teaching ability, research ability, comprehension of reading material, communication, reasoning (which includes mathematical reasoning), logical reasoning, interpretation of data, ICT, people and environment, and higher education system. This paper consists of 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), each with a weightage of 2 marks, making the total 100 marks.
- Paper II: Paper II is subject-specific and tests the knowledge of the candidate in the selected subject. It comprises 100 MCQs with 2 marks each, aggregating to 200 marks. Syllabus and weightage for Paper II differ based on the subject chosen by the candidate.
| Paper | Marks | Number of Questions | Duration | Weightage | Topics Covered |
| Paper 1 (General Aptitude) | 100 | 50 | 1 hour | 33% | Teaching and Research Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness |
| Paper 2 (Subject-Specific) | 200 | 100 | 2 hours | 67% | In-depth knowledge of the chosen subject from the UGC NET Subject List (e.g., Anthropology, Economics, Law, Computer Science, etc.) |
Also Read: UGC NET Expected Cutoff 2025
How Many Candidates Applied for UGC NET 2025 Subject Wise?
As of now, official data for how many applicants there were per subject for the UGC NET 2025 exam are not made available publicly. Traditionally, statistics about that kind of detail are issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA) after they complete the exam process. From previous year trends, trending subjects like English, Commerce, Economics, and Political Science see the greatest amount of applications. In contrast, specialized fields such as Arab Culture and Islamic Studies or Pali receive fewer applicants.
Easiest Subject for UGC NET 2025
A subject’s level of difficulty depends on the interest and academic qualification of the candidate. Such subjects possess a simple syllabus with a wealth of study material available. But from previous trends, the following are found to be relatively easier subjects:
- Commerce.
- Management.
- Education.
- Public Administration.
- Sociology.
Toughest Subject in UGC NET 2025
Certain subjects are regarded as difficult because of their extensive syllabus and technicality. Candidates who choose these subjects have to spend considerable time preparing. These are:
- Computer Science and Applications.
- Mathematics.
- Economics.
- History.
- Law.
UGC NET Subject Wise Eligibility 2025
Applicants should fulfill the following eligibility requirements to select a subject:
- Postgraduate Degree: Master’s degree in the selected subject or allied subject with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for reserved categories).
- Relevance: The selected subject should be relevant to the academic background of the candidate.
- Age Limit: No age restriction for Assistant Professor; JRF applicants should be under 31 years (relaxation for reserved categories).
Which Subject is Best for UGC NET 2025?
The most suitable subject for UGC NET varies according to the academic qualification, interest, and career aspiration of the candidate. Some points to note are:
- Academic Qualification: Select a subject corresponding to your postgraduate degree.
- Interest: Select a subject that interests you.
- Career Goals: Choose a subject in accordance with your long-term career goal.
- Difficulty Level: Check the syllabus and difficulty level of the subject.
How to Choose a UGC NET Subject in 2025?
The choice of subject is very important for UGC NET preparation and your future career. Here are some quick tips for you to choose right subject:
- Evaluate your academic background: First of all, choose that subject in which you have studied for your Master’s degree specialization and then start preparing for it.
- Read the Syllabus: Read the syllabus of the subject which you want to opt for very carefully so that it aligns with your interest and expertise.
- Know the Exam Pattern: Make sure that you should be aware about the weightage of Paper 1 (general aptitude) and Paper 2 (subject-specific) carries.
- Plan Your Career: Choose any subject that you feel related to your academic and career aims.
- Easy Availability of Study Material: Get those subjects which have excessive study materials thus make your preparation so much easier.
- Test Yourself: Take practice tests in the subjects you are choosing, which will help you analyze all your strengths and weaknesses.
Conclusion
Selecting the right subject is one of the most important decisions during your UGC NET preparation. With 85 subjects to pick from, the candidates need to carefully analyze their academic background, interests, and career aspirations before deciding. Trendy subjects such as Commerce, English, and Management are mostly regarded as simpler ones, while Computer Science, Mathematics, and Economics are tough ones. By choosing the appropriate subject and preparing tactically, you can raise your level of chances for passing the UGC NET examination and fulfilling your academic and professional goals.
UGC NET Subject List 2025 FAQs
Is there any negative marking in UGC NET?
No, there is no negative marking in the UGC NET exam.
What subject has the highest success rate in UGC NET?
Commerce, Management, and Education are subjects with a higher success rate because they have a simple syllabus.
Can I opt for a subject other than my postgraduate degree?
Yes, but you should opt for a subject closer to your field of study so that you get prepared well.
From where can I download the UGC NET syllabus for my subject?
You can download the syllabus from the official website of NTA UGC NET.
