UGC NET Political Science 2024 Exam

Category

Age Relaxation (in years)

SC/ST/OBC/PwD/Transgender

5

Females of all categories

5

Candidates holding LLM degree

3

Candidates in armed forces

5

Paper-I Unit wise Subjects

Paper-I Topics Given

Unit-I: Teaching Aptitude

• Teaching: Concept, objectives, levels of teaching (memory, understanding & reflective), characteristics along with basic requirements
• Learner’s characteristics: Characteristics of adolescent & adult learners (academic, social, emotional & cognitive), individual differences
• Factors affecting teaching related to Teacher, Learner, Support material, Instructional facilities, Learning environment as well as Institution
• Methods of teaching in universities of higher learning: Teacher centered against. learner-centred methods; offline against online methods (Swayam, Swayamprabha, MOOCs, etc.).
• Teaching support system: Traditional, modern as well as ICT based
• Evaluation systems: Elements & types of evaluation, evaluation in Choice Based Credit System as in higher education, computer-based testing, innovations which take place in evaluation systems

Unit-II: In case of Research Aptitude

• Research: Meaning, Types, & characteristics, positivism as well as a post-positivist approach to research
• Methods of research: Experimental, descriptive, historical, qualitative and quantitative methods
• Steps for conducting a research
• Thesis & article writing: Format as well as styles of referencing
• Application of ICT in the research field
• Ethical research

Unit-III: Comprehension

• A passage of text shall be given. Questions shall be asked from the passage from where it is to be answered

Unit-IV: Communication

• Communication: Meaning, types & characteristics of communication
• Effective communication: Verbal & non-verbal, inter-cultural & group communications, classroom communication
• Barriers in case of effective communication
• Mass-media & society

Unit-V: Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude

• Types of reasoning
• Number series, letter series, codes & relationships
• Mathematical aptitude (fraction, time and distance, ratio, proportion & percentage, profit & loss, interest & discounting, averages, etc.)

Unit-VI: Logical Reasoning

• Understanding the structure of arguments: Argument forms, the structure of categorical propositions, mood & figure, formal with informal fallacies, uses of language, connotations as well as denotations of terms, the classical square of opposition
• Evaluating & distinguishing deductive & inductive reasoning
• Analogies
• Venn diagram: Simple & multiple uses for establishing the validity of arguments
• Indian Logic: Means of knowledge
• Pramanas: Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (Inference), Upamana (Comparison), Shabda (Verbal testimony), Arthapatti (Implication) & Anupalabddhi (Non-apprehension)
• Structure with kinds of Anumana (inference), Vyapti (invariable relation), Hetvabhasa (fallacies of inference)

Unit-VII: Data Interpretation

• Sources, acquisition & classification of data
• Quantitative & qualitative data
• Graphical representation (bar-chart, histograms, pie-chart, table-chart & line-chart) along with mapping of the required data
• Data interpretation
• Data & governance

Unit-VIII: Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

• ICT: General abbreviations & terminology
• Basics of Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio & Video-conferencing
• Digital initiatives in terms of higher education
• ICT & Governance

Unit-IX: People, Development and Environment

• Development & environment: Millennium development with Sustainable development goals
• Human and environment interaction: Anthropogenic activities & their impacts on the environment
• Environmental issues: Local, regional & global; air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution, waste (solid, liquid, biomedical, hazardous, electronic), climate change & its socio-economic and political dimensions
• Impacts of pollutants on human health
• Natural & energy resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear & Forests
• Natural hazards & disasters: Mitigation strategies
• Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate Change, International agreements/efforts -Montreal Protocol, Rio Summit, Convention on Biodiversity, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance

Unit-X: Higher Education System

• Institutions of higher learning & education in ancient India
• Evolution of higher learning & research in post-independence India
• Oriental, conventional & non-conventional learning programs in India
• Professional, technical along with skill-based education.
• Value education & environmental education
• Policies, governance, as well as administration

Subject

Syllabus

Political Science

Unit 1: Political Theory

Concepts

Liberty, Equality, Justice, Rights, Democracy, Power, Citizenship

Political Traditions

• Liberalism
• Conservatism
• Socialism
• Marxism
• Feminism
• Ecologism
• Multiculturalism
• Postmodernism

Unit 2: Political Thought

• Confucius
• Plato
• Aristotle
• Machiavelli
• Hobbes
• Locke
• Rousseau
• Hegel
• Mary Wollstonecraft
• John Stuart Mill
• Karl Marx
• Gramsci
• Hannah Arendt
• Frantz Fanon
• Mao Zedong
• John Rawls

Unit 3: Indian Political Thought

• Dharamshastra
• Kautilya
• Aggannasutta
• Barani
• Kabir
• Pandita Ramabai
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• Swami Vivekanand
• Rabindranath Tagore
• M.K Gandhi
• Sri Aurobindo
• Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
• Muhammad Iqbal
• M.N.Roy
• V D Savarkar
• Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
• J L Nehru
• Ram Manohar Lohia
• Jaya Prakash Narayan
• Deendayal Upadhyaya

Unit 4: Comparative Political Analysis

• Approaches: Institutional, Political Culture, Political Economy and New Institutionalism; Comparative Methods
• Colonialism and decolonization: forms of colonialism, anti-colonial struggles, and decolonization Nationalism: European and non-European
• State theory: Debate over the nature of the state in capitalist and socialist societies; post-colonial state; welfare state; globalization and nation-states
• Political regimes: democratic (Electoral, Liberal, Majoritarian and Participatory) and non-democratic regimes (Patrimonialism, Bureaucratic authoritarianism, Military dictatorship, Totalitarianism, and fascist)
• Constitutions and Constitutionalism: forms of constitutions, rule of law, judicial independence and liberal constitutionalism; emergency powers and the crisis of constitutionalism. Democratization: democratic transition and consolidation
• Development: Underdevelopment, Dependency, Modernization, World Systems Theory, development and democracy
• Structures of Power: Ruling class, power elites, democratic elitism
• Actor and Processes: Electoral Systems, Political Parties and Party System, Interest groups, Social movements, new social movements, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society campaigns; Revolutions.

Unit 5: International Relations

• Approaches to the study of International Relations: Idealism, Realism, Structural Marxism, Neoliberalism, Neorealism, Social Constructivism, Critical International Theory, Feminism, Postmodernism
• Concepts: State, state system and non-state actors, Power, Sovereignty, Security: traditional and non-traditional
• Conflict and Peace: Changing Nature of Warfare; Weapons of mass destruction; deterrence; conflict resolution, conflict transformation
• United Nations: Aims, Objectives, Structure, and Evaluation of the Working of UN; Peace and Development perspectives; Humanitarian intervention. International law; International Criminal Court
• Political Economy of IR; Globalisation; Global governance and Bretton Woods system, North-South Dialogue, WTO, G-20, BRICS
• Regional Organisations: European Union, African Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN
• Contemporary Challenges: International terrorism, Climate change, and Environmental Concerns, Human Rights, Migration and Refugees; Poverty and Development; Role of Religion, Culture, and Identity Politics

Unit 6: India’s Foreign Policy

• Perspectives on India’s Foreign Policy: India’s Identity as postcolonial, development, rising power and as emerging political economy
• Continuity and change in India’s Foreign Policy: Principles and determinants; Non-Alignment movement: historical background and relevance of Non Aligned Movement; India’s Nuclear Policy
• India’s relations with major powers: USA, USSR/Russia, People’s Republic of China
• India’s Engagement with the multipolar world: India’s relations with European Union, BRICS, ASEAN, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, African Union, Southern African Development Community, Gulf Cooperation Council
• India’s relations with the neighbourhood: SAARC, Gujaral doctrine, Look East/ Act East, Look West
• India’s Negotiation Strategies in International Regimes: The United Nations, World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• Contemporary challenges: maritime security, energy security, environmental security, migrants and refugees, water resources, international terrorism, cyber security

Unit 7: Political Institutions in India

• Making of the Indian Constitution: Colonialism heritage and the contribution of Indian National Movement to the making of the Indian Constitution
• Constituent Assembly: Composition, Ideological Moorings, Constitutional Debates
• Philosophy of the Constitution: Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles
• Constitutionalism in India: Democracy, Social Change, National Unity, Checks and Balances, Basic Structure Debate, Constitutional Amendments
• Union Executive: President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
• Union Parliament: Structure, Role and Functioning, Parliamentary Committees
• Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Court, Judicial Review, Judicial Activism, Judicial Reform.
• Executive and Legislature in the States: Governor, Chief Minister, State Legislature
• Federalism in India: Strong Centre Framework, Asymmetrical Federal Provisions and Adaption, Role of Intergovernmental Coordination Mechanisms, Inter-State Council, Emerging Trends.
• Electoral Process and Election Commission of India: Conduct of Elections, Rules, Electoral Reforms
• Local Government Institutions: Functioning and reforms
• Constitutional and Statutory Bodies: Comptroller and Auditor General, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Human Rights, National Commission for Women, National Commission for Minorities.

Unit 8: Political Processes in India

• State, Economy and Development: Nature of Indian State, Development Planning model, New Economic Policy, Growth and Human Development
• Process of globalisation: social and economic implications
• Identity Politics: Religion, Tribe, Caste, Region, Language
• Social Movements: Dalit, Tribal, Women, Farmers, labour
• Civil Society Groups: Non-Party Social Formations, Non-Governmental Organisations, Social Action Groups
• Regionalisation of Indian Politics: Reorganisation of Indian States, States as Political and Economic Units, Sub-State Regions, Regional disparities, Demand for the New States
• Gender and Politics in India: Issues of Equality and Representation
• Ideology and Social basis of Political Parties: National Parties, State Parties
• Electoral Politics: Participation, Contestation, Representation, Emerging trends

Unit 9: Public Administration

• Public Administration: meaning and evolution; public and private administration Approaches: System Theory, Decision Making, Ecological Approach
• Public administration theories and concepts: Scientific Management Theory, Rational Choice theory, New Public Administration, Development Administration, Comparative Public Administration, New Public Management, changing nature of Public Administration in the era of liberalisation and Globalisation
• Theories and Principles of Organization: Scientific Management Theory, Bureaucratic Theory, Human Relations Theory
• Managing the organization: Theories of leadership and motivation
• Organisational Communication: Theories and Principles, Chester Bernard Principles of Communication, Information Management in the organization
• Managing Conflict in the Organization: Mary Parker Follett
• Management by Objectives- Peter Drucker

Unit 10: Governance and Public Policy in India

• Governance, good governance and democratic governance, role of state, civil society and individuals
• Accountability and Control: Institutional mechanism for checks and balances, legislative control over executive, administrative and budgetary control, control through parliamentary committees, judicial control over legislature and executive, administrative culture, corruption and administrative reforms
• Institutional mechanisms for good governance: Right to Information, Consumer Protection Act, Citizen Charter; Grievance redress system: Ombudsman, Lokpal, Lokayukta
• Grassroots Governance: Panchayati Raj Institutions and their functioning
• Planning and Development: Decentralised planning, planning for development, sustainable development, participatory development, e-governance; NITI Aayog
• Public policy as an instrument of socio-economic development: public policies with special reference to housing, health, drinking water, food security, MNREGA, NHRM, RTE
• Monitoring and evaluation of public policy; mechanisms of making governance process accountable: jansunwai, social audit.

Papers

Subject

Number of questions & marks

Paper 1

To evaluate the candidate's teaching and aptitude, there will be common questions for all of the candidates.

50 Questions of 2 marks each

Paper 2

This paper will evaluate domain knowledge and is based on the topic that the candidates chose.

100 Questions of 2 marks each