UGC NET Sanskrit Exam Pattern And Syllabus

Leave a Comment / By Madhav Sharma / May 6, 2026 / Exam Pattern Syllabus

The UGC NET Sanskrit Exam is a national-level eligibility test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). This examination is organized to determine the eligibility of candidates for the posts of Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Sanskrit across universities and colleges in India. The exam is designed to assess a candidate’s understanding of Sanskrit language, literature, grammar, Indian philosophy, Vedic traditions, poetry, dramaturgy, and classical texts.

It consists of two papers conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Paper I evaluates teaching and research aptitude, while Paper II focuses entirely on Sanskrit subject knowledge. The UGC NET Sanskrit Exam is highly respected among aspirants interested in academics, research, and higher education. Qualifying this examination opens doors to teaching careers, research opportunities, and doctoral studies. It also plays an important role in preserving and promoting India’s rich Sanskrit heritage and traditional knowledge systems.

UGC NET Sanskrit: Overview Table

Table of Contents

Particulars	Details
Organization Name	University Grants Commission (UGC)
Exam Conducting Body Name	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Name	UGC-NET June 2026 (Sanskrit – Subject Code 25)
Post / Eligibility Name	Assistant Professor, Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), and Admission to Ph.D.
Selection Process	Computer Based Test (CBT)
Official Website	Click Here

UGC NET Sanskrit: Exam Pattern

Particulars	Details
Total No. of Questions	Paper 1 – 50 Questions Paper 2 – 100 Questions Total: 150 Questions
Total Marks	Paper 1 – 100 Marks Paper 2 – 200 Marks Total: 300 Marks
Time Duration	180 Minutes (03 Hours) without any break
Question Type	Objective Type MCQs
Duration	03 Hours (180 Minutes)
Breaks	No break between the papers
Marks per Question	02 Marks per question
Correct Answer	02 Marks awarded for each correct response
Incorrect Answer	No Negative Marking
Unanswered Questions	No marks for un-attempted, unanswered, or marked for review questions

UGC NET: Paper 1 Exam Pattern

Unit	Subject Area	Number of Questions (Approx.)	Total Marks
Unit 1	Teaching Aptitude	5	10
Unit 2	Research Aptitude	5	10
Unit 3	Comprehension	5	10
Unit 4	Communication	5	10
Unit 5	Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude	5	10
Unit 6	Logical Reasoning	5	10
Unit 7	Data Interpretation	5	10
Unit 8	Information and Communication Technology (ICT)	5	10
Unit 9	People, Development and Environment	5	10
Unit 10	Higher Education System	5	10
Total	Overall Paper 1	50 Questions	100 Marks

UGC NET: Paper 2 Exam Pattern

Unit	Subject Area	Number of Questions	Total Marks
Unit – I	Vedic Literature (General Introduction)	Not Specified	Not Specified
Unit – II	Specific Study of Vedic Literature	Not Specified	Not Specified
Unit – III	Darśana (General Introduction of Major Schools)	Not Specified	Not Specified
Unit – IV	Darśana Literature: Special Study	Not Specified	Not Specified
Unit – V	Grammar and Linguistics	Not Specified	Not Specified
Unit – VI	Specific Study of Grammar	Not Specified	Not Specified
Unit – VII	Sanskrit Literature, Poetics and Prosody	Not Specified	Not Specified
Unit – VIII	Specific Study of Poetry, Drama, Prose, Campū Kāvya, etc.	Not Specified	Not Specified
Unit – IX	Purāṇetihāsa, Dharmaśāstra and Epigraphy	Not Specified	Not Specified
Unit – X	Specific Study of Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra, Manusmṛti, Yājñavalkyasmṛti, Paleography and Inscriptions	Not Specified	Not Specified
Overall	Total for Paper II	100 Questions	200 Marks

UGC NET: Paper 1 Syllabus

Unit	Subject Area	Detailed Topics Covered
Unit I	Teaching Aptitude	Teaching concept, objectives, levels of teaching (memory, understanding, reflective); Learner characteristics (adolescent and adult learners); Factors affecting teaching; Methods of teaching in higher learning institutions (teacher-centered vs. learner-centered, offline vs. online); Teaching support systems (traditional, modern, ICT-based); Evaluation systems and Choice Based Credit System (CBCS).
Unit II	Research Aptitude	Research meaning, types, and characteristics; Positivism and post-positivistic approach; Methods of research (experimental, descriptive, historical, qualitative, quantitative); Steps of research; Thesis and article writing (format and referencing styles); Application of ICT in research; Research ethics.
Unit III	Comprehension	A passage of text is provided. Candidates must answer questions based on their understanding and analysis of the passage.
Unit IV	Communication	Communication meaning, types, and characteristics; Effective communication (verbal, non-verbal, intercultural, group, classroom); Barriers to effective communication; Mass-media and society.
Unit V	Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude	Types of reasoning; Number series, letter series, codes, and relationships; Mathematical aptitude (fractions, time & distance, ratio, proportion, percentage, profit and loss, interest, discounting, averages).
Unit VI	Logical Reasoning	Understanding the structure of arguments (premises, deductive/inductive reasoning); Evaluating and distinguishing arguments; Venn diagrams; Analogies; Indian Logic: Means of knowledge (Pramanas, Pratyaksha, Anumana, Upamana, Shabda, Arthapatti, Anupalabdhi); Structure and kinds of Anumana (inference), Vyapti, Hetvabhasas.
Unit VII	Data Interpretation	Sources, acquisition, and classification of data; Quantitative and qualitative data; Graphical representation (bar-chart, histograms, pie-chart, table-chart, line-chart) and mapping of data; Data interpretation; Data and governance.
Unit VIII	Information and Communication Technology (ICT)	ICT general abbreviations and terminology; Basics of the Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio and Video-conferencing; Digital initiatives in higher education; ICT and governance.
Unit IX	People, Development and Environment	Development and environment (Millennium and Sustainable Development Goals); Human and environment interaction (anthropogenic activities); Environmental issues (air, water, soil, noise pollution, climate change); Impacts of pollutants on human health; Natural and energy resources; Natural hazards and disasters; Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate Change, International agreements (Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance).
Unit X	Higher Education System	Institutions of higher learning and education in ancient India; Evolution of higher learning and research in post-independence India; Oriental, conventional, and non-conventional learning programs; Professional, technical, and skill-based education; Value education and environmental education; Policies, governance, and administration.

Detailed Syllabus for UGC NET Paper 2 (Sanskrit – Code 25)

Unit	Subject Area	Detailed Topics Covered
Unit I	Vedic-Literature	General Introduction: Main theories regarding the Vedas (Maxmüller, A.Weber, Jacobi, Balgangadhar Tilak, M.Winternitz, Indian traditional views). Samhitā Literature: Dialogue Hymns (Pururavā-Urvaśī, Yama-yamī, Saramā-Paņi, Viśvāmitra-Nadī). Brāhamana-Literature & Āranyaka Literature. Vedāngas: Šikşā, Kalpa, Vyākaraņa, Nirukta, Chandas, Jyotişa.
Unit II	Specific Study of Vedic Literature	Hymns: Rgveda (Agni, Varuņa, Sūrya, Indra, Usas, Parjanya, Kitava, Jñāna, Puruşa, Hiranyagarbha, Vāk, Nāsadīya); Šuklayajurveda (Śivasamkalpa, Prajāpati); Atharvaveda (Rāstrābhivardhanam, Kāla, Prithivī). Brāhmaņa Literature: Vidhi and types, Agnihotra, Agnistoma, Darśapūrņamāsa, Pañcamahāyajña, Akhyāna. Upaniṣad Literature: Iśa, Katha, Kena, Brhadārņyaka, Taittirīya, Śvetāśvatara. Vedic Grammar & Nirukta: Rkprātiśākhya definitions, Nirukta Chapters 1, 2 & 7 (Daivatakanda), 4-fold division of Padas, Etymology of specific words, Vedic Accent (Udātta, Anudatta, Svarita).
Unit III	Darśana	General Introduction of major schools: Pramāņamīmānsā, Tattvamīmānsā, Ācāramīmānsā for Cārvāka, Jaina, Bauddha, Nyāya, Sāmkhya, Yoga, Vaiśeşika, and mīmānsā.
Unit IV	Darśana Literature: Special Study	Iśvarakṛşna (Sāmkhyakārikā); Sadānanda (Vedāntasāra); Annambhatta/Keśavamiśra (Tarkasamgraha/Tarkabhāṣā); Laugākşibhāskara (Arthasamgraha); Patañjali (Yogasūtra – Vyāsabhāṣya); Bādarāyaņa (Brahmasūtra 1.1); Viśvanāthapañcānana (Nyāyasidhāntamuktāvalī); Sarvadarśana-Samgraha (Jainism, Buddhism).
Unit V	Grammar and Linguistics	General Introduction of grammarians: Pāņini, Kātyāyana, Patañjali, Bhartṛhari, Vāmanajayāditya, Bhattojidīkṣita, Nāgeśabhatta, etc., and Pāņinīya Sikṣā. Linguistics: Speech Mechanism, Phonetic Laws (Grimm, Grassman, Verner), semantic change directions, Definition of Vākya, Indo-European family, and differences between Vedic/Classical Sanskrit, Bhāṣā/Vak, and language/dialect.
Unit VI	Specific Study of Grammar	Definitions: Samhitā, Samyoga, Guņa, Vṛddhi, Pratipadika, etc.. Rules: Ac/Hal/Visarga Sandhi, Subanta, Halanta, Samāsa, Taddhita, Tinanta, Krdanta, Strīpratyaya, Kāraka Prakarana, and Parasmaipada/Atmanepada Vidhāna. Texts: Mahābhāşya (Paspaśāhnika) and Vākyapadīyam (Brahmakānda).
Unit VII	Sanskrit Literature, Poetics and Prosody	General Introduction: Bhāsa, Aśvaghośa, kālidāsa, Śūdraka, Viśākhadatta, Bhāravi, Māgha, Harsa, Bāņabhatta, Dandin, Bhavabhūti, etc.. Schools of Sanskrit Poetics: Rasa, Alańkāra, Rīti, Dhwani, Vakrokti, Aucitya. Western Poetics: Aristotle, Longinus, Croche.
Unit VIII	Specific study of Literature and Poetics	Poetry: Buddhacaritam, Raghuvamśam, Kirātārjunīyam, Siśupālavadham, Naişadhīyacaritam (First Cantos). Drama: Svapnavāsavadattām, Abhijñānaśākuntalam, Mṛcchakațikam, Uttararāmacaritam, Mudrārākṣasam, Ratnāvalī. Prose & Campū: Daśakumāracaritam, Harşacaritam, Kādambarī, Nala Campū. Poetics texts: Sahityadarpanah, Kāvyaprakaśa, Dhvanyāloka, Vakroktijīvitam, Nātyaśāstram, Daśarūpakam, specific Alaṁkāras, and specific Chanda meters.
Unit IX	Purāṇetihāsa, Dharmaśāstra and Epigraphy	General introduction: Rāmāyaņa and Mahābhārata (subject matter, age, society, legends), Purāna (cosmology, legends), Smritis, Kauțilīya Arthaśāstra. Paleography & Epigraphy: Decipherment and origin of Brahmi script, general introduction to Inscriptions.
Unit X	Specific study of Epigraphy and Texts	Texts: Kauțilīya arthaśātra (First – Vinayadikarika), Manusmrti (I, II, VII Adhyāyas), Yājñavalkyasmrti (Vyavahārādhyaya only). Paleography and Inscriptions: Brahmi Script of Mauryan/Gupta periods, Inscriptions of Ashoka, Post-Mauryan inscriptions (Sāranātha, Girnar, Hathīgumphā), and Gupta/Post-Gupta inscriptions (Allahabad Pillar, Mandasor, Banāskhera, Aihole).

Preparation Tips

Attempt All Questions: Since the official marking scheme clearly states that there is no negative marking for incorrect responses, candidates must ensure they attempt all 150 questions. Never leave a question blank or merely “Marked for Review” without selecting an answer, as unanswered questions receive zero marks.
Master the Computer Based Test (CBT) Interface: The exam is strictly conducted in CBT mode. The NTA strongly advises candidates to practice and familiarize themselves with the testing environment. You can do this by taking the Mock Tests provided officially at https://www.nta.ac.in/Quiz.
Time Management Practice: The exam provides a total of 180 minutes to solve 150 questions with no breaks between Paper 1 and Paper 2. Practice sitting for full-length 3-hour sessions to build your mental stamina. Use the on-screen clock countdown timer during your mock tests to simulate real exam conditions.
Choose Your Medium Wisely: The medium of the question paper is generally English and Hindi, except for language papers. Since Sanskrit is a language paper, expect domain-specific questions in the language itself, but you must carefully choose your medium for Paper 1 during the online application, as this option cannot be changed later.
Confirm Your Eligibility: Ensure your academic foundation is solid. General/Unreserved candidates must have secured at least 55% marks in their Master’s Degree, while OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD candidates require 50%. If you are taking the exam based on a 4-year undergraduate degree, you need a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate to be eligible for JRF and Ph.D. admission.

Some Important Links

UGC NET Hindi Exam Pattern And Syllabus	Click Here
UGC NET English Exam Pattern And Syllabus	Click Here

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