The UGC NET Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies Paper II (code 60) has 100 multiple-choice questions in 180 minutes, +2 for a right answer, no negative marking. NTA sets it on the UGC NET syllabus in force since June 2019 (10 units per subject). Every unit of the official syllabus PDF is below with its topics (10 units, 41 topics).
UGC NET Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies at a glance
| Paper code | 60 |
|---|---|
| Group | Arts, Culture and Religion |
| Questions | 100 (all compulsory) |
| Marks | 200 (2 per question) |
| Duration | 180 minutes (Paper I and Paper II in one sitting, no break) |
| Marking | +2 for a right answer, no negative marking |
| Medium | English and Hindi |
| Based on | The UGC NET syllabus in force since June 2019 (10 units per subject) |
| Official syllabus PDF | Download the official PDFPDF |
UGC NET Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies syllabus: units and topics
Unit 1
- Life of Gautama the Buddha and the Origin of Buddhism (From the birth to Mahāparinirvāṇa and the events happened thereafter)
- Buddhist Councils (From first to fourth) and the contribution of great emperor Aśoka and Kanișka to the spread of Buddhism in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Tibet
- Schools of Buddhism: Theravāda and four Philosophical Schools (Vaibhāșika, Sautrāntika, Vijňānavāda and Mādhyamika)
- Pali and Sanskrit Canonical Buddhist Literature (Pāli Tipiṭaka and Sanskrit Vaipulya Sūtras)
- Life and Works of Buddhaghosa, Nāgārjuna, Vasubandhu and Dharmakīrti
Unit 2 1) Three modes of Teachings of the Buddha: Sīla, Samādhi and Prajňā
- 2) (i) Philosophical Concepts: Trilakṣaṇas : Anitya, Duḥkha and Anātma (ii) Noble Truths (iii) Pratītya-samutpāda (iv) Citta-santati and Ᾱlaya-vijňāna (v) Śūnyatā and Nirvāṇa
- Budddhist Meditation: Samatha and Vipassanā
- Six heretical thinkers, contemporary to the Buddha and their Philosophy
Unit 3
- Ancient Buddhist Educational Institutions (Mahāvihāras): Nālandā, Valabhi, Vikramaśilā, Udantapurī, Somapurī and Jagaddala
- Buddhist sculpture and Architecture: Nālandā, Bodhagayā Temple, Ajantā Caves, Sāncī Stūpa, Sāranātha
- Places of Buddhist Pilgrimage: Lumbinī, Bodhagayā, Sāranātha and Kuśīnārā
- Revival of Buddhism and Contribution of Anāgarika Dharmapāla, Mahāthera, Kṛpāśaraṇa, Candramaṇi Mahāthera and Bhikṣhu Jagadīśa Kāśyapa
- Impact of Buddhism on Social and Economic life
Unit 4
- History of Jainism : Kālacakra (cycle of time) and the tradition of Tīrthaṅkaras Life-sketch of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, Pārśvanātha and Mahāvīra
- Jain Sects and their sub-division : Digambara and Śvetāmbara and their sub sects
- Ṇamokāra Mahāmantra, Five Preceptor (Pañca Parameṣṭhi), Prayer, Bhakti,
- Upāsanā; Three Jewels : Samyakdarśana-Jñāna-Cāritra
- Prakrit Canonical (Āgama) Literature and their VĀCANĀS (councils)
- Prominent Ācāryas of Jainism : Life and works of Ācārya Kundakunda,
- Ācārya Umāsvāmi(ti), Ācārya Siddhasena, Ācārya Akalaṅka svāmi, Ācārya
- Haribhadra Sūri, Ācārya Vīrasena Svāmi, Ācārya Jinasena, Ācārya
- Hemchandra Sūri and Ācārya Yaśovijay
Unit 5 Vows : vows of Householders- Aṇuvratas, Guṇavratas and Śikṣāvratas; Great
- Vows (Mahāvratas) of Monks- Ahiṃsā (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Braḥmacarya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness). Seven elements and six substance; Theory of Karma and its classification, Puruṣārtha. The concept of Knowledge and its classification.
- Anekāntavāda and Syādvāda; Jain Yoga and Dhyāna
- The concept of Liberation in Jainism
Unit 6
- Jain Art (Śilpa) and Architecture : Jain caves and temples of Southern India, Jain Temples of Khajurāho, Devagarḥa, Pālitānā and Mount-Ābu
- Jain Sculptures, Paintings and Jain Iconography : important Jain Sculptures available in India, Idols received from Śravaṇabelagolā and Mathurā
- Impact of Jain Religion on Society : Vegetarianism (Śakāhāra) and Charity (Dāna); Status of women in Jain Religion
- Environmental and Ecological thoughts in Jainism; Jainism and Science
- Main Centres of Jaina Learning: Śravaṇabelagolā, Jesalamera, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Vaishali, Koba, Ladnun, Jaipur, Delhi; Jainism in abroad
Unit 7
- Mahatma Gandhi (i) Family background (ii) Early life and education in India and England (iii) Impact of various Religions and their Scriptures
- Gandhi in South Africa (i) The origin of Satyagraha (ii) Struggle against Racial discrimination, injustice and exploitation (iii) Impact of Leo Tolstoy, John Ruskin, Henry David Thoreau, Raichandra Bhai etc
Unit 8 1) Foundations of Gandhi’s Social, Political, Economic and Religious
- Thought (i) Views on Social Justice, Social inequalities, Caste System and Untouchability (ii) Women’s Problems and Empowerment (iii) Gandhi’s views on Truth, Non-Violence, Satyagraha and the Theory of ends and means
- State and Democracy (i) Panchayat Raj (ii) Parliamentary Democracy, Sovereignty, Freedom, Spiritualization of politics (iii) Human Rights and Duties
- Fundamentals of Gandhian Economics (i) Critique of Modern Western Civilization, Labour – Capital Relations (ii) Small-Scale Cottage Industries (iii) Constructive Programme and Sustainable Development
Unit 9
- Gandhi’s Role in Freedom Movement (i) Champaran (ii) Non-Cooperation (iii) Ahmedabad Mill Strike, Dandi March (iv) Bardoli and Kheda Satyagrahas (v) His Role in Vykom Satyagraha and Quit India Movement
- Gandhi and Partition of India
Unit 10
- Peace Studies (i) Understanding Peace – Coercive and Non-Coercive Approaches, Culture of Peace (ii) The problem of War: Causes, Types, Attributes and Theories of War
- Major Peace Movements (i) Pacifism, Civil Rights Movement in U.S.A. Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament by various Agencies (ii) Green Peace Movement (iii) The contemporary Global Issues regarding World War and Quest for Peace (iv) Legacy of Peace Builders: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King (Jr.), Daisaku Ikeda and Nelson Mandela
- Conflicts (i) Concept, Nature and Causes, Methods of Conflict Resolution (ii) Agencies of Conflict Resolution, UN Peace Keeping, Peace Building, Peace Education, Adjudication, Role of Shanti Sena, Track–II Diplomacy, etc
- Human Security and Terrorism (i) The problem of Terrorism (ii) Structural and State Violence
Read from the official PDF on 9 November 2026 · Official syllabus PDF · NTA
UGC NET Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies: Previous year question papers
NTA has not published a UGC NET question paper of Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies as a PDF yet. The final answer keys of every year, and the papers of the subjects NTA did publish, are on the UGC NET question papers page.
