UGC NET Subject List is the first thing every aspirant for UGC NET June 2026 must know. You must pick one subject from that list in which you will appear for Paper 2. Choosing correctly helps with preparation, confidence, and eligibility. This article explain the full subject list (83+), codes, eligibility, how subjects are chosen, and some smart tips for picking your best subject.

What Is the UGC NET Subject List?

Before listing, here’s a short context. The UGC NET is held for many subjects. You choose one subject (Paper 2) based on your postgraduation specialization. The list is fixed by NTA/UGC. The UGC NET Subject List contains all the possible subjects and their subject code you can pick.

Below is the full table of 83 (or more as per latest) subjects with their codes used in UGC NET (June 2026 session).

Subject Code	Subject Name
01	Economics / Rural Economics / Co-operation / Demography / Development Planning / etc.
02	Political Science
03	Philosophy
04	Psychology
05	Sociology
06	History
07	Anthropology
08	Commerce
09	Education
10	Social Work
11	Defence & Strategic Studies
12	Home Science
14	Public Administration
15	Population Studies
16	Music
17	Management
18	Maithili
19	Bengali
20	Hindi
21	Kannada
22	Malayalam
23	Odia
24	Punjabi
25	Sanskrit
26	Tamil
27	Telugu
28	Urdu
29	Arabic
32	Chinese
34	Nepali
36	Assamese
37	Gujarati
39	French (French Version)
42	Persian
44	German
46	Adult Education / Continuing Education / Andragogy / Non-Formal Education
49	Arab Culture & Islamic Studies
50	Indian Culture
60	Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian & Peace Studies
62	Comparative Study of Religions
65	Performing Art (Dance / Drama / Theatre)
67	Archaeology
71	Folk Literature
72	Comparative Literature
73	Sanskrit Traditional Subjects (Jyotisha, Navya Vyakarana, etc.)
74	Women Studies
79	Visual Arts (Drawing, Sculpture, Applied Art, etc.)
80	Geography
81	Social Medicine & Community Health
82	Forensic Science
83	Pali
84	Kashmiri
85	Konkani
87	Computer Science & Applications
88	Electronic Science
89	Environmental Sciences (EVS)
90	Politics (Including International Relations / Strategic Studies etc.)
91	Prakrit
92	Human Rights & Duties
93	Tourism Administration & Management
94	Bodo
95	Santali
100	Yoga
101	Sindhi

Note: Some newer subjects beyond 83 are listed (like Computer Science, EVS) as per recent notifications.

You should download the UGC NET subject list PDF (from the official site) before your application so you see the exact latest list.

How Many Subjects in UGC NET / Subject Variations?

You may ask: How many subjects in UGC NET? Officially, there are 83 core subjects. But some newer electives/ interdisciplinary ones are also included, raising count to 85+ in recent cycles.

Download UGC NET Subject

Because of updates, always check the latest subject list PDF released by NTA. That is your safe reference.

UGC NET Subject Wise Eligibility & Weightage

Subject-Wise Eligibility

You must have done your postgraduate (or equivalent) in the subject (or related) to choose it in UGC NET. Some subjects allow related or allied subjects. Here is a summary:

Parameter	Requirement
Educational Qualification	Master’s degree (or equivalent) in the same subject or related subject
Minimum Marks	Typically 55% for general category, 50% for reserved (may vary by year)
Age Limit	JRF: upper age limit ~ 30 years (with relaxations) etc.

You must check the specific eligibility clause for each subject in the notification.

Subject Weightage / How Many Questions?

Each subject (Paper 2) carries 100 objective questions (2 marks each) same as other subjects. The weightage is equal across subjects in terms of marks and number of questions.

So UGC NET subject weightage in terms of exam: each subject’s Paper 2 has equal weight. The “weightage” among topics inside the subject varies (check syllabus).

How Many Candidates Applied for UGC NET 2023, Subject Wise

Knowing how many candidates applied per subject gives you insight on competition. Here is general data for December 2023:

• Total registered candidates: 9,45,872
• Total appeared: 6,95,928

Subject-wise, here are some sample numbers from June 2023 (similar trends):

Subject Code	Subject	Total Appeared
01	Economics / Rural Economics / Co-operation etc.	22,123
02	Political Science	34,897
03	Philosophy	3,799
04	Psychology	11,463
05	Sociology	16,585
06	History	35,719
07	Anthropology	1,353
08	Commerce	38,399

These are sample values. For December 2023 subject-wise apply numbers, you’ll need NTA’s subject-wise registration data, which is released in PDF likely with official result/notification.

Easiest Subject for UGC NET & Toughest Subject in UGC NET

As aspirants often ask: which subject is best for UGC NET, or easiest/toughest subject? Let me explain:

• Easiest subject for UGC NET depends on your background, interest, and reading comfort. For someone with strong English/Hindi, subjects like Education, Commerce, or Sociology might feel easier (lower technical jargon).
• Toughest subject in UGC NET is generally considered for hard, technical, or very specialized ones like Electronics, Computer Science, Environmental Sciences, or Forensic Science due to heavier theory + math + technical content.

So, there is no universal easiest subject; you pick subject you know well. That way your preparation is efficient.

You should use your strength and PG background to pick the subject rather than pure ranking of difficulty.

UGC NET Subject Code & Subject Wise Eligibility

When applying, you must enter the subject code correctly (as per list above). Mistakes cause rejection or mismatch. That is why you find the UGC NET subject list PDF that includes both subject names and codes.

Also check subject wise eligibility section in the notification. Some subjects allow allied subjects, some strictly require same PG. Always read.

How to Choose the Best Subject for UGC NET (which subject is best)

Here is a short list of tips to pick which subject is best for UGC NET for you:

1. Pick the subject you did your PG in (or strongly related).
2. Look at past cutoff and competition (lower candidates, lesser competition).
3. Assess your comfort with the syllabus content (theory, formulas, facts).
4. Check availability of study material, coaching, past papers.
5. Consider future teaching/research interest in that subject.

UGC NET Subject List PDF & Download

Always use the UGC NET subject list PDF from official NTA website. It gives you the full, updated subject codes and names. It also avoids errors in subject code/selection.

You should keep one for reference while filling the application.

Conclusion

Knowing the full UGC NET subject list (83+), their codes, eligibility, and competition helps you make a smart choice. Pick a subject aligned with your PG, check the pdf list, and study consistently. You’re on the right path. Best wishes for UGC NET June 2026 — stay confident and prepared!

UGC NET Subject List FAQs