The UGC-NET is a national-level test that determines the eligibility of Indian nationals for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship & Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has been given the responsibility by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to conduct the UGC-NET. The exam is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode in multiple shifts.
Each year, the NTA (National Testing Agency) administers the UGC NET Psychology Exam, and applicants sign up in hopes of doing well on it. All aspirants who have earned a Master’s degree from an accredited university or college in any stream are eligible to apply for the exam. Every year, thousands of candidates from all around the country register for the UGC NET exam because it provides a rewarding job and a promising future.
What are the Benefits of Qualifying UGC NET Psychology Examination
Qualifying the UGC NET examination can offer numerous benefits, particularly for individuals seeking academic or research-oriented careers in India. The major of the same are mentioned below-
- Assistant Professor of Psychology: Qualifying NET makes the candidate eligible for the Assistant Professor roles in Indian universities. It serves as proof of academic competence in Psychology.
- Ph.D. Program: If a candidate clears UGC NET, then he/she can enroll in the Ph.D. program without any other Entrance.
- Fellowships and Scholarships: JRF-qualified candidates can access fellowship grants that provide financial support for research activities, and avail of other Government Scholarships.
Learn more about the benefits of clearing the UGC NET/JRF Exam.
UGC NET Educational Qualification for Psychology Paper
The following educational necessities must be met by applicants to be eligible for the UGC NET Psychology exam:
- Candidates who have completed their Master’s or its equivalent from a recognized university with at least 55% marks in aggregate are eligible for this exam.
- Candidates from the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and Transgender categories receive a 5% exemption. As a result, candidates from reserved categories only need to receive a Master’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks.
- Candidates who are awaiting the results of their final year exam are also eligible. However, these applicants are only admitted provisionally, and they won’t be deemed qualified until they receive the required grade on their Master’s test.
- On the official website, it states, “Such applicants have to finish their postgraduate degree exam within two years of the date of NET result with the necessary percentage of marks, failing which they shall be considered as disqualified”;
- A reduction of 5% marks in the aggregate, or merely 50% of the required marks, is available to Ph.D. degree holders whose master’s exams were finished on September 19, 1991 (independent of the date the results were announced).
What is the Eligibility Criteria For UGC NET/JRF
To be eligible for UGC NET Entrance, candidates must have completed their Master in Psychology in the relevant subject (like Psychology) with at least 55% marks from a university recognized by the Universities Grants Commission (UGC).
What Is The Age Criteria For NET/JRF
NTA amended the maximum age for JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) in accordance with the UGC NET eligibility criteria for 2023. To be eligible to apply for the UGC JRF, applicants must be under 30 years old.
And, there is no upper age limit in applying for UGC-NET for the Assistant Professor.
Documents Required For NET/JRF Applications
Candidates should keep the scanned copy of the below-mentioned documents handy while filing the UGC NET/JRF application forms-
- Most recent Passport Size Photograph
- Certificate, Marksheet of Educational Qualification
- Signatures
- Certificate of Professional Qualification
- Aadhaar Card
- Proof of Address
- Age Proof
UGC NET/JRF Qualifying Marks
The steps listed below are used by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to prepare the results.
- Candidates must equal 6% of those taking both Paper I and Paper II of the UGC NET test in order to be qualified.
- For candidates to be eligible for the JRF and Assistant Professor positions, they must take both Paper I and Paper II of the UGC NET test.
Stipend for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)
The stipend for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) can be ₹37,000/- approximately.
Seats Reservation
The reservation criteria for seats are different for various categories which is as follows:
- 15% of the total seats are reserved for Schedule Caste (SC) Candidates.
- 7.5% of total seats are reserved for candidates belonging to ST Category.
- As per the Central List, 27% of the seats are reserved for Other Backward Caste (OBC-NCL) Candidates.
- 10% of the seats are for General-Economically Weaker Sections (General-EWS) candidates.
- 5% of the seats are for Person With Disabilities (PwD) with 40% or more disability.
What Are The Best Books for UGC NET/JRF Psychology?
There are various books available in the market for UGC NET/JRF Psychology preparations. Here are some recommended books for Psychology:
- Introduction to Psychology (8th-10th Edition) by Rita Atkinson and Hilgard
- Social Psychology by Baron Robert
- Theories of Personality by Hall, Lindzey, and Campbell
- Cognitive Psychology by Robinson-Riegler
- Biological Psychology: James W. Kalat
- Bio-Psychology, Key-Points by Dr. Arvind Otta
- Statistics by Quinn McNemar / Minium
- Clinical Psychology by Alan Carr / Hecker and Geoffrey
- Abnormal Psychology by Sarason and Sarason / R. Comer
- Personality: George Kelly
- Human Development by Diane Paplia
- Psychological Testing by Anastasi
- It is also important to be updated related to the latest advancements in Psychology/Mental Health. Sometimes it can play a crucial role in preparation. You may refer to Psychologs Magazine for the latest advancements.
- For Paper 1: UGC NET JRF Paper-1 | Teaching and Research Aptitude | Practice Set
Previous Year Cutoffs for UGC NET/JRF Psychology
The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the results for the UGC NET/JRF June session on July 25, 2023. Among the 11,463 individuals who aspired for UGC NET JRF in the field of Psychology, 844 candidates successfully secured eligibility for the Assistant Professor position, while 119 candidates achieved dual qualification for Assistant Professor and JRF.
Here is the cutoff list for the UGC-NET/JRF Psychology Examination for the June 2023 session-
| Category | JRF and Assistant Professor | Assistant Professor |
| Unreserved | 216 | 194 |
| EWS | 206 | 176 |
| OBC-NCL | 200 | 176 |
| SC | 190 | 162 |
| ST | 184 | 156 |
Check the list of students who cleared the NET/JRF June session from UPS Education
How to Prepare for the UGC NET Psychology Exam
The primary and most essential factor when getting ready for any entrance examination is maintaining consistency and adhering to a disciplined approach. Here are some tips to follow for better preparations-
- Keep your fundamentals clear
- Don’t concentrate solely on one unit.
- Solve Previous Year Questions and Mock Tests
- Last month, focus on practice and revision instead of reading new concepts.
- Keep in mind the UGC NET Psychology Exam curriculum
- Solve your doubts regularly with your mentor.
- Create a schedule and adhere to it consistently.
And lastly, Do Not Worry. Stay calm and confident during the exam. This will help you focus on the questions and answer them correctly. Anxiety can cause unnecessary confusion and lead to a loss of points. Take a few deep breaths, do meditation, and remind yourself that you are prepared for this exam. You can do it!
What are the Most Important Topics in NET/JRF Psychology Paper
The subject that candidates elect while filling out the application form includes the NTA UGC NET syllabus for Paper 2. There will be 100 Multiple-choice Questions (MCQs) having 2 marks each.
Some important topics of Paper II:
| S.NO | Psychology Paper II Important Topics |
| 1 | Structure of Neuron, Types of Neurons, Synaptic Transmission, Various potentials of Neurons, Neuronal Polarization, Neuroplasticity, Functions of Lobe, Limbic system, Hormonal Regulations of Behaviour |
| 2 | Law of Perception, Monocular/Binocular Law, Ecological Perspective, Signal Detection, Hull Theory of Learning, Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Social Learning, Multi Modal, Types of Long-Term Memory, Theories of forgetting |
| 3 | Types of Reasoning, Role of Concept in Thinking, Types of Thinking, Various Intelligence and Creativity Approach, Intelligence vs Creativity |
| 4 | Trait and Type Theory of Personality Drive Theory Theories of Emotions by Lange, Bard, and Schachter Social Facilitation Social Perception Attribution, Confirmity, Compliance Strategies, Group Dynamics, Obedience Prenatal Development Development in Infancy Psychoanalytical/Behavioural/Cognitive Approach of Development Mental Status Examination Various Psychotherapies |
| 5 | Types of Research, Hypothesis, Sampling, Types of Errors, Research Design, Ethics in Research, Experimental Research, Variables, Sampling |
| 6 | Statistics in Psychology: Dispersion, Standard Deviation, Factor Analysis, Regression, Biserial, Product Moment, T-test, Z-test, test, Mann Witney, Kruskal Wallis, Degree of freedom, ANOVA, MANOVA |
| 7 | Psychological Testing: Reliability, Validity, Item Analysis |
What Is The Syllabus for UGC NET/JRF Psychology Paper
As we already know, the UGC NET/JRF consists of two papers, i.e. Paper I and Paper II. Paper I is a General paper that analyses the teaching/research aptitude of the candidates. Paper II is a subject-specific paper that is chosen by the candidate at the time of filing application forms.
Here is the detailed syllabus for UGC NET/JRF Paper I and Paper II –
UGC NET/JRF Paper 1 Syllabus (Aptitude)
Subjects covered include –
- Teaching Aptitude
- Research Aptitude
- Comprehension
- Communication
- Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
- Logical Reasoning
- Data Interpretation
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- People, Development and Environment
- Higher Education System
There will be 50 questions in Paper I. Each question carries 2 marks. Paper I is worth 100 marks. There is no negative marking in this paper.
Book: UGC NET JRF Paper-1 | Teaching and Research Aptitude | Practice Set
The main purpose of NET/JRF Paper I is to evaluate the candidates’ capacity for reasoning, reading comprehension, divergent thought, and general awareness.
Click here for detailed topic-wise syllabus of UGC NET/JRF Paper I
UGC NET/JRF Paper II Syllabus (Psychology)
The subject that applicants choose when filling out the application form is included in the NTA UGC NET syllabus for Paper 2. There will be 100 Multiple-choice Questions (MCQs) worth 200 marks in Paper II.
For Psychology, the NET/JRF syllabus is as follows –
- Emergence of Psychology
- Psychological thought in some major Eastern Systems
- Western Systems
- Essential aspects of knowledge paradigms
- Research Methodology and Statistics
- Research: Meaning, Purpose, and Dimensions
- Paradigms of Research
- Statistics in Psychology
- Correlational Analysis
- Experimental Designs
- Psychological Testing
- Types of tests
- Areas of testing
- Applications of psychological testing in various settings
- Biological bases of behavior
- Sensory systems
- Neurons
- Methods of Physiological Psychology
- Muscular and Glandular system
- Attention, Perception, Learning, Memory, and Forgetting
- Thinking, Intelligence, and Creativity
- Theoretical perspectives on thought processes
- Concept formation
- Problem-solving
- Decision-making
- Metacognition
- Intelligence
- Creativity
- Personality, Motivation, Emotion, Stress Management
- Determinants of Personality
- Approaches to the study of personality
- Basic motivational concepts
- Approaches to the study of motivation
- Emotions and theories of emotions
- Conflicts, Stress, and Coping
- Social Psychology
- Traditional theoretical perspectives
- Social perception
- Group and Social Influence
- Applied Social Psychology
- Human Development and Interventions
- Developmental processes
- Theories of development
- Psychotherapies
- Guidance in schools and Counselling
- Emerging Areas
- Issues of Gender, Poverty, Disability, and Migration
- Peace psychology
- Wellbeing and self-growth
- Health
- Psychology and technology interface
For a detailed Psychology syllabus, please click here