The UGC NET Hindu Studies Paper II (code 102) 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 (6 units, 87 topics).
UGC NET Hindu Studies at a glance
| Paper code | 102 |
|---|---|
| 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 Hindu Studies syllabus: units and topics
Unit 1 TATTVA VIMARSA
- Understanding the term “Hindu” (its historicity, and its geographic and jivana-drsti aspects)
- Enumeration of Astadaga vidyds and Updrigas with their respective dcdryas
- Paddrtha/tattva/atma across traditions and underlying unifying themes
- Position of feminine in Bharata: Parallel sovereignty principles a. Self-definitions: Vak-Sakta, Devya-atharva-Sirsa sikta and Bhagavadgita (10.20-40) b. Ardhandrigwara concept, Brhadaranyaka Upanisad (1.4.3)
- Sakti and Prakrti principles
- Position of feminine in Jaina-darsana, Bauddha-darsana, and Sri Guru Granth Sahibji
- The principle of Oneness in Vedanta and interconnectedness in Jaina, Bauddha, Nyaya & Vaisesika darsana, and Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, and the consequential idea of all-inclusiveness
- Understanding distinctions between varna, jati, and caste (Brhadaranyaka Upanisad (1.4.10-15), Bhagavadgita (18.41-45)
- Enumeration of rsis and saints from different social backgrounds
Unit 2 DHARMA, and KARMA VIMARSA
- Dharma: Definitions and meanings (Mahabharata, Manusmrti, Vaigesika Sutra, Bhagavadgita Sankarabhasya- upodghata, definitions in Sramana traditions)
- Distinctions between dharma and religion (pantha, mazahab)
- Types of dharmas: pravrttimiilaka, and nivrttimilaka
- Dharma as the organizing principle for Vaidika and Sramana traditions and in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji
- Varnasrama dharma and choice
- Raja-dharma, Apaddharma, Samdja-dharma, and Swadharma
- Karma, vikarma, and akarma (Bagavadgita 4.16, and corresponding Sankarabhasya)
- Six karmas: Kamya, nitya, nisiddha, naimittika, prayaschitta, and updsanad
- Niskama (Brahma/Sarvam as the real doer) and sakama karma
- Karma- phala, prarabdha, and sariskara a
Unit 3 PUNARJANMA-BANDHAN-MOKSA VIMARSA
- i 1. Concept of jiva
- F 2. Definitions of bandhana (prakrtika, vaikrtika, daksanika from SGmkhyakdrika 44 with Samkya tattva-kaumudi)
- The root-cause and process of bandhana: Bhagavadgita 3.37 - 3.41, Bhagavadgita 2.62-66, Pratitya-~samutpadasiddhanta
- The principle of punarjanma: an enabler of Dharma
- Conceptions of moksa and nirvana
- Multiple pathways for moksa (Yoga): abhydsa, karma, bhakti, jfiana
Unit 4 PRAMANA SIDDHANTA
- Definition of pramana
- Indian model of analysis of text: pramatd, pramdna, prameya, and prama
- Nature, definition, method, and limits of different types of pramanas : Pratyaksa, Anumana, _, Upamana, Sabda, Anuplabdhi, Arthdpatti
- Sabda-sakti: abhidhd, laksand, vyanijand, and tatparya °
- Swatah-pramanya, and poratah-pramanya
- Applications of pramana in contemporary texts “en
Unit 5 VADA-PARAMPARA
- Vada-Parampara: The method of Sastrartha and the concept of adhikarna
- From doubt to determination: Sansaya to Nirnaya
- Kath (nature and types of katha): Vada, jalpa, vitanda
- 4, Embarking on knowledge discovery: Anubandha-chatustaya (adhikari, visaya, sambandha, prayojana)
- Organization of knowledge: Satra, bhasya, vartika, vrtti, tikd, tippani and sarigraha
- Analysing “tatparya” of knowledge through sravana vidhi: - Upakrama, upasamhara, abhydsa, apurvata, phala, arthawada, upapatti
- Analysing “tatparya” of knowledge through six-fold process (sadvidha tatparya nirndyaka linga) sruti, liiga, vakya, prakarana, sthana, samakhya
- Tantrayukti: “Research methodology” in context of natural sciences qd UNIT 6: APPLICABILITY OF WESTERN METHODS FOR UNDERSTANDING INDIAN TEXTS j 1. Western restrictions on free inquiry 4 2. Western descriptions of Bharat and traditional literary theories
- Hindus and Bharat as understood through the Marxist perspective, and The Critical Theory a. Intention of author versus that of the reader b. History, purpose of The Critical Theory, and stereotyping of images and conceptions
- Hegemony (Gramsci)
- Structuralism and portrayal of Bharat
- Orientalism — theorizing Bharat in the Western experience ,
- Use of psycho-analytical approaches in Bharatiya context
- Descriptions of Bharat through lenses of post-modernism and deconstruction
- Neutral inquiry and New-Historicism and portrayal of Bharat
- Se of eee
- Ce
- 4 UNIT 7: RAMAYANA s y 1, Types of Ramayanas — Traditional texts with divine origins/(Valmiki Ramayana) reverential texts, Ly texts deviating from the core story ii 2. The popularity and relevance of traditional Ramayana a 3, Ramayana as one of the two source-books (Upajivya) for much of Indian literature, and arts (folk, classical, and contemporary arts) ; 4. Maryadd Purusottama Rama
- Relationships between humans, and social-reconstruction (e.g. Nisddarja, jatdyu, etc.), and { between human and nature ! 6. Stri-vimarsa: Anasiiya, Ahilya, Kaikeyi, Kausalya, Mandodari, Sita, Swayamprabha, Tara, Trijata, Urmila, Sabari "7, Rama-Rajya i: . 8. The role of rsi in a society i | 9. - Data on Geography, flora and fauna in India 7 |
Unit 6 MAHABHARATA
- | 1, The period of Mahabharata: Textual and traditional sources, as well as modern data a. Calendars (samvat) of Yudhishthira (yugabda), Krsna, and Vikrama ; p 2. The core story of Mahabharata : 3. Dharma and samsara: 10 stories about 10 Laksanas of dharma: dhrti (Gangavataran), ksama (Vasistha and Viswamitra), dama (Yayati and Puru), asteya (Yudhishthira- Yaksa samvada), ¢auca (the tale of golden mongoose), indriyanigraha (dharma vyadha’s upadeéa), dhih (Savitri), vidyd (tale of man-tiger-snake-elephant from Stri Parva), satyam (Harigcandra/Satyakama), akrodha (the story of Pariksita and his insult to Risi Samika) , 4, Mahabharata as one of the two source-books (Upjivya) for much of Indian literature, and arts (folk, classical, and contemporary arts)
- Viduraniti and Bhagavadgita
- " 6, Rdjdharma, and rajaniti : Santiparva
- Geography of Bharata-varsa 7 ,
- Stri-vimarga in Mahabharata: Draupadi, Gandhari, Hidimba, Jambavati, Kunti, Madri, Rukmani, ‘Satyabhamé, Satyavati, Sikhandi, Sulocana, Uldpi, Uttara oe ie < ez ie UNIT 9: SANSKRIT PARICHAYA a 1. degrerhrmas: - age aera ye Be, APPT, uth sly arpa, Perf, altar, aiddt:, serene, aerate, weucdhiel . wR | 2- eerery (@amngea omer sreraabea), Praier, areaq(adaita: aarauitea:)
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- Gem: - 5-100 if UNIT 10 — OTHER ALLIED TOPICS y | a 1. Challenges in translations and understanding distinctions between Original and translation dharma, sampradaya, atm, darsana, Iswara, bhagawana, prabhu, mana, buddhi, pramanika, sisya, devatd, smrti, mandira, adhyatma, prema, asura, daitya, raksasa, sarira, padartha, dravya, rastra, varna, jati, sastra, Santi, rsi, muni, guru, kald, sastriya-sangita, pandita, maya, stri, mahild, nari, nyaya, indriya, moksa, nirvana, prana ,
- Important mandiras, Saktipitha, matha, jyotirliiga, dhamas
- Sant-parampara: Brief knowledge of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sankara Deb, Thiruvallavur, Basavanna, Namdev, Kabira, Ravidasa, Narsi Mehta, Guru Nanak, Tukaram, Tulsidas, Surdas, Mirabai, Andal, Jhulelal, Gyaneshwar, Vidyapati, Narayan Guru 4, Natya: ten types, tattvas: rasa, abhinaya, kathavastu, patra ~ 5. Kavya: Type (gadya, padya, champd), chandas (anustupa, upajati, indravajra, upendravajra, vasanta-tilakd, sikharini, mandGkranta, Gryd, gathd, dohd, chaupdi, sorathd)
- Some kavis: Bhasa, Kalidas, Ashvaghos, Somdev Suri, Hala, Kalhan, Chandabaradai
- 7.,‘Some kings and dynasties: Maurya, Lalitaditya, Chakradhwaj Singh,-Chola, Harihar and Bukka, Bappa Rawal, Harshawardhan, Bhoj, Dahir-sen, Marthanda Verma, Rana Pratap, Shivaji
- Concept of I$wara in - Jaintia, Adi, Galo, Tagin, Apatani, Idu Mishmi, Miju Mishmi, Digaru Mishmi tribes of N. E. India “
Read from the official PDF on 9 November 2026 · Official syllabus PDF · NTA
UGC NET Hindu Studies: Previous year question papers
NTA has not published a UGC NET question paper of Hindu 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.
